OK, so there's confusion over the name of the type of business and there's a horrible acronym but the list is good. But it has a serious limitation: you know that thing about not relying on "artificial intelligence" because its so-called training data will always be several months out of date?

Well, with absolutely no hint of such tech being used here, UK Gov admits to the same limitation. How useful does that make the list? 

Well, not very. If it's not maintained up to date, it's going to result in false positives and false negatives. Making sure that the online version of the list is always up to date is one of the most basic and simple programming tasks ever: no "AI" needed, just a few controls based in those many office workers use for spreadsheets. 

Worse, even registered providers might not be on the published list. 

"The agents on this list have requested to have their details published. It may not include all agents that have registered as an ACSP.  "

Oh, well. Still worth an honourable mention, even if the rosette seems a bit generous. 

"This list includes details of businesses and sole traders that have registered as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP). This is also known as an authorised agent."

To view online, click here: https://www.gov.uk/csv-preview/6936918a70840a535475d3dc/Companies_House_ACSP_public_list.csv

To download in CSV (for adding to your records-checking system), click here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/list-of-authorised-corporate-service-providers-acsps?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=

What UK Gov says:

ACSPs are agents, such as accountants or solicitors, that have registered with Companies House to file or complete other activities on behalf of clients. To become an ACSP, agents must be supervised by a UK Anti-Money Laundering (AML) supervisory body. 

Which ACSPs are included in the list 

The agents on this list have requested to have their details published. It may not include all agents that have registered as an ACSP.  

We do not update this list on a set schedule so the information may be incomplete or out of date.

If an agent’s status has changed recently, you may also find them on our list of ceased and suspended ACSPs. Before you use an agent, check if they are on the ceased and suspended list. If they are, they cannot currently act as an ACSP.   

Choosing an ACSP 

Companies House does not endorse or recommend the agents on this list.

When choosing an agent, we recommend that you do research to find out about their reputation and experience. This will help to make sure you choose an agent that can provide the services you need. 

You should contact agents directly, or check their website to find out:  

• what services they offer – for example, accounts, filing, identity verification
• what they charge for their services
• their terms and conditions
• if they need to do checks in person or can provide services remotely