WHAT DO YOU DO?

I work with high‑growth, early‑stage companies that often can’t get traditional funding because they’re seen as high‑risk. I help them qualify for, and stay eligible for, SEIS and EIS so they can attract investment from high‑net‑worth individuals.

I also help companies design share incentives and understand the tax and reporting rules that come with giving employees or directors shares, options, or other equity.

WHY DO YOU DO IT?

I never planned to end up in such a niche area. I fell into it, but I like it, so I’ve stayed.

I’m more of a words-and-logic person than a numbers-and-spreadsheets one. I enjoy taking the criteria in the legislation and figuring out how they apply to a client’s situation or working out how we can help them reach their goals.

Over the years, I’ve seen companies I supported right at the beginning grow into successful businesses and, sometimes, go on to exit. It’s satisfying to have played even such a small part in that journey, whether that meant helping them secure their pre‑seed/seed round tax reliefs or putting an EMI scheme in place to incentivise their key people.

The mixture of practical problem‑solving and seeing the real impact on businesses keeps me here.

WHAT KIND OF PROJECTS HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED IN?

I help early‑stage and scaling businesses access the tax reliefs that make their funding possible.

I’ve supported numerous companies in securing EIS and SEIS advance assurance from HMRC. As HMRC grants advance assurance based solely on the information they receive, I take care to prepare applications that give them a clear and accurate understanding of the business. By setting out the full facts in the right way, I help companies secure the maximum comfort HMRC can provide to their investors

As clients grow, I help them make the most of the opportunities available under the EIS and SEIS regimes, ensuring they can continue to access relief as they scale, diversify revenue streams, acquire new trades or businesses, or even relocate internationally.

Alongside this, I advise on EMI option schemes for companies looking to attract and retain key talent, which is an essential part of helping ambitious businesses build and maintain the strong teams they need for growth.

WHAT’S ON TOP OF YOUR BUCKET LIST?

A safari in South Africa is also on my list so I can see lions in the wild is high on my list. I’d also love to visit Nashville for the live music and to try some proper line dancing.

Closer to home, I enjoy a good staycation. I haven’t explored the Scottish islands yet, so doing a tour of them (definitely not during peak season) is something I want to make happen.

I’ve recently got into running and enjoy the headspace it gives me. My aim is to build beyond a 5k and work towards a half marathon in the next few years, and maybe a full marathon after that.