Clear advice, careful analysis and work we can defend

    Every client relationship begins with a simple commitment: to approach your claim with the same care and diligence we would expect for our own. We take time to understand your business and provide considered guidance rather than treating a claim as a form-filling exercise.

    Our standard

    We would rather turn work away than file something we could not defend.

    Working this way takes time. It means understanding the underlying science or technology, asking direct questions and distinguishing supportable activity from work that falls outside the rules.

    Commitment

    The same people year after year, with you for the long term.

    Transparency

    You will understand what we recommend, why we recommend it and what it costs.

    Accountability

    We put our name to our work and take responsibility for the advice we give.

    Candour

    If we do not believe we can help, we will tell you plainly and early.

    How we put that approach into practice

    1

    Understand the work

    We speak with the people closest to the project, not only the finance team, to understand what was attempted and where the real technical challenges arose.

    2

    Test the position

    We assess the work against the relevant legislation and guidance. A difficult, costly or innovative project does not qualify unless the statutory conditions are met.

    3

    Follow the evidence

    We connect the technical account to contemporaneous records and expenditure. Where the evidence does not support a position, we identify that before submission.

    4

    Review carefully

    Technical and financial support is reviewed for consistency, accuracy and appropriate boundaries before a claim is finalised.

    5

    Stay accountable

    We explain the completed position clearly, coordinate with your accountant where appropriate and support the claim if HMRC asks questions.

    Our Letter of Engagement

    You sign nothing until we have been through your projects

    The engagement letter is often the first thing a client is asked to sign. Ours comes after the eligibility work is done.

    We start with a deep dive into your qualifying activity. That might be one meeting or several, working through the technical detail of each project. We only put a letter of engagement in front of you once we all agree there is qualifying activity, that it is evidenced, and that we have identified at least one competent professional in the relevant field.

    Even then it is not a one-way door. If the qualifying expenditure turns out to be too small for a claim to be worth your while, you can step away with no charge and no obligation.

    There are two reasons we work this way. Nobody should feel pressured into submitting an R&D claim, and you should have every opportunity to decide whether we are the right fit before you commit to anything.

    It is the arrangement we would want if the business were ours.

    Partnership beyond submission

    We build relationships that extend beyond a single submission. That includes helping teams improve project records, understanding changes to the rules and responding when HMRC requests further information.

    Our recommendations remain proportionate to the evidence and the company's circumstances. We explain uncertainty and limitations rather than presenting an outcome as guaranteed.

    Learn more about our compliance approach or contact us to discuss your position.