Industries
Sectors We Serve
HMRC requires proof of an "advance in overall knowledge or capability in a field of science or technology." This looks different in every industry. Below are the sectors we specialise in, with real-world examples of qualifying activities we document.
01
Food & Drink
Food and drink businesses may undertake R&D when developing products, improving shelf life, refining manufacturing methods or addressing technical production issues. Qualifying work can be overlooked because it is embedded in routine operational activity. A careful review helps distinguish standard commercial work from genuine technical development. This makes it easier to identify relevant projects and supporting records.
Discuss Your Sector →02
Software Development
Software and technology businesses often undertake work to resolve technical uncertainty through development, testing and refinement. Projects may involve new platforms, integrations, performance improvements or complex data handling. Identifying qualifying work requires a careful review of what was attempted and why standard solutions were not sufficient. Support is tailored to help document both the technical challenges and the related costs.
Discuss Your Sector →03
Manufacturing
Manufacturing businesses may carry out qualifying R&D when improving products, processes or production methods. This can include prototyping, material testing, design changes and efforts to overcome engineering limitations. The detail of day-to-day development work is often spread across teams and records. A structured approach helps bring technical and cost information together for a stronger claim.
Discuss Your Sector →04
Engineering
Engineering projects frequently involve problem solving where the outcome is not known at the outset. Work may include design development, system performance improvements or overcoming technical constraints in real-world conditions. Claims in this sector benefit from clear explanations of the uncertainties faced and the work done to resolve them. Evidence gathering is important where multiple specialists contribute to a project.
Discuss Your Sector →05
Agriculture
Innovation in agriculture must go beyond established farming practices. Qualifying projects could include developing new crop varieties resistant to specific local pests through advanced breeding programs or engineering new precision irrigation systems that measurably reduce water consumption in response to regional environmental pressures.
Discuss Your Sector →06
Electronics
Electronics businesses often work on projects involving design complexity, system integration and performance challenges. Development may include circuit design, testing, miniaturisation or resolving reliability issues. These projects can involve iterative work that needs to be explained clearly for a claim. Technical documentation and project timelines are often key to presenting the work properly.
Discuss Your Sector →07
Construction
Construction businesses can carry out qualifying R&D where projects involve technical innovation beyond standard practice. This may arise in structural design, site constraints, materials performance or complex build methods. Not every challenging project will qualify, so careful assessment is needed. The focus is on identifying genuine technical uncertainty and documenting the development work undertaken.
Discuss Your Sector →08
Automotive
Automotive businesses may carry out R&D in product design, component development, testing and manufacturing improvement. Work in this sector often involves compliance requirements, performance demands and technical problem solving. Claims need to show where genuine uncertainty existed and how teams worked to resolve it. Bringing together design, test and cost information is an important part of the process.
Discuss Your Sector →09
Pharmaceutical And Life Sciences
Pharmaceutical and life sciences businesses often work in environments where experimentation, testing and technical advancement are central to development. Projects may involve formulation, process development, laboratory work or product improvement. Claims in this sector usually depend on well-documented technical activity and associated costs. Support helps organise information into a clear and consistent claim.
Discuss Your Sector →Not Sure If Your Sector Qualifies?
Many businesses assume their work does not qualify. In our experience, the most overlooked qualifying R&D happens in sectors that seem conventional on the surface. Let us help you determine whether your projects contain genuine technical uncertainty.
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