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SLONEC Advisory Group United Kingdom Your route into the UK

Your route into the UK

Company set-up, compliance and growth support for African businesses and investors.

Establish your UK presence properly, with a UK firm that understands how business works in Africa.

Office

Canary Wharf, London

Led by

Ishmael Bangura

Engagement

One UK contract

At a glance

London

Engagements contracted from Level 37, 1 Canada Square

UK contract for the whole engagement

2023

SLONEC founded in Freetown, Sierra Leone

Why the UK, and what gets in the way

The UK is a natural base for African businesses going international. Getting set up correctly is where many first-time entrants lose time and money.

Access to capital

One of the world’s deepest pools of investors, lenders and financial services.

A trusted jurisdiction

English law and UK companies are widely recognised by partners and investors.

Familiar foundations

English language and a common-law heritage shared with much of Anglophone Africa.

A gateway to wider markets

A base for trading with Europe, the Commonwealth and beyond.

Common obstacles

Opening a bank account

UK banks can be slow or reluctant to open accounts for companies with directors based abroad.

Strict compliance

Companies House filings, identity verification and HMRC deadlines, with penalties for delays.

Tax registrations

Corporation tax, VAT and PAYE each have their own rules and thresholds.

People and permits

UK Entry Advisory

UK market and opportunity assessment
Structure choice: subsidiary, branch or holding
UK tax overview for your group
Banking and payments options review
Business plan, budget and timeline
Board-ready briefing

Set-up & Registration

Company formation at Companies House, through an authorised formation partner
Registered office and service address, through the same partner
Director identity verification support
Corporation tax, VAT and PAYE registration
Business bank account support
Visas and immigration, via regulated partners

Compliance & Growth

Bookkeeping and management accounts
Statutory accounts and confirmation statements
Corporation tax and VAT returns
Payroll and pension auto-enrolment
Company secretarial support
Group reporting back to your African parent

We do not give immigration advice. Visa and immigration matters are handled by our regulated immigration partner firms, coordinated alongside your company set-up.

Choosing your UK structure

How you set up in the UK affects tax, liability, banking and how investors see you. We compare the options before anything is registered.

Structure	What it is	Liability	Registration	Usually best for
No UK entity	Selling to UK customers directly or through a distributor	Stays with your African company	None, beyond any tax obligations	Testing demand before committing
UK establishment (branch)	Your African company registered to operate in the UK	Parent company carries liability	Companies House and HMRC	Project work or a small UK team
UK private limited subsidiary	A separate UK company owned by your business	Limited to the UK company	Companies House and HMRC	Trading, hiring and banking in the UK
UK holding company	A UK company that owns your group or new ventures	Limited to each company	Companies House and HMRC	Raising investment or organising a group

The right structure depends on your sector, tax position and plans. We confirm it with you during the Plan stage, with specialist tax partners where needed. General information, not legal or tax advice.

How we work with you

A clear, four-step engagement that can start while you are still in Africa. Timelines are agreed in writing at the start.

Conversation

Understand your plans for the UK, budget and timeline. Agree scope and fees in writing.

You get: engagement letter and scope.

Plan

Recommend the right UK structure. Map tax, banking and any visa needs.

You get: uK Entry Plan.

Establish

Form the company and complete registrations. Support banking; coordinate visas with partners.

You get: a registered UK company, ready to trade.

Operate

Run bookkeeping, payroll and filings. Report to you and your group, wherever you are.

You get: monthly or quarterly reporting pack.

Specialist, regulated firms where the work requires it

We coordinate every partner so you keep one point of contact. As each partnership is confirmed, the partner is named here.

How we choose partners: properly authorised or regulated for their work, references checked, signed quality and confidentiality standards.

Regulated immigration advisers

Immigration

Corporate and commercial law

Legal

Business banking and payments

Banking

Specialist and international tax

Tax

Office and workspace

Property

Business and employer cover

Insurance

Every engagement is led personally from the UK

Ishmael Bangura

Founder & CEO · Head of SLONEC Advisory (UK)

Professional accountant who founded SLONEC in Freetown in April 2023 to raise the standard of professional services in Sierra Leone and across Africa. Ishmael leads SLONEC Advisory from the UK and is personally accountable for every client engagement.

Scopes every engagement and agrees terms with clients
Selects and supervises partner firms
Signs off all advice, reports and filings
Reports directly to each client’s leadership

Questions African founders ask us

Short answers to the questions that come up in first conversations.

Can I set up a UK company without living in the UK?

Yes. UK law does not require directors or shareholders of a private limited company to live in the UK. Every director must verify their identity with Companies House, which can be done from abroad, and the company needs a UK registered office address. Our engagement can start while you are still in Africa.

Should I open a branch or a subsidiary?

It depends on your sector, tax position and plans; the table above compares the options and we confirm the choice with you in the Plan stage.

How long do UK company formation and bank account opening take?

Registering the company itself is usually the quick part once identity checks and documents are in order. Opening a business bank account often takes longer, because each bank runs its own checks on owners and directors based abroad. We give you a realistic plan at the start and keep you updated; we do not promise dates that depend on Companies House, HMRC or a bank.

Do you give visa or immigration advice?

No. Visa and immigration matters are handled by regulated immigration partner firms, coordinated by us alongside your company set-up.

Can you report back to our parent company in Africa?

Yes. Group reporting back to your African parent is part of our Compliance & Growth service line.

What does an engagement cost?

Fees are agreed in writing after the first conversation, because they depend on the structure and services you need.

Planning to establish
in the UK?

Start with a conversation. We will tell you plainly what it involves, how long it takes and what it costs.

London office

Level 37, 1 Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5AA

Email · WhatsApp

ibangura@slonec.com · +232 73 253666

Freetown office

1 Hannah Benka-Coker Street, Freetown

Your route into Africa

Also available

For UK businesses, investors and the diaspora entering Africa.

Start with a conversation

Tell us where you are and where you want to go. We reply to every enquiry by email.

We use your details only to respond, as set out in our privacy notice.

Your route into the UK