Our Library of Free Business Starter Legal Templates
Consultancy Agreement
Our template Consultancy Agreement is designed for those companies seeking the provision of consultancy services from an independent contractor (a self-employed individual). The Consultancy Agreement can be used for consultants providing professional services and facilitates a non-employment relationship for the purposes of the IR35 or off-payroll working rules.
Director Consent to Act
Our template Director Consent to Act provides you with a simple letter agreement for an individual to consent to act as a director of your company. It includes a table of the information that you will need from the new director in order to update your Company Registers and make the appropriate filing at Companies House.
Employment Contract
This customisable Employment Contract is intended for use between a business and employee, who will be hired on a permanent basis. It ensures both parties are aware of their rights and obligations, and includes the basic provisions as required by law.
Founders' IP Assignment Agreement
This template is designed to facilitate the transfer of Intellectual Property rights (IPR) from founders to a company. The legally binding agreement protects both the founder and company, by ensuring that rights and responsibilities are clearly outlined.
Mutual Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Agreement
This template is designed to enable the mutual sharing of confidential information between two parties, for a specific commercial purpose. The agreement sets out the obligations and rights of the parties, as both a discloser and recipient of confidential information. It ensures that the disclosed information will only be used within the parameters of the defined purpose and the obligation of confidentiality is fully outlined.
One-Way Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Agreement
This template is designed to enable the sharing of confidential information by one party (the discloser) to another (the recipient), for a specific commercial purpose. It ensures that the disclosed information will only be used within the parameters of the defined purpose and the obligation of confidentiality is fully outlined.
Privacy Notice
A Privacy Notice is an essential document for any business that collects and uses Personal Data. Our template will help you to meet your data protection obligations, and provide visibility for users of your website and / or services as to how your business appropriately handles personal data.
Routine Board Minutes
Minutes must be taken of all directors meetings in accordance with section 248(1), Companies Act 2006 (CA 2006). The minutes should accurately record all decisions and resolutions taken at such meetings. Our template provides your company with a consistent structure for recording the minutes of director meetings.
Simple Articles of Association
Articles of association are a mandatory constitutional document required by the Companies Act 2006, for every company incorporated in the United Kingdom. The default ‘model articles’ as prescribed by the Companies Act 2006 will apply, unless a company chooses to vary some of the provisions. Our template largely reflects the model articles for a ‘company limited by shares’ with some common additions and variations.
BPE Solicitors LLP (“BPE” or “we”) has created the BPE Startup Pack (the “Templates”) for use by companies incorporated in England and Wales only (the “Companies”).
The Templates are for general guidance and information for those wishing to set up a company or who have recently done so.
They are therefore provided to you on as ‘as is’ basis at no charge and we make no representations or warranties as to their accuracy or fitness for purpose. All warranties, conditions or terms implied by statute, common law or otherwise are excluded to the fullest extent permitted by law.
The content of the Templates does not amount to legal, tax, financial, or other professional advice and may not necessarily be appropriate to your circumstances. In choosing to download and / or use any of the Templates, you acknowledge that a lawyer-client relationship is not established, and you accept any resulting risk and / or liability arising from use of the Templates where you have not sought further advice from us.
The Templates are the property of BPE Solicitors LLP and are made available to you under a non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-sublicensable licence to use the Templates for your own legitimate personal or internal business purposes with no right for onward sale, distribution or adaptation.
We have not updated the Templates since November 2023 to take into account recent changes in the law, and do not undertake to do so or to provide you with updated copies of Templates. Where a Template has been updated by us, the date of the update shall be shown at the top of the document.
Note: The Templates are for use by and with companies incorporated in England and Wales only.
Our Library of Free Statutory Registers
Applications and Allotments
Our template Register of Applications and Allotments.
Members
Our template Register of Members.
Transfers
Our template Register of Transfers.
Directors' Residential Addresses
Our template Register of Directors’ Residential Addresses.
Directors
Our template Register of Directors.
Secretaries
Our template Register of Secretaries.
People with Significant Control
Our template Register of Secretaries.
Share Certificates
Our template Share Certificates.
BPE Solicitors LLP (“BPE” or “we”) has created the BPE Startup Pack (the “Templates”) for use by companies incorporated in England and Wales only (the “Companies”).
The Templates are for general guidance and information for those wishing to set up a company or who have recently done so.
They are therefore provided to you on as ‘as is’ basis at no charge and we make no representations or warranties as to their accuracy or fitness for purpose. All warranties, conditions or terms implied by statute, common law or otherwise are excluded to the fullest extent permitted by law.
