Member News

R&D Tax Relief Conditions To Be Satisfied For Oil & Gas Engineering Companies

Engineering companies push technological boundaries on a daily basis. You might be developing tools to support safe well intervention in the oil & gas sector. Perhaps you machine complex profiled components from exotic materials within advanced engineering industries, such as aerospace or automotive? Chances are, you’re undertaking eligible R&D work and should look into claiming tax credits.

HMRC’s guidelines for what constitutes R&D are certainly extensive, but they’re not always clear! It can take a fair bit of time, not to mention head-scratching, to pick your way through the terminology and understand exactly how HMRC defines R&D.

Technological uncertainty vs technological unknown

One thing HMRC is clear about is that companies must be trying to achieve their goals by resolving ‘technological uncertainties’ within specific projects. So what’s meant by ‘uncertainty’? Well, in the eyes of HMRC, there is a vast difference between technical uncertainties and technical unknowns. Technical unknowns on their own don’t count as eligible R&D, which only kicks in when technical uncertainties arise. The distinction between the two essentially comes down to whether or not a problem can be readily resolved by a competent professional. If it can, then it isn’t a technological uncertainty. R&D only begins when conventional knowledge has been applied and exhausted, without a resolution to the problem.

For example:

An oil and gas company aims to develop improved umbilicals for supplying hydraulic power, electrical power and fibre optics to subsea equipment. It procures three umbilicals produced by competitors and tests each to qualify the performance. Although the performance of each umbilical is unknown at the outset, it is possible to reverse engineer the products using conventional methods. This data may provide engineers with a clear idea on how to develop improved umbilicals. In this case, the unknown has been resolved (i.e. the performance of the competitors’ product) and, as established methods were used, this doesn’t constitute R&D. However, if, once the unknowns have been resolved, it’s still unclear how the engineers will develop more robust, durable and efficient umbilicals, then this becomes a technical uncertainty and R&D begins!

Trial and error

Another minefield on the fine line between eligible and ineligible R&D is trial and error! If you think of trial and error as experimentation using routine methods, then when it’s used to remove unknowns that precede R&D it’s ineligible, but if it’s used to resolve technical uncertainties that form part of R&D then it is eligible.

For example:

If a subsea firm is using trial and error to establish the best cutting tool for a ROV application from an existing range of tooling, this wouldn’t be considered eligible R&D. Why? Because the company knows that with this trial it will find the optimum tool for its purpose. If, instead, a company uses experimentation and testing to determine how different parameters affect fundamental material properties, and this knowledge hasn’t been documented in the open domain, then this is R&D. Why? Because in the second example, a systematic process is being adopted for the generation of knowledge that can be codified for future use.

Process improvement

Advancements in a company’s processes only qualify as eligible R&D if they’re geared towards advancing science and technology, not simply increasing profits.

For example:

If a manufacturer of subsea ancillaries installs state-of-the art equipment to improve a production process, but is then forced to carry out major adaptations to resolve technological uncertainties before this improvement can be seen, then this is eligible R&D. However, if process improvement is carried out purely for commercial gain – such as improving the process using standard methods with a view to increasing production rates – then it doesn’t count as R&D.

Slippery stuff, and this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the many specific definitions of eligibility on HMRC’s website. No wonder companies find applying for R&D tax relief on their own quite so daunting and confusing.

JUMPSTART CAN HELP

Jumpstart is already helping companies working in well intervention and decommissioning, including GoreVega, who have developed a zone 1 ATEX compliant heli-transportable portable gas chromatograph giving immediate on-site gas analysis and composition of well bore and annulus cavity gas content.

Jumpstart is a leading R&D tax relief specialist, guidingcompanies through the complexities of submitting claims to HMRC.

Jumpstart’s large team of technical analysts have specific scientific and technical backgrounds and years of industrial experience which have resulted in an extremely high success rate in securing R&D tax relief for their clients. Since inception eight years ago, they have realised almost £80 million benefit for their clients. Right now, they’re submitting an average of 500 claims per year to HMRC.

