It is not a legal requirement for private limited companies to appoint a secretary although the option is still available. However public limited companies must appoint a secretary by law. If there is no secretary appointed in a private limited company then the director or a person who has been authorised by the director has to carry out the secretaries duties.

The secretary’s main responsibilities are to file documents for the company such as the annual return, annual accounts, changes in directors or secretaries, changes in the registered office and amendment to the company’s memorandum and articles. Also the secretary has a duty to inform relevant parties such as the share holders of meetings and inform Companies House of any changes made within the company. The secretary takes on all of the duties to allow the directors to focus on the day to day running of the business.