The content of the Templates does not amount to legal, tax, financial, or other professional advice and may not necessarily be appropriate to your circumstances. In choosing to download and / or use any of the Templates, you acknowledge that a lawyer-client relationship is not established, and you accept any resulting risk and / or liability arising from use of the Templates where you have not sought further advice from us.
The Templates are the property of BPE Solicitors LLP and are made available to you under a non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-sublicensable licence to use the Templates for your own legitimate personal or internal business purposes with no right for onward sale, distribution or adaptation.
We have not updated the Templates since November 2023 to take into account recent changes in the law, and do not undertake to do so or to provide you with updated copies of Templates. Where a Template has been updated by us, the date of the update shall be shown at the top of the document.
Note: The Templates are for use by and with companies incorporated in England and Wales only.
Some frequently asked questions
How many times can I download the template documents?
As many times as you like; they are freely available to use.
What if I need to speak to someone or require some more complex help?
Please use the ‘contact us’ form on this page, or feel free to drop us an email at [email protected] and someone will get back to you within two working days.
Are there guidance notes on completing the template documents?
Drafting notes are embedded in the template documents, which should be enough to get you started. If you need further guidance please use the ‘contact us’ form on this page, or feel free to drop us an email at [email protected] and someone will get back to you within two working days.
Where else can I find help or useful materials?
See these useful links which we will update regularly.
- Companies Act 2006: Read more
- Set up a limited company and register for Corporation Tax: Read more
- Companies House Forms: Read more
- Companies House Document Upload Service: Read more
- Companies House Name Availability Checker: Read more
- Corporate Governance: Read more
Is there a charge for using these documents?
No, they are free to use. This is our way of giving back to the start-up community – we are here to help.
Do I need all of these documents?
Not necessarily, each business is different and has different needs. This selection is designed to give you a choice of some of the documents that we think are most often required by companies in the start-up phase of their development. It is up to you to assess which of them are relevant to your business. If you need further guidance please use the ‘contact us’ form on this page, or feel free to drop us an email at [email protected] and someone will get back to you within two working days.
Other Useful Resources for You
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI)
The UK is already considered to have some of the strongest equality legislation in Europe, and the Labour Government has signalled its intention to make further enhancements. This is in stark contrast to the approach of the United States administration, who have sought to abolish EDI programmes across federal government and have recommended that private sector companies do likewise.
Level 7 Apprenticeship Funding Restrictions
The Department for Education recently announced that from January 2026, apprenticeship levy funding for Level 7 (master’s level) apprenticeships will be restricted. The restrictions mean that only those individuals aged between 16 and 21 will receive new funding for the level 7 apprenticeships.
BNG - What's coming up and what does it mean?
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) introduced biodiversity net gain (BNG) as a way of ensuring that developers are environmentally minded when undertaking projects. The idea was to create a clear framework to ensure that new major infrastructure developments left biodiversity in a measurably better state than before the development took place, in alignment with the legally binding Environment Act 2021 targets for biodiversity.
BPE Celebrates Award Shortlisting
BPE Solicitors is delighted to announce that Partner Kathryn King, Head of our Corporate and Commercial team, has been shortlisted in the Emerging Dealmaker category of the Insider South West Dealmakers Awards 2025.
From protection to predation: the misuse of powers of attorney
Following reports of investigations into power of attorney abuse rising to 28% in the UK, Emily Rowan-Maxwell explains the potential areas of misuse and abuse in relation to powers of attorney, including the red flags to watch out for and how to safeguard against abuse.
BPE fund the 100th defibrillator in Cheltenham!
On 30th April, BPE ESG Committee members Rebecca Pike, Karmen Waldron and Alice Duffy met with Clare Tidal Training Direct Ltd , who created the Public Hearts Defibrillator Campaign 2018. In April 2025, Clare and the team celebrated the fantastic achievement of placing 100 defibrillators around the Gloucestershire area, with a particular focus on the heart of Cheltenham. With 35,000 out of hospital cardiac arrests in the UK every year, having a defibrillator nearby is essential and could save your life.
A concrete deal: Allstone acquires Monster Mix
BPE Solicitors are proud to announce they acted for construction aggregates firm Allstone on a multimillion-pound deal to acquire concrete suppliers, Monster Mix.
New Statutory Entitlements for Neonatal Care: Effective 6 April 2025
Starting on 6 April 2025, the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023 will come into effect in the UK, granting statutory entitlements to employees whose newborns require neonatal care.
