# UK Companies House Scraper (`opendata-labs/companieshouse-scraper`) Actor
Scrape the official UK Companies House register — companies, directors/officers and persons with significant control (PSC) — through the government's own free API. Built for B2B prospecting, recruiting, KYC and due diligence.
- **URL**: https://apify.com/opendata-labs/companieshouse-scraper.md
- **Developed by:** [Joao Paulo](https://apify.com/opendata-labs) (community)
- **Categories:** Lead generation, Automation, Integrations
- **Stats:** 1 total users, 1 monthly users, 0.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet
## Pricing
Pay per usage
This Actor is paid per platform usage. The Actor is free to use, and you only pay for the Apify platform usage, which gets cheaper the higher subscription plan you have.
Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-usage
## What's an Apify Actor?
Actors are a software tools running on the Apify platform, for all kinds of web data extraction and automation use cases.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.
Actors are written with capital "A".
## How to integrate an Actor?
If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.
The best way to integrate Actors is as follows.
In JavaScript/TypeScript projects, use official [JavaScript/TypeScript client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js.md):
```bash
npm install apify-client
```
In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python.md):
```bash
pip install apify-client
```
In shell scripts, use [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md):
````bash
# MacOS / Linux
curl -fsSL https://apify.com/install-cli.sh | bash
# Windows
irm https://apify.com/install-cli.ps1 | iex
```bash
In AI frameworks, you might use the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/platform/integrations/mcp.md).
If your project is in a different language, use the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md).
For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below.
For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt).
# README
## UK Companies House Scraper
Extract data from the **official UK Companies House register** — the government's own database of every company registered in the United Kingdom. This Actor talks directly to the official Companies House public API, so the data is authoritative, always up to date, and never breaks.
Perfect for **B2B lead generation, sales prospecting, recruiting, KYC, AML and due diligence**.
### What you can scrape
| Mode | What you get |
| --- | --- |
| **Search companies** | Find companies by name, location, industry (SIC code), status and incorporation date. One row per company. |
| **Company details** | Full company profile for a list of company numbers — status, type, addresses, SIC codes, accounts and filing due dates. |
| **Officers / directors** | Directors and officers of a company — name, role, appointment/resignation dates, nationality, occupation, partial date of birth and address. |
| **Persons with significant control (PSC)** | The beneficial owners of a company — name, nature of control, nationality and country of residence. Essential for KYC / due diligence. |
### Free API key required (2-minute setup)
Companies House provides the data for free, but every request needs a free API key:
1. Go to
2. Sign in (or create a free account) and register a new application of type **REST**.
3. Copy the application's **API key** and paste it into the `apiKey` field.
That's it — there is no charge from Companies House for using the register.
### Example input
Search for active software companies in London:
```json
{
"mode": "search",
"apiKey": "YOUR_FREE_API_KEY",
"query": "",
"companyStatus": "active",
"location": "London",
"sicCodes": "62012,62020",
"maxItems": 500
}
````
Get the directors of specific companies:
```json
{
"mode": "officers",
"apiKey": "YOUR_FREE_API_KEY",
"companyNumbers": ["00445790", "SC123456"]
}
```
### Output
Results are returned as a clean, flat dataset that you can export to **JSON, CSV or Excel**, or pull through the Apify API. Use the **Overview** table view for a quick look.
### Notes
- Data comes straight from Companies House — this Actor performs no scraping of rendered web pages and needs no proxies.
- Companies House exposes only the **month and year** of an officer's date of birth (never the day), in line with its privacy rules; this Actor reflects that.
- Rate limits (600 requests / 5 minutes) are handled automatically with back-off.
### Keywords
UK company data, Companies House API, company registration data, UK business directory, director search, company officers, persons with significant control, PSC data, KYC, AML, due diligence, B2B lead generation, sales prospecting, UK companies scraper, business intelligence.
# Actor input Schema
## `mode` (type: `string`):
What to scrape. 'search' finds companies by name/location/industry filters (one row per company). 'company\_details' returns full profiles for a list of company numbers. 'officers' returns directors & officers (one row each) for a list of company numbers. 'psc' returns persons with significant control (beneficial owners) for a list of company numbers.
## `apiKey` (type: `string`):
Your free Companies House API key. Register at https://developer.company-information.service.gov.uk/ , create an application of type 'REST' and copy its API key. Takes about 2 minutes and is completely free.
