Establishing a Company in Scotland
Scotland is located in the northern part of the British Isle, with England to its south, and open seas in all other directions - the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea, the North Channel, and the Irish Sea. In addition to the primary Scottish mainland, Scotland also encompasses some 790 minor islands. The country is known for its breathtaking vistas, enchanting lakes, long rugged beaches, and ancient castles.
The independent Kingdom of Scotland was founded in the Middle Ages, however, beginning in the 18th century, it has been under the sovereignty of the United Kingdom of Great Britain, alongside Wales and Northern Ireland. Establishing a company in Scotland offers entrepreneurs access to a wide range of markets, where it serves as an entry point into the British market, the European market, and outside of these as well.
Edinburgh serves as Scotland’s capital city and the seat of the country’s parliament, while its largest city is Glasgow. English is the principal language of Scotland and is spoken with the distinctive and unique Scottish accent. Roughly 5.4 million people call Scotland home, and the local currency is the Pound Sterling (GBP).
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The topic of continued British rule is a material issue in Scotland, with many Scottish citizens preferring to remain a part of the Kingdom, while many others support Scottish separation and embarking on a fully independent path. In 2014, Scotland held a referendum on the subject and by a slim majority of only 55%, it was decided to continue on as a part of Britain.
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Saying “Scottish” is like saying “penny pincher”. This is one of the most well-known stigmas associated with the Scottish people, common in British folklore and from there, in the entire world. The stigma originates in the implicit rivalry between the various constituent peoples of the United Kingdom of Great Britain.
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Whiskey is intertwined in Scottish culture and history, so much so that the Scotts call it “the water of life”. Scottish whiskey plays a truly impressive part in the country’s economy, with Scotland being the world’s largest whiskey producer, exporting £4.3 billion annually, and the whiskey industry supplying work to hundreds of thousands of employees.
Economically, the Scottish Economy is an integral part of the European Union (EU) and is notable for its heavy industry exports (steel, shipbuilding, and coal) to EU countries. Large oil reserves discovered in Scotland’s North Sea have contributed to energy stability and establishing the country’s economic might. At present, Scotland is investing substantial resources in the hi-tech and financial services industries and its capital, Edinburgh, is today considered one of Europe’s largest and most influential financial centers. Establishing a company in Scotland is a perfect platform for penetrating global markets, and specifically, the British and greater European markets.
General
Type of company |
Private Company Limited by shares |
Relevant Companies Law |
Companies Act 2006 |
Offices |
Businesses are required to provide the authorities with the address of a local office. |
Language of original incorporation documents |
English |
Finance and Taxation
Currency |
Pound Sterling (GBP) |
Corporate tax rate |
19% |
Standard share capital |
1 GBP |
Office Holders
Company Secretary (Secretary) |
|
Obligation to appoint company secretary |
Not required |
Obligation to appoint local secretary |
Not required |
Type of entity that may function as company secretary |
Not applicable |
Director |
|
Obligation to appoint company director |
Required |
Obligation to appoint local company director |
Not required |
Minimum number of directors |
1 |
Type of entity that may serve as company director |
Individual and / or a company |
Shareholders |
|
Obligation to register shareholders |
Required |
Obligation to register local shareholders |
Not required |
Minimum number of shareholders |
1 |
Type of entity that may register as shareholder |
Individual and / or a company |
Type of shares |
Registered shares |
Accessibility of Information
Company registrar |
Information regarding shareholders is publicly accessible. |
Annual Assembly and Reporting
Obligation to hold annual assembly |
Not required |
Obligation to prepare financial reports |
Required |
Obligation to submit financial reports |
Required |
Accept
