Member Article

Farm-focused Innovation Finance Specialist Makes Rural Business Awards Shortlist

Cumbrian R&D Tax Credit and grant funding specialist, Growthviser, has been named a Northern-area finalist for the ‘Best Rural Professional Services Business’ in the prestigious Rural Business Awards 2021/22.

Growthviser has been recognised for its commitment to assisting rurally-based clients, particularly those in farming and food manufacturing, with their business growth targets.

The company, established by ex-Deloitte accountant, Darina Ward, and headquartered in Ulverston, has established a sharp focus on innovative farmers, across the UK, who wish to capitalise on the many grants available to them and maximise the benefit of these by marrying them up with legitimate R&D tax credits. They can receive up to 33 pence in the Pound back from HMRC on money spent on ‘innovation’, even if that means just changing processes.

Growthviser has also channelled the Heinz brand experience acquired by Darina and her specialist consultants, Sylvia Barton and John Whittaker, into the development of a unique service. The team works with clients on a long-term basis, fuelling their growth, rather than acting like most R&D tax credit companies, who only quickly fill in forms and process claims.

By assembling a team of rural, farming and food manufacturing specialists, including business development manager Richard Hodgson, who has a farming background, Growthviser has established itself as the number one growth consultancy for rural businesses requiring financial support and mentoring inspiration.

This has led to the blossoming of various new services, in response to rural business needs, including a food safety and food legislation service, to help guide farmers struggling with new Brexit and legislative demands.

The approach has also developed into a full field-to-fork one, with Growthviser also working extensively with food chain suppliers, from farms who specialise in particular types of produce, to Michelin Star chefs, determined to use farm-fresh foods on their menus.

The most recent figure relating to the money saved for rural businesses in the past year is £7m, but many more financial benefits are currently in the pipeline for the rural businesses for which Growthviser provides innovation growth consultancy.

Growthviser eagerly awaits October 1, when the Rural Business Awards’ Northern finals will be held online. Should it win at a regional level, it will proceed to the national finals, competing against the best from five other regions, to determine the national category winner.

Darina Ward says: “We have always stayed true to our principal of working with rural businesses, who are greatly under-represented in HMRC R&D tax credit reclaims, because they are unaware of their eligibility or bamboozled by the process and require help. Whilst most companies simply process forms, rather than translating ‘help’ into mentoring and strategic growth advice, we provide a holistic growth mentoring package.

“We are continually seeking to raise awareness of the extent to which we can help rural businesses, by again offering our very different approach of combining R&D tax credit claims with grant funding support. This can reduce the total costs of a project by more than 50% and the overall capital sums, for investment in the business, typically rise by around 20%. With the help of this Rural Business Awards Northern finalist success behind us, we hope to spread the word far and wide, assisting rural businesses across the UK, as well as those who are in associated fields, or putting produce on to plates.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Jane Hunt .