Client: D J Edge & Partners Limited
Sector: Agriculture
Geographic location: Saltney Ferry, Chester
Relief included costs for:
- Staff costings
- Consumables
- Sub-contractors
The Company
Dairy farmer David Edge, who runs Cop House Farm in Saltney Ferry, Chester, likes to do farming differently. His long-term ambition is to have a fully sustainable farm which doesn’t rely on third-party products, so it is completely organic in its operation and produce.
To achieve this, David and his team began exploring how to replace its usual, bought-in protein for cattle feed by producing its own high protein food additive using peas and beans. Since researching and experimenting with components for the products, David and his team have been able to develop various multi-species crops, which are improving the overall milk yields of the farm’s livestock.
The Solution
Having already worked with Champion for several years, D J Edge & Partners Limited appointed us to handle its R&D claim. The company didn’t claim any funding or grants during the development of its protein replacement produce but met various criteria to become eligible for an R&D tax relief claim.
By claiming against the purchasing of consumable ingredients needed to develop the new products, as well as the amount of staff time and the hiring of sub-contractors dedicated specifically to this process, we were able to identify almost £75,000 worth of R&D investment and claimed back £18,475 in tax from HMRC, which will be reinvested back into the dairy farm, its animals and the continued development of the protein replacement produce.
“We began this process back in 2009 and had no idea until recently when we approached Champion that we could claim, but also back-date our claims for a number of years.
“Champion made the whole process easy, which has changed our mindset about experimentation and innovation – we want to do even more of it, and are more enthusiastic about it, knowing there is added financial benefit from doing so that Champion has unlocked for us.”
David Edge, owner of D J Edge & Partners Limited
To see what you could claim, contact David Herd in our Manchester office on:
E: david.herd@championgroup.co.uk
T: 0161 703 2500