## `query` (type: `string`):
Search mode only. Return companies whose name contains this text. Leave empty to match all (combine with location or SIC codes).
## `companyStatus` (type: `string`):
Search mode only. Filter by status. Comma-separate multiple values (e.g. 'active,dissolved'). Common values: active, dissolved, liquidation, administration, open, closed.
## `location` (type: `string`):
Search mode only. Filter by registered office location (town/city, e.g. 'London', 'Manchester').
## `sicCodes` (type: `string`):
Search mode only. Filter by SIC (industry) code. Comma-separate multiple codes (e.g. '62012,62020' for software). See https://resources.companieshouse.gov.uk/sic/
## `incorporatedFrom` (type: `string`):
Search mode only. Only include companies incorporated on or after this date.
## `incorporatedTo` (type: `string`):
Search mode only. Only include companies incorporated on or before this date.
## `companyNumbers` (type: `array`):
For 'company\_details', 'officers' and 'psc' modes. The list of Companies House company numbers to look up (e.g. \['00445790', 'SC123456']).
## `maxItems` (type: `integer`):
Stop after pushing this many rows to the dataset.
## Actor input object example
```json
{
"mode": "search",
"companyStatus": "active",
"companyNumbers": [],
"maxItems": 1000
}
```
# API
You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.
## JavaScript example
```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';
// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
token: '',
});
// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
"query": "",
"companyStatus": "active",
"location": "",
"sicCodes": "",
"incorporatedFrom": "",
"incorporatedTo": "",
"companyNumbers": []
};
// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("opendata-labs/companieshouse-scraper").call(input);
// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
console.dir(item);
});
// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs
```
## Python example
```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient
# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("")
# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {
"query": "",
"companyStatus": "active",
"location": "",
"sicCodes": "",
"incorporatedFrom": "",
"incorporatedTo": "",
"companyNumbers": [],
}
# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("opendata-labs/companieshouse-scraper").call(run_input=run_input)
# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"])
for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items():
print(item)
# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start
```
## CLI example
```bash
echo '{
"query": "",
"companyStatus": "active",
"location": "",
"sicCodes": "",
"incorporatedFrom": "",
"incorporatedTo": "",
"companyNumbers": []
}' |
apify call opendata-labs/companieshouse-scraper --silent --output-dataset
```
## MCP server setup
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"apify": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"mcp-remote",
"https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=opendata-labs/companieshouse-scraper",
"--header",
"Authorization: Bearer "
]
}
}
}
```
## OpenAPI specification
```json
{
"openapi": "3.0.1",
"info": {
"title": "UK Companies House Scraper",
"description": "Scrape the official UK Companies House register — companies, directors/officers and persons with significant control (PSC) — through the government's own free API. Built for B2B prospecting, recruiting, KYC and due diligence.",
"version": "0.1",
"x-build-id": "RhPwTeDrPWWs1DM32"
},
"servers": [
{
"url": "https://api.apify.com/v2"
}
],
"paths": {
"/acts/opendata-labs~companieshouse-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items": {
"post": {
"operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-opendata-labs-companieshouse-scraper",
"x-openai-isConsequential": false,
"summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for its completion, and returns Actor's dataset items in response.",
"tags": [
"Run Actor"
],
"requestBody": {
"required": true,
"content": {
"application/json": {
"schema": {
"$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema"
}
}
}
},
"parameters": [
{
"name": "token",
"in": "query",
"required": true,
"schema": {
"type": "string"
},
"description": "Enter your Apify token here"
}
],
"responses": {
"200": {
"description": "OK"
}
}
}
},
"/acts/opendata-labs~companieshouse-scraper/runs": {
"post": {
"operationId": "runs-sync-opendata-labs-companieshouse-scraper",
"x-openai-isConsequential": false,
"summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.",
"tags": [
"Run Actor"
],
"requestBody": {
"required": true,
"content": {
"application/json": {
"schema": {
"$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema"
}
}
}
},
"parameters": [
{
"name": "token",
"in": "query",
"required": true,
"schema": {
"type": "string"
},
"description": "Enter your Apify token here"
}
],
"responses": {
"200": {
"description": "OK",
"content": {
"application/json": {
"schema": {
"$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema"
}
}
}
}
}
}
},
"/acts/opendata-labs~companieshouse-scraper/run-sync": {
"post": {
"operationId": "run-sync-opendata-labs-companieshouse-scraper",
"x-openai-isConsequential": false,
"summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.",
"tags": [
"Run Actor"
],
"requestBody": {
"required": true,
"content": {
"application/json": {
"schema": {
"$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema"
}
}
}
},
"parameters": [
{
"name": "token",
"in": "query",
"required": true,
"schema": {
"type": "string"
},
"description": "Enter your Apify token here"
}
],
"responses": {
"200": {
"description": "OK"
}
}
}
}
},
"components": {
"schemas": {
"inputSchema": {
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"mode": {
"title": "Mode",
"enum": [
"search",
"company_details",
"officers",
"psc"
],
"type": "string",
"description": "What to scrape. 'search' finds companies by name/location/industry filters (one row per company). 'company_details' returns full profiles for a list of company numbers. 'officers' returns directors & officers (one row each) for a list of company numbers. 'psc' returns persons with significant control (beneficial owners) for a list of company numbers.",
"default": "search"
},
"apiKey": {
"title": "Companies House API key (free)",
"type": "string",
"description": "Your free Companies House API key. Register at https://developer.company-information.service.gov.uk/ , create an application of type 'REST' and copy its API key. Takes about 2 minutes and is completely free."
