Partner with the best
We are more than just a service provider – we're your partner. Driven by purpose and rooted in responsibility, we've supported over one million founders in growing their dream businesses.
Who we help
Every business, from first-time founders to seasoned entrepreneurs and SMEs.
What we offer
Always-on support and exclusive resources for every stage of your business journey.
How we deliver
Providing reliable, expert-backed services, ensuring quick turnaround, and offering accessible pricing.
Our people
We're a team of 100+ dedicated professionals.
Meet a few of the passionate people driving our purpose forward.
Graeme Donnelly is the Founder and CEO of 1st Formations, bringing over 25 years of leadership experience in the startup and SME sectors.
A passionate advocate for entrepreneurship, Graeme has built a portfolio of successful companies under the BSQ Group, developing innovative business services that support thousands of entrepreneurs across the UK and also abroad.
Under his leadership, 1st Formations has become one of the most trusted names in UK company formation and small business support. It's now widely known for its customer-first ethos, commitment to quality, and award-winning services.
Graeme also champions sustainability and social impact through the company’s carbon net-zero status and ongoing support for local charities and community initiatives.
Nick is a Chartered Governance Professional and Company Secretary with over a decade of industry experience.
He joined 1st Formations in 2018 to initially establish and grow the company secretarial department.
Today, he holds a varied role, focusing on staff training and development to ensure company secretarial excellence, presenting the company’s YouTube channel, developing content across our website and services, and delivering webinars, speeches, and more.
Kate is an SEO Content Specialist who leads on content strategies that drive growth across our digital platforms.
She focuses on optimising performance through search-optimised content designed for both our customers and emerging technologies like generative AI search models and large language models (LLMs).
At the intersection of content, SEO and AI, Kate supports our mission to empower startups and small businesses to scale their online presence. Her strengths include SEO content strategy, brand voice development, and driving marketing performance through data-informed, engaging storytelling. She also brings a global perspective to the team, with fluency in French, Italian and Spanish.
Keziah leads the company’s sustainability strategy and corporate social responsibility efforts.
She established a key partnership with the WONDER Foundation, supporting vulnerable communities through education and advocacy.
Keziah also played a central role in achieving the company’s Carbon Net Zero commitment and Green Mark Level 2 certification, reinforcing a strong focus on ethical and environmental responsibility. She holds a Master of Science degree in Environmental Consultancy from Newcastle University, supporting her leadership in sustainable business practices.
Our journey
1st Formations is born
After 13 years supporting entrepreneurs through his virtual office business in Glasgow, our founder, Graeme Donnelly, recognised the need for a simple, all-in-one solution for new business owners.
Opening our first
London Office
With a central London office and a mission to simplify business formation, we officially launched. Combining intuitive online tools with expert support, 1st Formations quickly became the UK's leading company formation agent.
Launching our Digital Mailroom
We introduced our digital mailroom to simplify business correspondence. This secure service allows clients to access important mail from anywhere in the world.
Introducing our Full Company
Secretary Service
To ease the administrative burden, we introduced our Full Company Secretary Service, helping businesses stay compliant and focus on growth.
Our commitment to
sustainability
Inspired by the global climate discussions at COP26, we strengthened our long-standing commitment to sustainability, aligning our values with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.
Opening our new London HQ
We opened our new eco-friendly headquarters in central London, designed to support collaboration, innovation and sustainable growth.
A decade of empowering
entrepreneurs
We celebrated 10 years of supporting founders worldwide, with over 1 million companies formed across more than 150 countries.
The UK's first B Corp certified
company formation agent
In 2025, we became the UK's first certified B Corp company formation agent, reinforcing our commitment to balancing profit with purpose.
What makes us special?
25k+
Excellent reviews
1m
Companies formed
140
Experts in our team
Our culture
We believe how we work matters as much as what we achieve. That's why we put culture first, leading with integrity and wellbeing to create a workplace where people feel valued, supported, and inspired to do their best work.
Our values
Driven by customer needs
Everything we do starts with our customers. We go the extra mile to provide support – not just services – and build lasting relationships that help entrepreneurs grow and thrive.
Culture over revenue
Our culture is driven by purpose, not short-term gains. We value integrity, respect, and collaboration, and place our people's wellbeing at the heart of our success.
Promoting sustainability
We're building our business responsibly, so we work in ways that reduce our impact on the environment. Our growth is intentional, guided by long-term commitment to doing our part for the planet and for future generations.
For a better tomorrow
We aim to create meaningful change by supporting education, empowering communities, and backing charities that help build a brighter future.
Do the right thing
Doing the right thing guides everything we do. Transparency, honesty, accountability, and ethical decision-making shape how we work and support our customers.
We innovate with impact
We continuously explore smarter, more creative ways to simplify starting and running a business, so our customers can focus on what matters most.
From struggles to success
What began as a costly misstep became the catalyst for one of the UK's leading company formation services.
Through trial, failure, and reinvention, I transformed a struggling business into a thriving platform, empowering over 1 million entrepreneurs.
My journey is a reminder that great businesses are born from persistence and purpose. Read on to follow my journey.
Graeme Donnelly
CEO & Founder
