What legal documents do I need for a construction business?

To establish a construction business in the UK, you will need to prepare and register a variety of legal documents. Key requirements include:

• Registering your business name with Companies House (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/companies-house).
• Obtaining Employers' Liability Insurance and business insurance (e.g. public liability, professional indemnity).
• Securing Local Authority planning permission (if operating from a commercial premise) and a lease agreement (if renting premises).
• Having Health and Safety policies and procedures in place, compliant with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidelines.
• Complying with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for privacy and data protection policies and procedures.
• Obtaining a Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and registering for Value Added Tax (VAT) if applicable.
• Applying for the relevant licence or qualifications, such as a Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) registration for contractors and subcontractors.