},
"query": {
"title": "Company name contains",
"type": "string",
"description": "Search mode only. Return companies whose name contains this text. Leave empty to match all (combine with location or SIC codes)."
},
"companyStatus": {
"title": "Company status",
"type": "string",
"description": "Search mode only. Filter by status. Comma-separate multiple values (e.g. 'active,dissolved'). Common values: active, dissolved, liquidation, administration, open, closed."
},
"location": {
"title": "Location",
"type": "string",
"description": "Search mode only. Filter by registered office location (town/city, e.g. 'London', 'Manchester')."
},
"sicCodes": {
"title": "SIC codes",
"type": "string",
"description": "Search mode only. Filter by SIC (industry) code. Comma-separate multiple codes (e.g. '62012,62020' for software). See https://resources.companieshouse.gov.uk/sic/"
},
"incorporatedFrom": {
"title": "Incorporated from (YYYY-MM-DD)",
"type": "string",
"description": "Search mode only. Only include companies incorporated on or after this date."
},
"incorporatedTo": {
"title": "Incorporated to (YYYY-MM-DD)",
"type": "string",
"description": "Search mode only. Only include companies incorporated on or before this date."
},
"companyNumbers": {
"title": "Company numbers",
"type": "array",
"description": "For 'company_details', 'officers' and 'psc' modes. The list of Companies House company numbers to look up (e.g. ['00445790', 'SC123456']).",
"items": {
"type": "string"
}
},
"maxItems": {
"title": "Maximum items",
"minimum": 1,
"type": "integer",
"description": "Stop after pushing this many rows to the dataset.",
"default": 1000
}
}
},
"runsResponseSchema": {
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"data": {
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"id": {
"type": "string"
},
"actId": {
"type": "string"
},
"userId": {
"type": "string"
},
"startedAt": {
"type": "string",
"format": "date-time",
"example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z"
},
"finishedAt": {
"type": "string",
"format": "date-time",
"example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z"
},
"status": {
"type": "string",
"example": "READY"
},
"meta": {
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"origin": {
"type": "string",
"example": "API"
},
"userAgent": {
"type": "string"
}
}
},
"stats": {
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"inputBodyLen": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 2000
},
"rebootCount": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"restartCount": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"resurrectCount": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"computeUnits": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
}
}
},
"options": {
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"build": {
"type": "string",
"example": "latest"
},
"timeoutSecs": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 300
},
"memoryMbytes": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 1024
},
"diskMbytes": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 2048
}
}
},
"buildId": {
"type": "string"
},
"defaultKeyValueStoreId": {
"type": "string"
},
"defaultDatasetId": {
"type": "string"
},
"defaultRequestQueueId": {
"type": "string"
},
"buildNumber": {
"type": "string",
"example": "1.0.0"
},
"containerUrl": {
"type": "string"
},
"usage": {
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"DATASET_READS": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"DATASET_WRITES": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 1
},
"KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"PROXY_SERPS": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
}
}
},
"usageTotalUsd": {
"type": "number",
"example": 0.00005
},
"usageUsd": {
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"DATASET_READS": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"DATASET_WRITES": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": {
"type": "number",
"example": 0.00005
},
"KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"PROXY_SERPS": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
```