Innovation funding in advanced manufacturing

Robin is an accomplished mechanical engineer who has worked for some of the world’s most iconic companies. With two decades of industry experience, his knowledge is integral to optimising engineering claims.

After studying Automotive Engineering at the University of Leeds, Robin began his career with a Tier 1 supplier to the automotive industry. He spent five years at this manufacturer developing sealing systems for companies including Toyota, Honda and Aston Martin.

He moved to Bentley Motors and broadened his experience to whole closure systems, including bonnets, doors and tailgates. During this time Robin worked on vehicle projects such as the Mulsanne, Flying Spur, Bentayga and continental GT.

Ten years on, Robin moved to Dyson to work on their electric vehicle project, where he was the engineering manager for closures. As part of this role he managed a large team and had ownership of the body test facility. Several uniquely innovative designs were produced, including several registered for patents.

Robin not only helps our engineering clients, but also works with our wider network of automotive and mechanical engineering industry associations. As a member of the Niche Vehicle Network, Robin draws on his industry experience to support fellow members on the value of their R&D projects; speaking on webinars, joining networking events and participating in sharing insights in industry publications, such as his piece in Automotive Testing Technology International. 

Robin brings this wealth of mechanical and electromechanical engineering experience to ForrestBrown. As one of our sector specialists, he helps client companies to articulate precisely where the activities which qualify for R&D tax relief occur. Robins helps to ensure that the technical part of each claim is robust. 

Ben is a digital expert at the forefront of tech trends. A digital sector specialist at ForrestBrown, his extensive knowledge is invaluable to our clients who are pushing the boundaries of innovation.

He began his career as a law and philosophy graduate in publishing, but quickly developed a keen interest in web development and software engineering. At the time he was working for family law publisher, Jordan Publishing, but subsequently moved from there into the world of digital agencies.

Since then, Ben has amassed more than 15 years of digital agency experience, some at general agencies; others specialising in sectors such as travel and product development. These include 3Sixty, Bray Leino, Cognizant and AKQA.

With experience as a full-stack developer and technology director, Ben has mastered a wide range of development frameworks and tools. He has worked extensively with content management systems, modern web technologies, and responsive design principles.

Ben has also developed expertise in cloud platforms and infrastructure as these technologies have emerged. In his senior roles he has led teams of developers and been involved in wider business management.

His extensive experience at agencies has led him to work across many sectors, including legal, transport infrastructure, entertainment, homebuilding and ecommerce.

Ben’s expertise is tremendously valuable to our clients at the cutting edge of digital innovation. He works directly with them and our R&D tax practice to uncover all qualifying innovations for robust R&D tax credit claims.

Beginning her career with a Big Four firm and gaining experience across a range of auditing and tax roles, Katy has specialised in R&D tax relief since joining ForrestBrown in 2019.

During a time of unprecedented change, Katy has led ForrestBrown’s approach to key policy developments including restrictions on overseas R&D activities and HMRC’s introduction of an additional information form. This has included liaising with HMRC, delivering internal training and providing insights to clients.

Clients working with Katy benefit from her commercial mindset and deep knowledge of R&D tax relief, including how it can work alongside other innovation incentives. She works with a range of large and complex businesses in sectors including manufacturing, financial services and aerospace, where she is a trusted adviser on the RDEC incentive.

Katy co-authored the Tolley’s Tax Digest on R&D tax relief and has contributed articles to publications including Taxation and The CFO.

Mark is a former HMRC tax inspector with more than four decades of experience. That includes time working as an inspector in HMRC’s R&D units, providing Mark with indispensable insight on the implementation of the incentive.

Joining HMRC in 1979, Mark went on to specialise in conducting enquiries into companies. He was one of the original tax inspectors assigned to the specialist R&D units in 2006, working in the Croydon unit until 2018.

He joined ForrestBrown in 2019 and his expertise is primarily shared through our enquiry support service, which provides support to clients as well as companies who have prepared claims themselves or through another adviser or partner.

