Top 50 UK accountancy group DJH Mitten Clarke is expanding into South Yorkshire by establishing a Sheffield office with a keen focus on helping businesses to maximise the Research and Development (R&D) tax reliefs and other R&D incentives available to them.
DJH Mitten Clarke, who have a major presence in the Midlands and North West have recruited their first in-house R&D Incentives Director to establish a new base at Cubo, Carver Street, Sheffield.
Tom Whitworth will be responsible for leading and developing a new team of R&D experts supporting clients across the Group. With more than a decade of experience in accountancy, FCCA qualified Tom joins DJH Mitten Clarke after successfully helping establish an innovation reliefs team at a South Yorkshire accountancy practice.
Tom said: “R&D tax reliefs support companies that work on innovative projects in science and technology. It can be claimed by a range of companies that seek to make an appreciable advance to the science or technology of their field, yet many fail to take advantage of this benefit.
“I’m delighted to join DJH Mitten Clarke as R&D Incentives Director. The company already has a strong track-record in claiming R&D and Patent Box tax reliefs for clients, but now we can benefit many more with the support of our specialist team. R&D incentives already benefit the UK economy overall as it leads to new product development in areas such as science and engineering, IT, pharmaceuticals and food.”
Government reforms announced in the recent Autumn Statement will toughen up work to root out wrongful or fraudulent claims following an investigation in to the misuse of tax schemes.
He said: “With the tightening of regulations it is vital that companies receive specialist advice and our dedicated team will be in place to provide it. I’d recommend, for example, that business who are not yet providing a technical report to substantiate their R&D tax reliefs claims do so now. This will help limit the risk of HMRC enquiry into your claim but also pave the way for the upcoming legal requirement to provide this information from April 2023.”
DJH Mitten Clarke have bolstered their team with a number of senior appointments in 2022. A series of acquisitions has seen the DJH Mitten Clarke Group grow to a team of more than 300 across offices in Stoke-on-Trent, Chester, Manchester, Walsall and now Sheffield. This new service line comes shortly after the announcement of their partnership with Tenzing, which is set to provide even more firepower for future growth.
Scott Heath, Chief Executive Officer, said “We’ve grown our senior team in recent months as we lay foundations for further acquisitions and expansion in 2023. Expert client support is integral to all growth strategies and Tom’s appointment will provide an even stronger focus on a specialist area that brings major benefits to businesses and the UK. Tom will also be fundamental in our growth strategy as we establish DJH Mitten Clarke’s first South Yorkshire office.”
