Leicester workshop offers small high-tech firms advice on innovation

Small and medium-sized high-tech companies are being invited to a free workshop in Leicester on support available for business growth, research and development (R&D) tax credits and innovation. The event will be held on Tuesday 18 March at Stamford Court, University of Leicester.

The workshop, organised by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS), will focus on the range of tax incentives, grants and other support provided by the Government.

As well as giving background on the support available, the workshop will provide information on how businesses can make claims and where to go for further help.

Carol Lunney, HMRC Assistant Director, Business Tax, said:

“Innovation lies at the heart of our culture. British ideas and inventions have helped shape our world: from the telephone to the World Wide Web. The UK has the largest creative sector per head in the world. These workshops are designed to ensure our high-tech SMEs get the help they need to help them invest in R&D and innovation.”

Topics covered are:

• R&D tax credits and the Patent Box tax incentive, led by HMRC
• grants, knowledge transfer, networking, procurement and more, led by the Technology Strategy Board
• EU funding for business R&D and innovation, including the Horizon 2020 programme for research and innovation, launched in Januarypatents and intellectual property, by the Intellectual Property Office
• patens and intellectual property, by the Intellectual Property Office
• help on innovation and opportunities to commercialise technology through design projects, by the Design Council. 

Each 20 minute presentation will be followed by 10 minutes of questions, and stands will also be staffed by experts available to talk. A maximum of 30 delegates will be able to attend each presentation.

Places can be booked at http://www.business-events.org.uk/events/free-workshops-for-smes-about-government-support-for-r-d-and-innovation

Notes to editors

1. The Leicester event will be held at Stamford Court, Manor Road, University of Leicester on 18 March 2014.
2. Follow us on Twitter @hmrc.gov.uk