ACSP Identity Verification & Companies House Compliance for Employers

Is Your Firm Ready for the Biggest Shift in UK Corporate Compliance in Decades?

The Challenge: The new Companies House regime is the most significant change to corporate compliance in a generation. With AI-generated fraud on the rise and strict new identity standards, the "old way" of filing is now a liability.

The Solution: Our ACSP Identity Verification training provides a definitive roadmap for employers and service providers. We cut through the regulatory jargon to provide a clear, six-step process for manual and digital document verification that satisfies even the strictest regulators.

Why attend?

• Compliance: Ensure your filings are never rejected.
• Security: Learn to identify sophisticated modern fraud.
• Strategy: Make informed decisions about your firm’s ACSP registration.

This course is designed to transition your firm into the new regime with confidence. We move beyond the theory to give you practical tools for detecting document fraud, implementing rigorous IDV procedures, and navigating the new verification standards.

Is this for In-House Teams? Absolutely. While in-house teams filing for their own employer may not need to register as an ACSP, they are still responsible for ensuring all company officers are verified. This course gives In-House Legal and Co-Sec teams the expertise to:

• Carry out internal verification for Directors and PSCs to the mandatory Home Office standard.
• Avoid filing rejections and late penalties by mastering the new identity personal codes.
• Protect the company from "Document Fraud" and AI-generated identity theft.

Stop worrying about the 2026 deadline. Get the specialist knowledge required to stay compliant, stay competitive, and stay ahead of the regulators.

09:30 Understanding the ACSP Regime and Mastering the Six-Step IDV Standard
• Learn why 150,000 fraudulent connections triggered the biggest Companies House compliance change in decades
• Assess the impact on your firm and your 7 million affected clients including directors and PSCs
• Avoid the competitive disadvantage of delaying registration whilst competitors secure ACSP status
• Master the six mandatory steps to meet Companies House identity verification standards and avoid rejection
• Understand why ACSP requirements differ fundamentally from standard AML procedures including fixed not risk-based approach
• Learn both verification options: IDVT cryptographic validation and manual document checking with Group A and B documents
• Understand how IDVT validates identity documents

09:45 Understanding Document Fraud
• Understand the different types of fraudulent documents and how these can be exploited by fraudsters
• Learn about the basic rules that govern the manufacture and issuing of identity documents
• Understand about the different manufacturing processes involved in creating identity documents
• Recognise variations across British passports, DVLA licences and documents from Wales, Northern Ireland, Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man

10:30 COMFORT BREAK

10:40 Mastering the Document Examination Approach and Fraud Detection
• Detect counterfeit, forgery and fraudulently obtained documents plus AI-generated threats using the ACE-V examination method
• Apply look, feel, tilt principles for physical documents and digital image assessment techniques to spot tampering
• Examine critical security features including holograms, background print, watermarks, UV features and laser perforations
• Spot common counterfeiting errors in portrait areas, background print, data sharpness and signatures that criminals frequently get wrong

11:30 COMFORT BREAK

11:40 High Risk Supporting Documents and Practical Document Fraud Detection 
• Verify high-risk supporting documents including bank statements, payslips, utility bills, council tax, mortgage statements and birth certificates
• Access essential comparison resources: EdisonTD, PRADO, EU driving licence models and OECD databases to verify document authenticity
• Identify the false feature - A practical group session walking through fraudulent documents and how to put your learning into practice

12:40 Understanding the Threat Posed by AI, Technical Analysis Tips and Basic Facial Examination
• Understanding the document fraud threat posed by AI and document generator websites
• The opportunities of technical analysis when examining submitted images of documents
• Basic facial examination - How the ACE-V method can be used to verify the holder of an identity document

12:55 Final Q&A

13:00 End of training

What you will learn:

The ACSP Framework & Compliance

• Navigating the November 2026 mandate: Who must register and why.
• The 6-step Identity Verification (IDV) standard.
• Why ACSP differs from standard AML/CDD: GPG 45 and 7-year retention.

Document Security & Examination

• Mastering the ACE-V method (Analyse, Compare, Evaluate, Verify).
• Physical security features: Holograms, UV, OVI, and tactile elements.
• Digital assessment: Detecting tampering in image-based submissions.