The wealth of experience gained through the combination of public and private sector roles has proved invaluable so far. He helps reassure ForrestBrown’s clients, providing them with a measured viewpoint and advice on their risk profile.

Part of Mark’s drive is the challenge of debating technical issues involving the law. That includes working on Quinn’s landmark tribunal case, which tackled HMRC’s interpretation of the amount of relief available to SMEs for customer-led R&D projects.

In addition to his work in enquiry support, Mark contributes to our in-house development programme, the Learning Lab, which aims to create the next generation of tax professionals. 

Find out about a typical day for Mark Andrew in our meet the expert series.

James leads our tax advisory practice, FB Consulting, providing award-winning R&D tax relief expertise to businesses and accountants. This can include modelling and forecasting, risk profiling and benchmarking, and advice on compliance and methodology for large corporates.

With a legal background and extensive experience dealing with HMRC, James brings incisive insights to tax disputes, developing strategies to achieve the best possible outcome for clients. For example, he successfully led ForrestBrown’s support for Quinn (London) Limited in a 2021 landmark tribunal case challenging the interpretation of subsidised R&D expenditure.

James and the FB Consulting team provide specialist advice, working alongside a company’s general advisers, including due diligence relating to R&D tax relief pre and post transactions and R&D in complex, international groups.

A solicitor who specialises in tax advice for corporates and individuals, with a focus on cross-border and international issues, James trained and qualified at a top London law firm before relocating to Geneva to help set up the firm’s Swiss office. On returning to the UK James worked in the tax team of a leading Bristol and London-based law firm, before joining ForrestBrown in 2019.

James has contributed commentary on R&D tax relief and tax disputes to publications including Bloomberg Law and International Tax Review.

Karim works with large businesses, exploring all elements of the innovation toolkit, from R&D tax relief to grant funding. He takes a forward-looking approach, identifying opportunities which align with client projects and objectives.

Having previously led decarbonisation grant advisory for a Big Four firm in the UK, Karim joined ForrestBrown in 2023. His in-depth knowledge of grants provides further support for the innovative businesses we work with, enabling them to explore a wide range of funding opportunities.

Karim is a chartered engineer and gained more than five years’ experience as an engineering consultant and project manager for major infrastructure clients before specialising in innovation incentives. He has subsequently helped companies access millions of pounds from grant funding bodies such as Innovate UK, the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero, and Scottish Enterprise in sectors including aerospace, energy and manufacturing.

Through this combination of technical and finance expertise, Karim is well placed to advise businesses on their eligibility for innovation funding and the most appropriate projects for which to seek funding support, at the same time contributing to meeting some our biggest societal challenges.

At ForrestBrown, Karim has also supported multinational companies seeking to invest and create jobs in the UK, for example securing government support for the location of new manufacturing facilities.

Peter specialises in capital allowances and leads ForrestBrown’s support for clients who buy, sell or incur expenditure refurbishing commercial property to optimise the tax reliefs available.

Previously a tax partner with a top 10 accountancy firm, Peter joined ForrestBrown in 2023. His in-depth knowledge of capital allowances provides further support for the innovative businesses we work with, helping to ensure they are fully rewarded for their investments.

Having started his career in the construction sector where he managed high profile projects throughout the UK and Europe, Peter combines a wealth of industry experience with technical tax knowledge to deliver pragmatic advice backed up by a deep understanding of how buildings are put together.

This mix of direct industry experience and technical tax expertise also enables Peter to structure fixed asset programmes that translate effectively for tax and accounting purposes. His approach delivers consistent, accurate information to financial teams, removing the risk of misinterpretation.

Peter draws on his experience working with FTSE100 and multinational companies across sectors including hospitality, retail, engineering and manufacturing to support ForrestBrown clients with tax reliefs relating to their investment in commercial property. Working alongside our grant advisory team, he also supports multinational businesses considering inward investment in the UK.