For a free R&D tax credit consultation and analysis of the potential returns you might expect, contact your local Client Engagement ManagerLee WIlliams on 07794 201990 or email lee.williams@jumpstartuk.co.uk for a free, no obligation assessment of your eligibility.

The People Kit, a new initiative designed to support local businesses, was officially launched on 26th January.

Jonathan Madden, owner of Joules Resource Management and one of the founder members of The People Kit explains more:

“The People Kit is a group of experts from different professions who’ve banded together to provide a kind of one-stop consultancy service for local businesses in Norfolk. The support we can provide ranges from HR and legal advice to web development, apprenticeships andbusiness growth.”

The People Kit naturally evolved after the founder members met through working together.They’ve put each other’s skills to the test in the past to add value to their own projects. They saw the opportunity to create a rather unique group, and The People Kit was born.

Jonathan continues:

“The beauty of The People Kit is that we all know we can absolutely rely on the quality of our colleague’s work and expertise. That means we have no hesitation in referring work to each other. When one of us has a client in business who needs one of the services The People Kit provides, we can save our client the time and hassle of trying to find someone trustworthy themselves.

“The individual members of the group came together through mutual respect for each other’s work. Together, we offer a strong proposition for local businesses. Clients come to us with a problem, project or product requirement and members of The People Kit work together or separately to come up with a solution. Our broad mix of skills and connections means, between us, we will know the right person for the job. The whole really is greater than the sum of its parts.”

The People Kit was officially launched at a drinks recepetion which was held at Platform 12 on St. Benedicts Street in Norwich. This gave local businesses the chance to meet the team and find out how it all works. The team have already helped a number of local businesses and look forward to helping many more in the future. Visit thepeoplekit.co.uk to find out more.

Welcome…

In this months newsletter we look at; – Funds Raised from Marie Curie Blooming Great Tea Party – IOSH Managing Safely – Need Parking in Norwich in the Evenings/on Weekends? – First Aid Training at No.8

Funds Raised from Marie Curie Blooming Great Tea Party

We would like to start by wishing you a Happy New Year & thanking everyone who attended our second birthday on 1st December! The support for Marie Curie was fantastic including many donations and raffle prizes. The Marie Curie Blooming Great Tea Party was buzzing all afternoon! 28 raffle prizes were donated in all, leading to a fantastic £480 donated to the Marie Curie Norfolk charity!

IOSH Managing Safely

The RedCat Partnership are launching their first IOSH Managing Safely course.

Starting on 30th January, the IOSH Managing Safely course will be run by field professionals with an average of 30 years in the Health and Safety industry each, as Chartered Practitioners with several bodies.

This qualification is designed to get managers and supervisors, from any sector, up to speed on the practical actions needed to make health and safety “happen” in their teams.

IOSH is the professional association for safety and health practitioners, with a global name to back up their courses.

View our course flyer for more information

Need Parking in Norwich in the Evenings/on Weekends?

Our car park here at No.8 is now available to rent in the evenings/weekends when we have spaces available. With our car park being a stones throw away from the Train Station & the Football Ground, it is the perfect place to park when coming in to watch the game/traveling on the trains. We are also just a 10minute walk away from the Castle Mall and many other beautiful places in Norwich.

Parking spaces can be booked through JustPark for £6.30 per day or directly through the No.8 team for just £5 per day.

First Aid Training at No.8

The RedCat Partnership will be holding accredited Emergency First Aid training in Big8 on 8th February. This course will provide you with the skills necessary to deliver basic first aid to a suitable level for most businesses.

The course will run from 9am – 4:30pm and will include a No.8 lunch!

For more information on the Emergency First Aid at Work course please contact us

Thank you for your interest… Please don’t hesitate to contact us regarding anything No.8 related; you’ll find our contact details below.

Sarah, Richard, Mitchell, Lauren & John

We require a highly committed part-time Marketing Executive to assist our Business Development and Marketing Manager with running the very busy marketing function of our growing firm. Your duties will include assisting with the firm’s advertising campaigns and promotional activity, the coordination of events, digital marketing, and general administrative tasks.

