Self-registered SME Member Registration

Self-Registered business registration guide

This guide explains how to register your business as a Self-Registered business through the MSDUK Portal.

Self-Registered Membership is free and allows your business to create a profile, build visibility, receive MSDUK updates, and appear in the MSDUK Supplier Directory.

Please note that Self-Registered Membership is not the same as MSDUK Certification. Self-Registered businesses do not receive MSDUK certification, a certification badge, or a certificate.

Self-Registered Membership benefits

Self-Registered Membership gives your business access to selected MSDUK benefits, including:

• Access to MSDUK opportunities emails
• Access to supplier readiness programmes, subject to availability
• MSDUK newsletters
• Profile visibility in the MSDUK Supplier Directory, searchable by corporate members
• Invitations to selected virtual and in-person networking events

If you want full certification benefits, including globally recognised ethnic minority business certification and full access to corporate opportunities, you should apply for Certified Business Membership instead.

Before you start

Before starting your registration, make sure you have the key business information ready.

You may need:

• Company registration number
• Business contact details
• Business email address
• Company website
• Primary and secondary phone numbers, where applicable
• Business profile information
• Capability statement, if available
• Ownership details

For Self-Registered Membership, you do not need to upload certification documents such as proof of turnover or passport/visa documents as part of the registration process.

Using accurate and up-to-date information will help avoid delays and make your business profile stronger.

Starting your registration

Go to the MSDUK website and select Join Today.

This will take you to the MSDUK Portal, where you can choose the relevant registration option.

On the portal login page, select the option to register as an SME.

Choose your registration type

You will be asked to choose your registration type.

Select Free Self-Registration.

Then select Register to continue.

Create your user account

Complete the account registration form to create your user account.

You will need to enter details such as:

• First name
• Last name
• Company registration number
• Email address
• Email confirmation
• Password
• Password confirmation

You must also agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy before registering.

This user account allows you to log in and complete the registration at your own pace.

Verify your email address

After registering, you may be asked to verify your email address.

Check your inbox for the verification email and follow the instructions.

If you do not receive the email, select Resend Verification Email.

If you need help, contact support@msduk.org.uk.

Registration sections

Once your account has been created and verified, you can begin the registration.

The Self-Registered business form is similar to the Certified SME application, but some certification-related documents are not required.

The registration includes the following sections:

1. Important notes
2. Business details
3. Business Profile
4. Ownership

You can move between sections and complete your information.

If a section is incomplete, the portal will show this clearly so you know what still needs to be completed.

1. Important notes

The Important notes section provides key information about the registration process.

Read this section carefully before completing the rest of the form.

It may include guidance on what Self-Registered Membership includes, what information you need to provide, and what happens after registration.

You should only continue once you understand the requirements and have the relevant information ready.

2. Business details

The Business details section asks for key information about your company.

Some details may be automatically populated from Companies House, such as:

• Legal structure
• Business name
• Registered address
• Geographical coverage
• SIC codes
• Company founding information

You can update the information if anything is incorrect or needs to be changed.

If your legal structure is not listed in the dropdown, contact support@msduk.org.uk.

Follow the on-screen instructions and answer each question accurately.

Trading name

If your business uses a trading name that is different from the registered business name, select Yes when asked whether you have a trading name.

A text box will appear where you can enter your trading name.

Company address

Your company address may be pre-filled using information from Companies House.

If you need to update the address manually, select Yes when asked whether you want to enter the address manually.

You can then enter or update the address details.

Contact details

Enter your company contact details.

This may include:

• Primary phone number
• Secondary phone number, where applicable
• Business email address
• Company website

The country code may be automatically selected as the UK, but you can change it if needed.

Make sure these details are correct, as they may be used for registration communication and member profile information.

3. Business Profile

The Business Profile section asks you to describe your business and the services you provide.

This information helps MSDUK understand your business and helps corporate members find relevant suppliers in the MSDUK Supplier Directory.

You may be asked to provide:

• Business description
• Business logo
• Year founded
• Number of employees
• VAT number, where applicable
• Geographical coverage
• SIC codes
• Industry sectors
• Services offered
• Largest contract value delivered
• Elevator pitch
• Key clients
• Capability statement, where available

Make sure your business description and elevator pitch are clear and specific.

Your profile may be visible to corporate members, so this is an important opportunity to present your business properly.

Capability statement

You can upload a capability statement as part of your business profile.

A capability statement helps explain what your business does, the services you provide, your experience, and why corporate members should consider working with you.

If you have one, upload the latest version so your profile is as strong as possible.

Industry, services, and key clients

Select the industry sector your company belongs to and the services you offer.

You may be able to select multiple options where applicable.

You should also include your largest contract value delivered and write an elevator pitch so corporate members can understand your business quickly.

For key clients, select your top clients you have worked with from the dropdown if they are available.

If you cannot find a client in the dropdown, select Other and enter the details manually.

4. Ownership

The Ownership section asks for details about the business owners.

You will need to provide ownership information so MSDUK can understand the ownership structure of the business.

If you are an owner of the company, select Yes and your personal details may be used to pre-fill part of the form.

If you are not the owner, you will need to enter the owner’s email address, address, and contact details.

Consent for sharing data

You may be asked to confirm whether MSDUK can share specific data with funders.

This may apply where MSDUK activities or programmes are funded by external agencies.

Read the consent wording carefully before selecting your answer.

Review and submit

Once all required sections are complete, you will be able to review your registration.

Before submitting, check that all information is accurate.

If something is incorrect, go back to the relevant section and update it before continuing.

Select Review & Submit when you are ready.

No payment is required

Self-Registered Membership is free.

You do not need to complete payment to submit a Self-Registered business registration.

After submitting, your business profile will be reviewed or processed by MSDUK.

After submission

After submission, you will see a confirmation message.

You may also receive a confirmation email after successfully submitting your registration.

Once your registration has been processed, you should be able to access the relevant Self-Registered business features through the MSDUK Portal.

Important note about certification

Self-Registered businesses are not MSDUK Certified.

This means you will not receive:

• MSDUK certification
• MSDUK certification badge
• MSDUK certificate
• Certified business status

Your business may appear as MSDUK Self-Registered in the supplier directory or search results.

If you want your business to become MSDUK Certified, you will need to apply for Certified Business Membership and complete the full certification process.

Need help?

If you face any issues with registration, contact MSDUK at support@msduk.org.uk.

Include your company name, registered email address, and a short explanation of the issue so the team can help you quickly.

Summary

To register as a Self-Registered business:

1. Go to the MSDUK website.
2. Select Join Today.
3. Choose the SME registration option.
4. Select Free Self-Registration.
5. Create your user account.
6. Verify your email address.
7. Review the important notes.
8. Complete the Business details section.
9. Complete the Business Profile section.
10. Add a capability statement, where available.
11. Complete the Ownership section.
12. Review and submit your registration.
13. Wait for confirmation from MSDUK.

Remember: Self-Registered Membership is free, but it does not provide MSDUK Certification.