Company formation in the United Kingdom is the process of legally establishing a new business entity, which can take the form of a private limited company, public limited company, or limited liability partnership. This process is a pivotal step in giving a business its legal identity. It typically involves several key steps, including selecting a unique and appropriate company name, determining the company's structure, appointing directors and, if needed, a company secretary, and allocating share capital among initial shareholders. Once these foundational elements are in place, the business must register with Companies House, the UK's registrar of companies.