Bristol research and development tax relief consultancy ForrestBrown has bolstered its presence in Scotland by opening an office in Glasgow.
The firm, the UK’s leading consultancy of its kind, said the move demonstrated its commitment to a region that is at the forefront of the engineering, renewables and software sectors. 
The base, which opened this week, is ForrestBrown’s third and will sit alongside its Bristol headquarters and London office.
The firm has grown rapidly since Simon Brown launched it in 2013 after identifying an acute need from innovative companies for highly targeted R&D tax credit advice.
It now has more than 120 staff and has delivered £500m-plus to enable research-heavy firms to continue to develop.
It was acquired in 2018 by alliantgroup, the premier provider of tax credits and incentives in the US.
Its multi-disciplinary team is made up of qualified chartered tax advisers, accountants, lawyers, industry sector specialists and former HMRC inspectors. 
ForrestBrown managing director Sara Brigden, pictured, said: “Businesses now, more than ever, need trusted advisers and we are here to help provide that all important support at a local level.
“We will be focused on helping innovative Scottish businesses to maximise their competitive advantage and secure their future growth through this vital funding.
“This new office will also allow us to better service our existing clients and partners in Scotland, and we look forward to deepening our ties here in the years to come.”
The office will be headed by R&D tax specialist Stephen Leishman, , pictured, who joins as lead consultant, Scotland.
He said: “I’m incredibly proud to be leading ForrestBrown’s expansion into Scotland. It’s a very exciting time to be joining the business. 
“I’ve seen first-hand the innovation taking place in Scotland and have been fortunate enough to help hundreds of businesses unlock vital funding to help with their growth plans.
“Despite increasing awareness of the incentive, in Scotland there are still businesses not maximising their financial reward and misconceptions are rife when it comes to unlocking the true benefits of R&D tax relief.
“This combined with a tightening approach from HMRC means that businesses face increasing uncertainty.
“ForrestBrown’s service is unrivalled, and our Glasgow office will be focused on providing dedicated local support to clients seeking specialist consultancy advice for R&D tax relief.”