Excellent administration, communication and organisational skills are essential, as is a good telephone manner and a working knowledge of the Microsoft Office suite. The ideal candidate will have experience of working in an office environment or transferable skills from a client care/customer service focused environment, with an ability to act on initiative and demonstrate an excellent work ethic.

Some marketing experience or a marketing qualification would be an advantage, as would a working knowledge of Adobe InDesign.

This is a part time post and the core hours are 9.00am – 5.00pm Tuesday to Thursday (alternative days to be considered). You must be able to work out of hours in order to attend events occasionally.

To apply please send CV and covering letter or email to our HR Managerat Leathes Prior, Lauren Smith, at 74 The Close Norwich NR1 4DR or lsmith@leathesprior.co.uk.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Tourist focussed businesses across East Anglia are being invited to join forces to take advantage of the increase in domestic holiday bookings and those taking day trips or holidaying closer to home.

The Tourism Business Survey was launched today by chartered accountants and business advisers Larking Gowen in partnership with Visit East Anglia and supported by organisations such as Norfolk and Suffolk Tourist Attractions (NSTA).

All businesses in the tourism and leisure sector including restaurants, hotels, tourist attractions as well as retailers in the tourism hotspots are being encouraged to participate in the independent survey.

Participants have a unique opportunity to fill in the questionnaire and gauge their achievements. They can also receive a tailored report which analyses their yearly performance and gives them a valuable benchmarking planning tool.

Those who fill in the survey remain anonymous in the published report, which provides an annual snapshot of the tourism and leisure sector across Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex.

Celebrating its 11th year, the independent survey includes questions about the short and long term impact of last year’s Brexit vote as well as other issues affecting the sector including accessibility for disabled visitors.

The survey launch comes as confidence in the strength of the regional tourist and leisure economy is growing and post Brexit domestic holidays increase.

Visit East Anglia announced that Norfolk’s visitor economy topped £3 billion for the first time and nationally Visit Britain announced that the favorable exchange rate could see visitor spending increase by 8.1% (up to £24.1 billion) in 2017 from 2016. The tourism and leisure industry is worth around £7 billion to the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex (Office for National Statistics).

Historically, the survey forecasts have been extremely accurate – the statistics compiled are used by tourism organisations and decision makers such as Visit East Anglia. The final report is also sent to all MPs across the region to help inform their decisions about the regional tourist economy.

The published survey provides statistical analysis as well as features good news stories about participating businesses, who have chosen to publicise their successes.

Last year’s Tourism Business Survey (2016) revealed that 67% of the businesses participating in the survey saw increases of 6% or more on their turnover for 2015 and the predictions for 2016 were positive.

Chris Scargill, Larking Gowen’s Tourism & Leisure Partner, is proud to publish the only independent tourism business survey in the region. Mr Scargill is pleased that a variety of businesses across the sector are continuing to engage in the survey and particularly urged retailers who operate in popular tourist destinations across Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex to participate this year.

“There is a lot of good anecdotal evidence in the tourist sector but this survey provides an opportunity to mark the current trends with a series of valuable statistics. The survey highlights the strengths and weaknesses of the industry as well as its economic benefits to the region. It is not only an important awareness tool used by key decision makers, tourism organisations and government both local and national, but it can also support participants to create tailored business development plans and provides a benchmarking tool to see how they compare year on year.”

Pete Waters executive director of Visit East Anglia said: “The Tourism Business Survey is an invaluable barometer of how the visitor economy is performing. It highlights issues, and supports our business planning. Crucially, the more businesses which participate in the survey the better and the more authoritative the data.”

Martin Dupee, chairman of Norfolk and Suffolk Tourist Attractions (NSTA), and director of operations at Banham Zoo and Africa Alive, who urged those connected with domestic tourism to take the opportunity to have their views heard, said: “I look forward to participating in and seeing the annual tourism survey report as it gives me a handle on how the industry is not only performing but also where confidence is going forward. These are interesting times for us all and, it is my view, that this is the time for domestic tourism to reap the benefits of the uncertainty.”

