What’s the Minimum Age for a Director, Secretary and Shareholder?

When setting up a UK limited company, it’s important to know the minimum age requirements for the main company roles. These rules are set by Companies House to ensure legal and operational responsibilities are handled appropriately.

Here’s a quick breakdown:

👤 Director

• Minimum Age: 16

• Anyone appointed as a director must be at least 16 years old.
  This is because directors have legal responsibilities and must be able to act in the best interests of the company.

🧾 Secretary

• Minimum Age: None

• There’s no minimum age for a company secretary.
  However, they should be capable of carrying out their duties if appointed. (Note: A company secretary is optional for private limited companies.

💼 Shareholder

• Minimum Age: None

• There’s no legal minimum age to own shares in a limited company.
  That said, it's common practice for minors to hold shares via a trustee, especially where legal or contractual responsibilities are involved.

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