Tax Partner | Haines Watts North East
Jonathan is a Tax Partner at Haines Watts North East and has worked with Ryder Architecture for over 8 years.
Having worked with some of the biggest names in architecture, Jonny has a deep understanding of the sector. He advises clients on complex issues, including strategic, structural and income tax planning. He regularly lectures to industry bodies, educational institutions and other tax professionals.
This year he was named in Accountancy Age’s 35 under 35 list, which spotlights individuals in the accountancy industry across the UK who have made significant contributions to their fields throughout their careers. On working with Mark Thompson and the team, Jonathan says:
We’ve worked alongside Mark and the team at Ryder Architecture for over 8 years now, and because of their innovative and forward-thinking outlook, we’ve helped them claim back millions of pounds worth of research and development tax relief within that time. Mark’s ethos of putting people at the forefront of everything he does very much mirrors our culture here at Haines Watts.
Despite the challenges of the past few years, architecture remains a sector in which innovation is rife. Project delays, cash flow disruption, and ambitious sustainability objectives have tested new the sector in new ways. In spite of these pressures, the industry remains resilient and solution-focused.
As we look to the future, the built environment sector is under more pressure than ever to innovate. The Government’s ambitious net-zero objectives are fuelling innovation on an unprecedented scale. Likewise, the issue of addressing embodied carbon within existing buildings is driving adaptation and retro-fitting to a new level.
But all of this requires time and money. And given the inherent risk involved in attempting to overcome uncertainties, it’s vital that architects make the most of the resources they invest in the pursuit of innovation.
R&D tax relief is intended to reward businesses that are actively overcoming technological challenges and developing innovative solutions. The relief works by providing an uplift on qualifying R&D costs. This is then offset against corporation tax, or if a business is loss-making it can generate a cash refund.
Providing your practice meets the SME criteria, this uplift will be 130% of qualifying expenditure. The average SME claim is over £55,000 - unlocking this kind of cash could go a long way in ensuring that your firm remains competitive in an ever-evolving industry.
However, awareness of the relief remains an issue for the sector. Despite being highlighted by industry bodies such as the RIBA, a great number still overlook the opportunity due to a lack of understanding and the fact that many innovative activities are often thought of as being just part of the job.
The reality is architecture is a knowledge-intensive field. In our experience, it ranks as one of the most R&D focused sectors. Given the cash flow pressures of delayed projects throughout the pandemic - and the Government’s ambitious sustainability targets - it’s vital for businesses to understand this invaluable cash flow opportunity in order to thrive and drive profitability.
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Haines Watts also supports Building Design's Architect of the Year Awards through our sponsorship of the Best Architect Employer of the Year Award.