Participate in the survey at www.tourismsurveys.co.uk. To obtain a free copy of last year’s survey please go to www.tourismsurveys.co.uk or email tourism@larking-gowen.co.uk

Get your summer projects sorted now by recruiting an ambitious student intern.

The UEA Internship Programme provides a simple, flexible and affordable way for you to host summer internships in your organisation. You may be looking for fresh ideas or extra support to complete a project, and students are looking to boost their employability with paid work experience. We make it easy by taking the intern on for you and paying them through UEA payroll. All you need to do is give us information on the role and then pay an invoice.There are limited subsidies as well to help with the cost.

The keenest students are already searching for summer opportunities. To meet this demand, the Internship Team have extended the deadline to Friday 3 February for you to submit a description of your internship, and the Team will then advertise your opportunity for you. You will then have the chance to interview all of your chosen candidates in one afternoon at the Summer Internship Recruitment Event in Norwich on Wednesday 8 March, and the team even organise your interviews for you. Summer internships can also be facilitated closer to the summer break if this suits your timelines better.

Cromer Pier recruited Lan, a UEA student, last summer:

“We decided to host an intern to give some much needed support to the General Manager during the busy summer period. We gave Lan marketing research projects, e-newsletters, website keyword research and website updates, as well as developing an overall project management calendar for the entire team.

We thoroughly enjoyed having Lan here as part of the team. Her confidence grew throughout the weeks and she was able to see how different elements of the business worked. She was a welcome asset to the team and we would definitely consider hosting another intern in the future.” Jo Artherton, General Manager

If you have an opportunity that you think could be run through the UEA Internship Programme, then contact us now on 01603 593917 or internship@uea.ac.uk – the team are happy to talk through your requirements, potential projects, and costs.

Alternatively, are you looking to fill a vacancy in your team? Our online, free vacancy service can help you find the right fit for your organisation. Whether you have a graduate position, a part-time role, a year in industry placement, an internship or a voluntary role to advertise, we can help you promote that opportunity to thousands of enthusiastic and talented students and graduates, with a huge range of skills and experience. To find out more, visit: https://mycareercentral.uea.ac.uk/employers/

Break has launched a new initiative, working with local business to invest in the future of our young people.

Five local businesses have already signed up to become Corporate Patrons for Break – they are Aspiration Europe, Kings & Barnham, Osiris Technologies, Print Box UK and Product Resolutions.

For as little as £50 a month, any organisation can join the Break Corporate Patron scheme to help change the lives of young people across East Anglia

By becoming a Break Corporate Patron, companies can benefit from being part of an exclusive group of forward-thinking businesses, who can work with Break to achieve the aspirations of some of the most vulnerable young people in our community.

“Having been supporters of Break for the pastfour years, we were delighted to have the opportunity to become a corporate patron – confirming our ongoing support of their work in helping young people rebuild their lives and giving them the opportunity and support needed to develop careers and important life skills to take them forwards into adulthood.

“Having also been privileged to meet some of the young people supported by Break, I know just how much of a difference Break’s care and support makes – they really do go the extra mile and make a difference to young lives.”

Anne Ovens, Managing Director, Aspiration Europe

“We have worked with Break for over ten years and in that time we have got to know the staff and some of their clients. We have seen first-hand the professionalism and care that they put into their work and what a happy caring environment they create for their young people. I didn’t hesitate when given the opportunity to become one of their patrons. It is our chance to give something back and show our appreciation for the work they do for our community.”

Phillip Roffe, Director, Osiris Technologies

“We’re proud to support Break as a Corporate Patron to help give young people the opportunity to develop a worthwhile career. As a local small business it’s a great way for us to contribute to a local charity, it doesn’t cost much but we know it could make a huge difference to a young person’s future”

Paul Robbins, Director, Product Resolutions

“I think the introduction of the Corporate Patron scheme is a great idea as it allows companies like ourselves to support the wonderful work that Break does, through an affordable monthly payment.”

