Construction Technology (ConTech)

BC&A Innovation

R&D Spotlight

The construction industry is experiencing a digital and technological shift, with companies increasingly adopting advanced tools, materials, and systems to improve efficiency, safety, and sustainability. This movement, often referred to as ConTech (Construction Technology), includes everything from building information modelling (BIM) and digital twin technology to robotics, smart materials, and automated construction processes.

Despite being a traditionally hands-on industry, construction businesses across the UK are often carrying out R&D without realising it. Qualifying for R&D tax relief requires that your work goes beyond routine construction methods or off-the-shelf technologies. Your projects must aim to achieve scientific or technological advancements by overcoming technical uncertainties, such as developing new materials, improving building methods, or integrating smart systems in ways that are not yet proven.

Here are some examples of qualifying activities in the UK ConTech sector:

Developing New Building Materials or Techniques

Researching and trialling new materials such as high-performance concrete, lightweight composites, or sustainable insulation products that offer better structural, thermal, or environmental performance.

Improving Modular or Prefabricated Construction Methods

Developing new processes or assembly techniques to improve the accuracy, durability, or speed of modular building systems, particularly when overcoming design or transportation challenges.

Advancing Digital Construction Technologies

Creating or refining BIM platforms, digital twin systems, or real-time project management tools that improve collaboration, reduce waste, or increase construction accuracy.

Solving Structural or Engineering Challenges

Developing new structural designs or engineering solutions that improve building stability, load-bearing capacity, or resilience against environmental factors like wind, water, or seismic activity.

Integrating Smart Building Systems

Overcoming technical barriers to integrate IoT sensors, energy management systems, or smart building controls into new or existing structures.

Improving On-Site Automation or Robotics

Engineering or adapting automated construction equipment, drones, or robotic systems to improve safety, accuracy, or speed on-site, particularly when these technologies need to be customised for specific environments.

Enhancing Sustainability and Environmental Performance

Developing methods to reduce carbon emissions, improve energy efficiency, or minimise waste across construction processes or building lifecycle management.

Meeting New Building Regulations and Standards

Adapting construction methods or materials to meet evolving UK building regulations, fire safety standards, or environmental targets, especially when these require new engineering solutions.

If your construction or ConTech business is tackling these types of challenges, you could be eligible for R&D tax relief. This incentive helps UK businesses recover a portion of their innovation costs, enabling further investment in safer, more efficient, and more sustainable construction solutions.

Our Process

What to expect when working with
BC&A Innovation

1. Discovery Call

Book your FREE 15 minute discovery call today to discuss your R&D activity and we'll guide you on best next steps and estimated claim value.

2. Information gathering

Our technical experts and industry specialists will work with you to uncover all areas of work activity eligible under the R&D scheme, ensuring we have everything we need to support a robust, defensible and maximised claim.

3. Create R&D Tax Claim

Our technical experts will write your claim and supporting documents with a clear assessment of your eligible activity and costs, ensuring compliance with the scheme's governance throughout.

4. Approval & Submission

We'll share, for your approval, the claim draft and supporting documentation. We'll explain in detail how we have arrived at our assessment of your claimable activity, costs and claim value. When you're happy, your claim can be submitted as part of your standard end-of-year processes.

5. Liaising with HMRC

Should HMRC require any further information or have queries regarding your claim, we'll liaise with them to ensure speedy payment without any reduction in claim value.

6. Payment

Once your payment is received, we'll send it across the same working day and advise you on processes that can be put in place to make future claims even more hassle-free. Don't worry about claims going forward, we'll be in regular contact to remind you what is needed and when.

About BC&A Innovation

We've helped hundreds of businesses like yours secure millions in Research & Development tax relief

Our team recognises the importance of R&D in advancing UK businesses, big and small, and we understand the time burden, resources and complexities of claiming tax relief for that R&D. These constraints often leave companies failing to get the tax relief they’re entitled to or underclaiming significantly due to unclear, often confusing guidelines about what constitutes R&D. As experts in R&D tax relief, we’re here to unblur the lines and create robust, defensible and maximised claims on your behalf.

We’re experienced tax professionals, accountants and technical experts with a deep understanding of the R&D tax relief regulations. We’ve worked in many of the industries we now serve and are ideally placed to understand your business’ R&D Activities. As part of HMRC’s panel on R&D, we stay up-to-date with the latest developments in the guidance, to provide our clients with the most accurate and up-to-date advice.

At BC&A Innovation we take the burden of claim generation away from the business so you can do what you do best, while we do what we do best. We pride ourselves on our integrity, professionalism and commitment to our clients.

Not sure if you qualify for R&D tax relief? Book a FREE discovery call today.

Many of the businesses we work with were unsure if they qualified for R&D tax relief at first. A few had even been told by other agencies that they could not claim. Yet, with our help they were able to correctly identify eligible R&D projects and claim back vital funds.

As experts in HMRC’s definitions of Research & Development, we’ll be able to tell you if you should make a claim or not. We’re success fee based, which means it isn’t in our interest or yours to take forward claims that won’t pass HMRC’s stringent checks. If we say it’s worth doing, you can take that to the bank.

Ready for a discovery call? Think of it as a no-obligation chat where we can discuss the work you’ve undertaken and identify tax-saving opportunities. Our expert consultants are keen to speak with you.