Andy advises founders and high-growth technology businesses on the tax reliefs, share schemes and structures that help them scale – from R&D relief and EIS/SEIS to employee ownership.
Specialist tax advice for founders and high-growth businesses
Andy has advised many high-growth companies in the technology sector, helping them access the tax reliefs and structures designed to support innovation and growth.
His advice covers everything from a company's initial structuring through to the incentive and reward schemes that keep key people invested as the business scales.
Andy's experience with start-ups and high-growth businesses spans:
Innovative incentives and reliefs
Research & Development (R&D) tax relief
The Patent Box scheme
Structuring EIS and SEIS companies
Employee share schemes, including EMI schemes and growth share arrangements
Employee Ownership Trusts
Straightforward advice, backed by real expertise
Andy lectures extensively on R&D relief, the Patent Box, EIS and SEIS, and Employee Ownership Trusts – and brings that same depth of knowledge to every client conversation, explained in plain English rather than legal jargon.
Tax tip:
R&D relief and the Patent Box can meaningfully reduce what a growing business pays in tax – but claims need to be structured properly from the outset to stand up to HMRC scrutiny.
Getting the structure right early – whether that's an EIS/SEIS-ready company, an EMI scheme, or a future Employee Ownership Trust – makes it far easier to bring in investment, reward key people, and plan an eventual exit.
Other expertise
Digital Assets
Cryptocurrencies
Specialist advice on cryptocurrency taxation, including capital gains, income tax, and compliance.
Strategic Advice
Tax Planning
Strategic tax planning for high-net-worth individuals, entrepreneurs and private companies.
Global Solutions
International Tax
Cross-border tax advice for individuals and businesses operating in multiple jurisdictions.
VAT Expertise
VAT & Indirect Tax
Comprehensive VAT and indirect tax advice, including disputes and planning.
Business Tax
Corporate Tax
Tax advice for businesses on corporate structure, transactions and compliance.
FAQs for Start Up and High Growth SME’s
R&D tax relief reduces the tax a company pays on qualifying research and development costs – and it applies more broadly than most founders expect, covering software, product development and process innovation, not just lab-based science. Andy can assess whether your activity qualifies and make sure any claim is structured to withstand HMRC scrutiny.
EIS and SEIS are both government schemes that give investors tax relief for backing early-stage UK companies, but SEIS is aimed at very early-stage businesses and offers more generous relief on smaller investment amounts, while EIS supports slightly larger raises. Getting your company structured correctly before you approach investors is essential – it can't easily be fixed retrospectively.
It depends on what you're trying to achieve. An EMI scheme is usually the better fit if you want to give key employees a stake while the business keeps growing, while an Employee Ownership Trust is typically used when a founder is planning an exit and wants to transfer ownership to staff – often with significant tax advantages. Andy can talk you through which structure fits your timeline and goals.
The Patent Box allows companies to pay a reduced rate of corporation tax on profits earned from patented inventions. It can be genuinely valuable for IP-heavy businesses, but the qualifying rules and calculations are detailed, so it's worth getting specialist advice before relying on it in your tax planning.
Ideally, before any major decision – raising investment, granting share options, or planning an exit – rather than after. Structures like EIS/SEIS and EMI schemes are far easier (and cheaper) to set up correctly from the outset than to unwind or correct later. If you're planning a change like this, it's worth a conversation early.
Received an HMRC tax penalty you think is wrong? This step-by-step guide explains how to dispute a tax penalty, what counts as a reasonable excuse, and when to get specialist help.
Received a property tax assessment from HMRC you believe is wrong? This guide explains how to dispute CGT, SDLT, and other property tax decisions step by step.
Most HMRC disputes settle before court – but not all. This guide explains when tax litigation becomes necessary, how the tribunal system works, and what to expect at each stage.