Paul Youngs, Director, Print Box​ UK

If your company wants to support the futures of young people and become a Corporate Patron, please contact Sarah Bunnsarah.bunn@break-charity.org01603 670100/07826 893368

Norwich-based IT support company Mayday IT is launching data centre ‘colocation’ and disaster recovery services to boost businesses’ security and productivity throughout the East of England, in partnership with data centre operator MIGSOLV.

Mayday IT supports hundreds of companies across the East of England and beyond, with particular expertise in advising accountancy, legal and other professional services firms.

To-date, it has concentrated on providing IT support, maintenance, training, network design and project management.

By extending its partnership with MIGSOLV after rigorously testing its ‘Gatehouse’ data centre in Norwich, Mayday is now also introducing:

‘colocation’ services – helping companies place their IT equipment in MIGSOLV’s ultra-secure facility disaster recovery – helping customers store copies of their data safely in MIGSOLV’s data centre to avoid data loss or business interruption if anything happens to their main premises

Carl Shiplee, Head of IT at Mayday, explains: “This marks a milestone for our company. It gives us a whole new way to help our customers strengthen their business performance – and to drive our own growth. Through our partnership with MIGSOLV, we can give our customers the ultimate in security and productivity, minimising the risk of any downtime for their business.

“We chose to work with MIGSOLV because its data centre is exceptionally secure and well-equipped. And it’s backed by first-class customer service, so we know we and our customers will be extremely well looked after.”

David Manning, Managing Director of MIGSOLV, comments: “Our focus is on providing exceptional service and security from our Norwich data centre. Mayday bring considerable expertise in advising professional services firms on their technology and an impressive reputation in this market. This makes it an ideal partnership – for us, for Mayday and the customer.”

For customer enquiries: Any businesses wishing to find out more about Mayday’s new colocation and disaster recovery services should contact 01603 481995 or info@mayday-online.co.uk.

MIGSOLV’s Gatehouse data centre is on a nine-acre site in Norwich which, unlike facilities in most major cities, is free of terrorism and flood risks. It incorporates a range of rigorous security measures including data hall access by iris recognition, CCTV coverage of every square inch of the site, microwave intruder detection and state-of-the-art fire protection systems. Customers are expertly supported by MIGSOLV’s in-house staff. For more, see www.migsolv.com.

Mayday IT was established over 20 years ago and provides an extensive range of technology services to businesses from small, family-run firms to multinationals. For more, please see www.maydayit.co.uk.

For more media information & images, please contact:

Tariq Khwaja from TK Associates on:

tariq.khwaja@tk-associates.com

01932 224 212

Pure has launched a new website to provide an updated platform for both clients and candidates to interact with the professional recruitment specialists for the East of England.

Established in 2002, Pure has become established leaders and trusted advisors in the Accountancy, Executive, Financial Services, HR, IT, Marketing and Office markets. The new website has been designed to further enhance the services it provides by offering a quicker way to search for jobs from any device, and to showcase the added-value Pure can provide including psychometrics, skills testing, induction support and transition coaching.

The site features resources and expert advice blogs to help candidates at every stage of their career and to support the growth of the region’s businesses. The calendar section highlights the events held throughout the year to support the growth of the talent pipeline in the region and the development of local organisations. This includes Pure’s dedicated campaigns such as the Women’s Leadership Programme, Finance Leadership Programme and the Best Employers Eastern Region initiative.

Lynn Walters, director and co-founder of Pure, said: “We’re extremely proud to start the new year with our updated website. It’s an excellent window into what it’s like for both candidates and clients to work with us and highlights what differentiates Pure from other recruitment organisations. We’ve showcased our organisation’s values, which capture the very essence of the way we like to work, included case studies of some of the fantastic businesses we’ve supported and highlights how we are committed to contributing to the growth of our region and to making a difference to people’s lives.”

Three Finance Leadership Programme taster events have been organised in Chelmsford, Ipswich and Norwich throughout January to provide free career development support for ambitious finance professionals in the East of England.

The events will be run by professional recruitment specialists Pure in collaboration with Grant Thornton. Aspiring finance professionals looking to step up to Finance Director level are encouraged to attend the evening sessions which will provide business insight, leadership development and the chance to hear from high profile finance leaders.

