Companies Act 2006

The 1st October 2007 is the date on which the Companies Act 2006 starts to come into force.

After your hard work over the past few years it's important to take the time to stand back and celebrate our success in getting the UK's reformed companies legislation to include provisions for people and the environment (a world first!).

The CORE Coalition and the Trade Justice Movement have produced a campaigner's guide to the Companies Act. This guide provides advice and ideas on how activists and campaigners can use the new opportunities available because of the Companies Act to help improve the social and environmental performance of companies.

We're encouraging campaigners to consider this guide in addition to campaigning with their group on our priority campaign, The Big Ask, which is reaching a very important phase. MPs still need to be heavily lobbied to call for a strong Climate Bill at the 2nd Reading in mid November.

After the 2nd Reading of the Climate Bill, the Corporates & Trade team will be producing further resources, such as online actions, template letters and other resources to help you and your group identify what you can do to ensure that the companies you are worried about are complying with the new law.

Read the guide to see the opportunities available to you in the future

Further information

Act Now! A Campaigner's Guide to the Companies Act
(PDF† 1.712Mb) September 2007
This guide provides advice and ideas on how activists and campaigners can use the Companies Act to help improve the social and environmental performance of companies.

Companies Bill verdict
(PDF† 58K) November 2006
Make business work for people and planet - Companies Bill verdict. What did we achieve through campaigning on the Companies Bill, formerly the Company Law Reform Bill.