How to get information about a company director

Thinking of starting a new business or entering a partnership? It’s important to know who you’re working with. Fortunately, you can search publicly available databases through Companies House.

This free service shows whether someone is an active director, which companies they’ve worked with, and whether they’ve ever been disqualified from acting as a director. It’s a simple way to gain a bit of peace of mind before making a financial or professional commitment.

In this article, we explore the information you can glean about a potential business partner from the records at Companies House. Find out how to search for information about a director, and how it can help you make an informed decision.

How to find director information using Companies House

Companies House is a government-run database of companies registered in the UK. It is publicly available information, and you can access it for free.

• Visit https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/
• Enter the director’s full name in the search bar.
  • Choose the correct name from the search results, based on their address, middle name, or date of birth.
  • Click their name to see which companies they act as officers for.
• If you don’t know the director’s name, enter the company name instead.
  • Select the correct company from the search results
  • Click on the ‘People’ tab
  • Select an officer from the list.

What details about a director can I see?

You can find the following information:

• Whether the director is currently disqualified (shown next to their birth date)
• Companies appointed to (or where previously appointed to), plus dates of those appointments
• Whether those companies are active or dissolved
• Correspondence address (their contact address)
• Month and year of their birth
• Country of residence
• Their identity verification status – whether they are verified, or when their verification is due

What is identity verification for directors?

Since 2025, all directors must verify their identity with Companies House before they can be appointed. This process is free. Not complying is a breach of the law and may lead to fines and other penalties.

How to check if a director is disqualified

Directors can be disqualified from acting as a director. So, you may want to think twice before partnering with someone who has already been disqualified. To check if someone is disqualified:

• Search their name on the Companies House register of disqualified directors.
• If disqualified, their profile will include:
  • The reason for disqualification
  • Start date of the disqualification
  • Total number of disqualifications
  • Whether they’ve been granted permission to continue to act as a director

If the person’s name does not appear on the register, then you can be reasonably confident that they have not been disqualified.

You can also check the bankruptcy and insolvency register for bans related to bankruptcy. Disqualified or bankrupt individuals cannot act as company directors in the future.

What does it mean to be disqualified?

Directors can make mistakes, and that’s not always grounds for disqualification. A director is disqualified when they are found guilty of ‘unfit conduct’. This includes:

• Allowing a company to continue trading when it cannot pay its debts
• Not keeping proper company accounting records
• Not sending accounts and returns to Companies House
• Not paying tax owed by the company
• Using company money or assets for personal benefit

What are the consequences of being disqualified?

Disqualified directors are prohibited from serving as directors of a UK company or from influencing how a company is run for up to 15 years. Violations can lead to serious legal consequences, including fines or up to 2 years’ imprisonment.

Additional restrictions on disqualified directors include prohibitions from:

• Serving on boards of charities or schools
• Becoming or acting as solicitors, barristers, or accountants
• Registering as social landlords

Why check a company director’s information?

Before you start a business relationship with someone, you’ll want to confirm that they’re trustworthy and competent. Some information on Companies House can help you with that. However, it doesn’t provide a full picture.

In general terms, reviewing a director’s information helps you evaluate their:

• Business experience (number and type of past directorships)
• Time capacity (if they hold many current roles)
• Suitability for your venture

Red flags to look for in a director’s record

Companies House will expose any red flags of a director when you look them up. The most obvious one is a current disqualification.

Also note if any of the companies they have previously acted for have failed and become insolvent. This could indicate mismanagement, so ask the director about their involvement and what exactly happened.

Finally, you may be wary of any connections to high-risk industries, such as weapons, cryptocurrencies, adult entertainment, or gambling. It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t partner with the individual, but you’ll want to raise questions about their involvement before committing.

What to do if you can’t find the information you need

Companies House can give you limited information. Where else can you turn for due diligence on a director?

The first port of call is to ask the person directly. This avoids any hearsay or stories that have become warped or exaggerated through the rumour mill. The individual will be able to provide the facts you need and address any concerns you may have. You could also ask people in your network if they’ve worked with them before and get their opinion.

At the end of the day, it comes down to your personal judgment. The most important information is publicly available on Companies House. But if they haven’t acted as a director before, they won’t be listed. In those cases, you only have their CV and their interview to work from.

• The role and responsibilities of a company director
• What’s the difference between company shareholders and directors?
• When is a company director liable for debt?

Get support with staying vigilant and compliant

At Quality Company Formations, we help businesses get started with confidence. From setting up your limited company to keeping your company records up to date, our services ensure your business is compliant and ready for growth.

We also offer support with VAT registration and filing obligations, so you can build trust – both with partners and customers – from the very beginning.