Vtec Group Ltd

Operations Coordinator

Innovolo

• Improved, led, and drove all aspects of operations, including customer success, project management, marketing, and business development.
• Standardised and scaled business processes and functions across the company.
•	Conceived an Innovation Culture Maturity Model to help organisations understand innovation readiness and capacity.
•	Won the Innovation & Excellence Awards 2022 and was awarded Innovation Leader of the Year 2021.
• Coordinated and established all marketing and branding initiatives both internally and externally.
• Created messaging and positioning for all services that is clear, concise and on brand.
• Developed brand authority and visibility, and increased visibility by leveraging social media and brand assets.

Head of Innovation

Ventro - Part of the Aquilam Group

•	Led a team of 120+ staff and subcontractors to deliver passive fire compliance services to social housing providers across the UK.
•	Delivered a large and complex compliance upgrade works programme to 3000+ occupied homes.
•	Initiated subcontractor recruitment, assessment, and onboarding process to support rapid company growth.
•	Introduced systematised quality control measures to ensure compliance with client specifications.

www.ventro-group.com

Regional Project Manager

Contracts Manager

Senior Project Manager (Housing)

Coastal Group

•	Implemented expert technical advice on specialist joinery hardware products to architects, joiners, developers, and contractors.
•	Led product development initiative for an improved lift-and-slide door system in line with customer feedback and market trends.
•	Systematised estimating processes by developing a series of quoting calculators, leading to a reduction in customer complaints of ~10-15%.
•	Managed company website and social media platforms to increase online visibility and generate new leads.

www.coastal-group.com

Technical Consultant

Styletech Architectural

•	Planned projects from start to finish, ensuring that on time completion within budget.
•	Defined new strategies for improving project management efficiency and quality across the company.
•	Conducted architectural hardware surveys to provide accurate quotes and specifications for tenders and contracts.

Project Manager

Leachs

•	Consulted with clients in the oil and gas sector to identify needs and deliver solutions relating to working safely at height.
•	Influenced increased revenues from this sector by developing and implementing innovative safety strategies.
•	Conducted training sessions on the use of fall protection systems.

www.leachs.com

Oil & Gas Sector Consultant

Helping world-class innovators drive impact using our D³ approach

Passionate about creating innovative and unique environments, I am lucky to be a part of Vtec Group, where we constantly challenge traditional norms and push the boundaries of decorative wall panels and acoustic solutions. Our focus extends beyond the immediate visual appeal, ensuring the products we create enhance the acoustic performance of any space.

As an advocate of customization, I believe in empowering architects, designers, and contractors with tailored designs that bring their clients' visions to life. We work tirelessly to ensure that off-the-shelf solutions are transformed into distinctive designs that reflect each brand's unique ethos.

At Vtec Group, we understand that effective acoustic management should be integrated seamlessly into the design and architecture of a space, not as a standalone system. It's a delicate balance of functionality and aesthetics, and as a team, we are committed to ensuring that our solutions create a harmonious and immersive atmosphere.

I am a firm believer that value extends beyond the initial investment. The long-term benefits of our wall panels and acoustic systems, from improved productivity and occupant satisfaction to reduced noise-related stress, offer a significant return on investment. Our solutions are not just about aesthetics; they are about improving the quality of life for those who occupy the spaces we help create.

In this rapidly evolving industry, I am driven by the idea of continuous innovation. Embracing technological advancements and new design concepts, we at Vtec Group strive to stay ahead of the curve, creating spaces that captivate and inspire.

Connect with me if you share our vision for innovative and effective acoustic solutions. Together, we can create spaces that are truly distinctive and immersive.

brad@vtecgroup.com

Bradley Pallister

Copper Tax

My sole focus is to help people with putting together their R&D tax relief/credit claims.

I started out working in corporate tax (compliance and advisory).  I had an exceptional foundation, spending an enriching 11 years training, learning, practicing in a big 4 accountancy firm alongside some phenomenal role models.   

I’m a qualified tax professional who wants the best for my clients, just because that’s what makes me feel good.  I’ve always been like this. I want to produce exceptionally good work, and I want the people who I produce work for to easily recognise they are getting good work.  It matters to me what people think – I can’t help it, it’s the way I am.

