IP Strategy | Patent Box | R&D Tax
How Accountants Can Unlock Hidden Value Through Innovation
Every day, UK businesses innovate, but most miss out on the tax and commercial benefits their efforts could deliver. This VFD Business Development Academy session shows how accountants and advisors can use IP strategy to engage clients, uncover new opportunities, and add measurable value through innovation and tax efficiency.
Most accountants focus on compliance. The ones who stand out are those who help clients think differently about innovation, growth, and value creation.
In this VFD Business Development Academy session, Steve Darnell and Jean McCarthy (ABGI) explain how Intellectual Property (IP) strategy, including Patent Box and R&D tax relief, can become one of the most powerful business development tools in your arsenal.
The discussion begins with a simple truth: over 99% of UK businesses that could benefit from Patent Box don’t. Why? Because no one tells them about it.
As an accountant or advisor, you’re perfectly placed to change that.
By understanding the basics of IP strategy, you can identify opportunities within your existing client base, start high-impact conversations, and strengthen your advisory positioning. You don’t need to be an expert — you just need to recognise the signals and connect clients to the right specialists.
You’ll also discover how to:
Differentiate yourself in competitive markets.
Retain clients by adding proactive, forward-thinking value.
Build partnerships with IP attorneys and innovation specialists.
Use IP conversations to drive referrals and attract better-quality clients.
This session includes real case studies, such as a water treatment company that secured a narrow-scope patent for under £8,000 and went on to save over £115,000 in corporation tax each year while increasing its valuation through Patent Box benefits.
By embedding IP awareness into your practice, you can:
Help clients future-proof their businesses.
Increase engagement and trust through meaningful advisory discussions.
Open doors to new income streams via referral collaboration.
Ultimately, IP strategy isn’t just about patents or tax. It’s about helping innovative businesses recognise and realise their full commercial potential, and positioning yourself as the advisor who makes that possible.
Watch this session to learn how to turn innovation into opportunity; for your clients and your firm.