The Fraud Landscape

• Spotting AI-generated documents and sophisticated "Doc-Gen" templates.
• Decoding UK passports and DVLA licenses (including driver number patterns).
• Verifying high-risk secondary evidence like utility bills and tax records.

Global Resources & Facial Matching

• Navigating EdisonTD, PRADO, and national checking portals.
• Facial examination: Comparing global and local features for ID matching.

Who should attend?

This workshop is essential for any professional firm acting as a third-party filer. If your organization submits documents to Companies House on behalf of clients, you must transition to the ACSP regime to maintain your service capabilities.

Targeted roles:

• Compliance Officers & MLROs: To align ACSP requirements with existing AML/KYC frameworks.
• Partners & Directors: At Accountancy and Law firms responsible for strategic regulatory decisions.
• Company Secretaries: To ensure seamless, uninterrupted filing services for client portfolios.
• Onboarding & Identity Teams: For those performing the "boots-on-the-ground" verification and document checking.

Strategic outcomes for your firm:

• Decision Support: Determine whether IDVT (Digital Technology) or Manual Verification is the most cost-effective and compliant route for your specific business model.
• Risk Mitigation: Gain the specialist skills to avoid the criminal offences and reputational damage associated with failed verification.
• Future-Proofing: Complete your ACSP transition well ahead of the November 2026 mandatory deadline.

What does BFI specialise in?
BFI provides expert-led training in HR compliance, employment law, immigration for employers, union relations, workplace inclusion, and AI and talent solutions.

Who typically attends your courses?
Attendees include HR managers, legal teams, compliance officers, operations leaders, and public sector employers.

Are your trainers practitioners?
Yes. All trainers are experienced specialists; we feature practitioners from the public and private sectors as well as lawyers, policy advisers, former regulators, and consultants.

How do I book a course?
Choose an event on the website and click Register. You can pay online with a credit card or request an invoice.

Do you accept purchase orders?
Yes. Public and private-sector organisations may use PO numbers. These can be added during the registration process, or can be retrospectively added to am invoice if the place has been booked already.

We need to set you up as a Supplier, can you complete a form or send me over your company information?
Yes, we can do either; please contact us via info@bfi.co.uk

Can I get a PO number added to our invoice?
Yes, please send details through to info@bfi.co.uk or reply to us using your confirmation email

Do you offer group discounts?
Yes. Discounts for multiple bookings are automatically applied at checkout. For groups of over ten, it may be more cost-effective to run the course in-house. Call 01983 861133 for details

Can I transfer my place to another date or colleague?
Yes. Substitutions are free, and transfers are typically allowed within a set timeframe.

What is your cancellation policy?
BFI follows standard UK training-industry cancellation terms.

How are online courses delivered?
Training is delivered live via Zoom with interactive Q\&A and case-based discussion.

Will I receive slides and supporting materials?
Yes. Attendees receive slides, templates (where relevant), and many other useful documents and links.

Will I receive a copy of the event recording?
Our monthly subscription and webinar clients receive recordings of the live sessions; otherwise we do not record our courses to encourage confidential discussion and questions under the Chatham House Rule

What time zone are online events delivered in?
All events are delivered in UTC / London time unless otherwise stated

What is included in in-person events?
Full-day training includes refreshments, full documentation which is emailed prior to the event and networking opportunities.

Are your venues accessible?
Yes. All venues are fully accessible.

Are your courses CPD-certified?
Many courses are accredited by The CPD Certification Service.

Can I ask questions about my organisation’s situation?
Yes. Trainers answer questions during the session and can respond afterward.

Will the training help us prepare for an audit?
Yes, on our audit courses you will learn what triggers visits, what officers look for, and how to evidence compliance.

Will I receive a certificate?
Yes. All attendees receive a digital certificate of course completion.

Do you offer private or in-house training?
Yes. All courses can be tailored for your team. Visit https://bfi.co.uk/team-training/

Do you offer consultancy?
Yes. BFI offers policy reviews, audit preparation, HR compliance support, and workforce advisory services.