I have experience and understandings of difficulties/problems/aspirations in assessing, quantifying and documenting development work for this transformative tax relief.  I devote the necessary time to each of my clients to support them and collaborate in a way that’s enjoyable.  

Every claim profile is different:

-	Complexities (corporate structure/costs/contracts)
-	Scale (number of business areas to be covered)
-	Frequency and number of qualifying projects likely to emerge during a claim period
-	Timing of the work
-	Needs of the people I’ll collaborate with

Founder & Director - R&D Tax Credits specialist

Fortus Business Advisors & Accountants

I head up a close knit team with time served experience specialising in supporting companies apply for research & development tax credits.

HMRC's approach to checking eligibility criteria have been understood and correctly applied is increasingly forensic.  Claimants need to understand which project facts are important, how to present them to demonstrate compliance with scheme rules, and what type of material is required to substantiate explanations and statements.

We'll guide you through the requirements, check you can back up and support the basis of your claim and prepare submission documents that cover the questions an HMRC caseworker needs answers to when checking for compliance.  

A key part to this is relaying a clear understanding of where technological uncertainty arises and why, benchmarking appropriately, and articulating points around deducibility ... ensuring you are writing for the right audience!  

The decision maker reading claim submissions is a time poor/rushed layperson caseworker that can afford limited attention to absorb details presented, and for certain types of projects, is likely to carry a dose of scepticism and/or subconscious bias (favourable and unfavourable depending on industry).  

Having an experienced advisor guide you, challenge test you and shape the explanatory narratives with you, makes a huge difference to successfully relaying the facts of your R&D claim.

If you'd like support with making an R&D claim, you can book a 1:1 with me here: https://calendly.com/claire-upton-s0zm/45min

Head of R&D Tax Credits

KPMG UK

Worked as a chartered tax advisor for 11 years with KPMG (my training firm). My work was predominantly corporate tax focused, with 3 years spent in the entrepreneurial private client team. 
 
For the last 3 years or my time with KPMG, I worked as part of KPMG’s national specialist R&D tax relief team during which time I have assisted both small and large companies with numerous claims across a variety of business sectors (from food manufacturers to software and automotive to label printers). 
 
Through this experience (plus having worked alongside an ex-HMRC principal technical specialist who played a significant role in producing the improved 2004 DTI Guidelines on the meaning of R&D), I have developed a profound understanding of the R&D tax relief legislation/HMRC guidelines and most importantly understand the types of projects that may qualify and the qualifying activities undertaken within those projects (i.e. start and end points of R&D). 

I developed skills to articulate R&D guidelines to engineers/technologists and finance teams to assist companies with their understanding of the regime in order to maximise the size of their R&D claims and to compile a supporting claim document for submission to HMRC.

Corporate tax & R&D tax relief specialist

I collaborate with people within businesses, large and small (starting out or established) to put together authentic claims for R&D tax relief. 

Working closely with the right people in your company, together we'll identify your qualifying projects and carefully link up associated expenditure to maximise the cash benefits of this tax relief with 100% compliance.

I'm a qualified tax professional - Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA), with more than 20 years experience working as a corporate tax practitioner.  I have specialised in R&D tax for the majority of my career, following the evolution of this transformative innovation incentive since it was first introduced.   

I have gained experience and insights from working on diverse claims across different industries and varying profiles of complexities impacting the mechanics of this relief.  All of which shape the way I approach the claim compilation process. 

I'll help you understand the eligibility criteria and guide you through a way to assess your work against this.  We'll look at the areas where you have incurred costs and how these costs can be attributed to the qualifying aspects of your work.  I'll take the facts we'll gather throughout the assessment process and produce a robust report for submission to HMRC in support of your claim.

Solely focused on R&D tax relief, this tax advisory service compliments the mainstream tax compliance services you buy in elsewhere.

If you are interested to find out whether your company might be eligible for this tax relief or are looking for a fresh adviser, let's talk! 

You can book some time for a 1:1 here: https://calendly.com/claire-upton-s0zm/45min.

taplio

The Battle

Bradley Pallister

Claire Upton

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?