Clyde Blowers Capital

Jim McColl OBE is Chief Executive and Chairman of Clyde Blowers Capital, a Scottish-based £1.4b group. Since buying a share in Clyde Blowers in 1992, he has transformed the engineering business into a portfolio of companies, several of which are in the top three in the world in their specific markets.

Jim has a distinguished industrial career having served his apprenticeship with Weir Pumps (which Clyde acquired) and since then has advised, managed and owned a variety of industrial businesses

Having used his accountant in previous years to manage his R&D tax claims, he engaged Jumpstart late in 2010, being convinced that the company would help Clyde Blowers uncover many more projects and activities that would be eligible under the legislation. Jim knew that the investment he had made in the development of new products in two of the companies alone, Clyde Union and David Brown Gears,
was significant.

“There’s no doubt that engaging Jumpstart to manage our R&D Tax Credit claim has highlighted just how much untapped money there is. My company has benefited enormously from the rigor of Jumpstart’s technical approach, and their legislative expertise. I know that our people found the whole process remarkably smooth, so the small amount of effort is entirely worth it.

Looking back, it’s easy to see why people turn to an accountant for this kind of thing, yet the R&D Tax Credit scheme needs to be built around technical information and detail. This really is a matter of employing the correct skills set, and Jumpstart’s Technical Analysts have helped us maximise our claim and be recognised for our extremely high level of innovation. The money also allows us to expand our investment programme.

The one thing I would like to emphasise is that I know we are a large company, but this scheme and the expertise that Jumpstart has is relevant to everyone across all manufacturing sectors. Whether you are £1.4m or £1.4b, the principle is the same. If everyone made use of the services of Jumpstart, then the UK economy and the Scottish economy in particular, with its long history of innovation, would be so much healthier. There is an estimated £980m unclaimed out there and I urge all to follow us, and get what is, after all, rightfully theirs. It’s about economic impact and it is in our hands.”

Jim McColl OBE
Clyde Blowers Capital