Tom Earl, Associate Director at Pure, said: “The taster sessions will be themed around the role of Finance Leaders exploring the skills and experience needed to help you develop your skill set to further help you progress and add value within your organisation. These events aim to be an extremely valuable development opportunity as a standalone session but also a great introduction to our overall Finance Leadership Programme which features interactive roundtable sessions throughout the year.”

The Finance Leadership Programme was launched by Pure and Grant Thornton in 2015 to provide support and development opportunities for aspiring finance leaders looking to step up to director level. It has been created as a forum where like-minded senior professionals can get together to share experiences, hear from those already in high profile leadership roles, gain new skills and to spend time on their personal development.

Tom Earl, who has recruited finance roles for over 10 years, added: “The move to become a finance leader can be one of the hardest steps to take on the career ladder. Our aim is to help provide ambitious finance professionals with support to develop the soft skills and capabilities needed to become effective leaders. A wider support network like this programme can play a critical role in assisting ambitious and talented individuals to reach their full potential in a relaxed environment.”

Finance Leadership Programme taster sessions available in January:

Wednesday 25 January at Grant Thornton’s office in New London Road, Chelmsford Thursday 26 January at Grant Thornton’s office in Compair Crescent, Ipswich Tuesday 31 January at Grant Thornton’s office in St James Place, Norwich

All three events will run from 6pm to 8pm and include a buffet. There is no cost to attend. [FA31][CF2][CH3]To reserve a place email Lucy Plumb on: lucy.plumb@prs.uk.com​

CMI Management Qualifications with Distance Learning

Did you know that holding a professional Qualification can boost your earnings by an estimated £81,000 during your working lifetime?

CMI qualifications provide a progressive framework that enables you to develop and broaden your management skills. Each qualification leads on from the next, delivering professional learning that equips you with the skills, knowledge and confidence to take your career further.

Start a CMI Management Qualification today with us at TIPS for Good management and benefit from:

– Distance learning supported by a personal coach

– More cost effective than a classroom based course

– Recognised Qualifications

– fitting your learning around your work and home life

contact me for more details on 01362699392 emma@tipsfgm.co.uk

or have a look for yourself https://www.tipsfgm.co.uk/featured-qualifications/

When I first found out I’d be doing a week of work experience I was excited, this was a huge opportunity to be able to gain experience in an area I’m extremely interested in pursuing as a career. I was however nervous to say the least. I was told I’d be working in Java, a language I had 0 experience with (though a quick crash course of the basics the weekend before was helpful). I was slightly worried I’d be totally out of my depth, or that I’d be serving tea all week.

The week started with me getting thrown into the deep end of a project. We were given a couple of vague pointers about what needed to be done during the week and were pretty much set free to do as we pleased. The first day was really productive, we fixed most of the problems we were given and I was learning Java along the way (I have a newfound appreciation of semi-colons). It was extremely satisfying to be able to see the project run successfully even after multiple failures.

We managed to complete most of our given tasks in the first day, leaving us the UI to edit/create (it was not a pretty webpage to begin with) for the next day. I loved how varied the work was. I was working in Java one minute and then JavaScript, HTML and CSS the next. I found myself finishing the day with a problem unfixed and thinking of ways to solve it overnight. We ran out of tasks mid way through the week but that only meant were given more to do. I learnt a lot about software development with my time at Naked Element and how simple it is to create a project as part of a group.

One of the best things was that by the end of the week I was able to work independently on part of the project. I was able to get Amazon SQS working and a number of programs that would create/delete queues and send and receive messages asynchronously (something I didn’t know anything about until that day). I was amazed I had gone from barely understanding, to coding Java (with a fair amount of help) within a week.

By the end of the week I really felt that not only did I learn a whole lot of new skills but also that I was able to contribute in a small way to a (mostly) working project. I didn’t really know what to expect when going into my week of work experience at Naked Element but I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. Everyone at Naked Element made me feel really welcome. A huge thank you to Paul for giving me this opportunity.

Chelsea Crawford