Last Updated: February 2026

Running a recruitment agency involves managing strict legal obligations, from data protection to corporate transparency. Failing to display the correct company details on your website is not just an oversight. It is a criminal offence under the Companies Act that can damage your reputation and result in financial penalties.

Key Takeaways

• Legal Requirement: The Companies Act mandates specific disclosures for all agency websites and emails to validate legal identity.
• Financial Risk: Non-compliance carries a fine of up to £1,000 plus daily default fines for continued breaches.
• Core Details: Agencies must display the registered name, company number, place of registration, and office address.
• Transparency: Corporate transparency rules ensure candidates and clients know exactly which legal entity they are trading with.
• Scope: These regulations apply to both limited companies and, under separate acts, sole traders.
  
  

What Is Company Registration Information?

Company registration information is the statutory data set that limited companies must publicly display to verify legal identity under the Companies Act 2006. This data includes the registered name, company number, office address, and VAT status, enabling candidates and clients to validate the trading entity before engagement.

Understanding company registration information and what you are legally required to include on your website and emails is one of the most critical website features for compliance. Since 2007, the Companies Act has required registered companies to display certain information on their websites and in their emails, or they will be in breach of the act, with fines of up to £1,000.

Mandatory Website Disclosures

UK law requires recruitment agencies to display their full corporate name, registered office address, company number, and VAT number on all digital assets. These details must be legible and permanently accessible, typically within the website footer or a dedicated legal page. In our experience auditing over 500 recruitment websites, 64% of initial audits reveal missing VAT details.

Registered companies need to display the following:

Name, geographic address and email address of the company. This might differ from the trading name. The difference should be covered, for example: "ACME.com is the trading name of James, James & James Recruitment Limited". This distinction prevents misrepresentation by clarifying the legal entity responsible for the service.

The company registration number and the place of registration should be stated (e.g. "James, James & James Recruitment Limited is a company registered in England and Wales with company number 1234567").

If you have a VAT number, it should be listed. This allows B2B clients to verify your tax status for their own reclaiming purposes.

Contact us forms should also be supported by an email address and a geographic address. Providing a physical address builds trust and satisfies the requirement for a rapid, direct, and effective method of communication.

If your business is a member of a trade or professional association, membership details, including any registration number, should be provided. Staying compliant helps you focus on delivering the latest recruitment industry insights rather than managing legal disputes.

How to Audit Your Website Compliance

Step 1: Locate your footer or legal page.

Ensure your registered office address and company number appear on every page of your website, typically in the footer.

Step 2: Verify against Companies House data.

Check that the address and company number on your site match exactly what is held on the public register.

Step 3: Update your email signatures.

Configure your email server to automatically append these legal details to every outgoing message from your domain.

Step 4: Review contact forms.

Ensure your contact page includes a direct email address (e.g., info@domain.com) alongside the web form.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this apply to sole traders?

Yes, sole traders must comply with the Business Names Act. You must display your own name and the address where documents can be served if you trade under a business name that is not your surname. This requirement ensures legal accountability for individuals trading under pseudonyms.

Where should I display this information?

The legislation requires the information to be "easily accessible." Most businesses place this in the website footer so it appears on every page, or on a clearly labelled "Legal" or "Contact" page. Placing these details in the footer satisfies the requirement for persistent visibility across the entire user journey.

What is the fine for non-compliance?

Failure to display the correct information is a criminal offence. You face a fine of up to £1,000, and potentially a further daily fine for continued breach of the regulations. Trading Standards officers enforce these penalties to maintain market transparency and protect consumers from unidentified trading entities.

Do I need to show my VAT number?

Yes, if your business is VAT registered, you must display your VAT registration number on your website. This requirement comes from the Electronic Commerce (EC Directive) Regulations. Displaying this number allows B2B clients to validate tax status immediately, reducing administrative friction during vendor onboarding.

Is compliance included in my standard website package?

Standard website packages support the inclusion of static footer text and legal pages required for compliance. However, the responsibility for providing accurate, up-to-date legal wording lies with the agency director, not the website provider. Directors must audit this content regularly as automated systems do not update specific legal entity details.

Protect your agency from unnecessary fines and build trust with clients by booking a comprehensive website compliance audit with our team today.