Tax relief firm opens new office in Birmingham business district

An R&D tax relief firm has opened its first office in the West Midlands to capitalise on demand from engineering and manufacturing firms in the region.

Jumpstart, which is headquartered in Edinburgh, has opened a new office in Cornwall Buildings, Newhall Street in the heart of Birmingham’s business district.

The company helps firms recover tax relief on their research and development costs and it has already been involved in 110 successful claims in the region, prompting the move to expand into the area.

The opening of the new office follows the appointment of Wendy Smith as business development manager. She will be working with a team of technical analysts to secure firms the right type of relief.

Ms Smith is tasked with engaging with 100 local firms in the first year and, working with colleagues Sandy Findlay and Anthony Beak to build a network of professional intermediaries, including accountants, lawyers and business consultants.

“The West Midlands is rich in manufacturing expertise, especially across automotive, aerospace and rail, making it a natural fit for the next part of our expansion,” said Ms Smith.

“These type of firms, who thrive on innovation and doing things differently, are in a perfect position to claim significant R&D tax relief, but so many don’t take advantage or they do not use a partner that gets them the best possible return.”

If the region is as effective at claiming its R&D tax relief as its counterparts in London and the South East, the firm estimates it could be between £47m and £64m per year better off – money that can then be invested in new equipment, plant and jobs.

The firm is looking to double the number of companies it supports by 2018.

To help with its work, the firm can call on specialists in the scientific and technical sector, including chemists, engineers, material scientists, physicists and software engineers. All of them have come through an internal academy and are fully trained on the latest legislation.

“There’s a lot of organisations committed to helping local industry achieve innovation and R&D and 2017 will be a big year for firms investing in automotive, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing growth areas, such as including additive manufacturing, connectivity, robotics and automation,” added Ms Smith.

“It’s an exciting time to be investing in the region and growing our presence in the West Midlands.”