1st Formations, the company formation agent that has helped entrepreneurs start their businesses for more than 15 years, has been named a finalist in The Vistage Growth Business of the Year Award at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026.
Describing itself as the UK’s leading company formation agent, the firm supports every kind of business, from first-time founders to seasoned entrepreneurs and growing SMEs, with fast, reliable, expert-backed formation services, always-on support, accessible pricing and exclusive resources for every stage of building a company. It operates in a competitive market where trust, speed and quality of support determine who founders choose when starting out. Its services are detailed on the 1st Formations website, which states that the firm is an Authorised Corporate Service Provider, approved to carry out identity verification and submit filings on behalf of clients in compliance with Companies House regulations.
Market leadership with social impact
What differentiates the business, it says, is its conviction that market leadership and positive social impact go hand in hand. It is the first company formation agent to achieve certified B Corporation status, meeting rigorous, independently verified standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency. The firm has been certified carbon neutral for five consecutive years and donates more than 3,000 square feet of its office space free of charge to seven charities, enabling them to pursue their missions without the burden of overheads.
Inclusivity is central to its purpose. The company partners with charities and programmes that champion entrepreneurs from underrepresented backgrounds, including a six-year, six-figure charitable partnership with WONDER Foundation and sponsorship of the neurodiversity and race equality clusters at LSE Generate, the London School of Economics’ entrepreneurship hub, helping to build a startup ecosystem that is open to all.
Customers at the heart
The firm reports that it is the most rated company in its industry, with more than 27,000 verified reviews across Google and Trustpilot, and it treats that feedback as fuel: structured feedback loops directly shape its product roadmap, ensuring services evolve around genuine customer needs.
Taken together, the business argues, an industry-first B Corp certification, sustained carbon neutrality, charitable giving, customer trust and a deep commitment to inclusive entrepreneurship define who it is: not simply a formation agent, but proof that commercial excellence and doing good belong together.
A finalist among Britain’s best
1st Formations now joins the shortlist for The Vistage Growth Business of the Year Award, which recognises businesses with revenues up to £25m achieving growth across financial, customer and people metrics. The winner will be announced at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards ceremony at Grosvenor House, London on 10 November 2026, where the formation agent will learn whether its blend of scale and purpose has earned the national title.
