AFB Seminar: Accessing Research and Development Tax Credits

You are invited to attend an in-person seminar hosted by Grant Thornton, focused on the use of Research & Development (R&D) tax credits in the UK. This session is designed to help AFB member banks understand the substantial cash savings available through the UK’s R&D tax incentive and how to access them effectively.

Why attend?

AFB member banks undertaking innovation in the UK can benefit significantly from the enhanced R&D tax incentive. The gross tax benefit has recently increased from 13% to 20%, alongside an expanded scope to claim for ‘contracted out R&D’ which is a transformative shift in the potential cash savings available.

These changes reflect the UK Government’s strengthened commitment to supporting investment in innovation.

Experts from Grant Thornton’s Innovation Taxes team will share insights from working with leading financial services firms, demonstrating how to optimise R&D claims while maintaining compliance within governance frameworks.

Who should attend?

This session is for those working in Finance and Tax departments at AFB member banks who are responsible for, or involved in, tax strategy, innovation funding, or financial planning.

Speakers

Lindsey Copland – Innovation Tax Partner, Grant Thornton

Lindsey is a seasoned advisor with over a decade of experience helping businesses unlock the value of government incentives for innovation. With a career spanning both the UK and Australia, she brings a unique international perspective on how different governments support R&D investment.

At Grant Thornton, Lindsey works closely with companies across a wide range of sectors to optimise their return on innovation through the R&D tax incentive. Her deep understanding of policy and program design enables her to guide clients through the complexities of the incentive landscape, ensuring they access the full benefit available.

Antoinette Quinlan – Innovation Tax Partner, Grant Thornton

Antoinette is a passionate advocate for the role of R&D tax incentives in driving innovation. With over 20 years of experience across the UK, Ireland, and Australia, she has helped a broad spectrum of businesses from start-ups to multinationals to navigate and benefit from R&D tax credit regimes.

Her focus is on supporting large corporates and multinational organisations to access incentives while embedding strong governance and risk management frameworks. Antoinette brings strategic insight into how R&D incentives can support commercialisation, compliance, and long-term innovation investment.

Please note you will receive a confirmation of your booking via email within 24 hours. Should you not receive a confirmation, please contact AFB to double check if your booking was successful.

Logistics

Fee:          Included in AFB membership

Location:  Grant Thornton, 8 Finsbury Circus, London EC2M 7EA

Date:        Tuesday 23 September 2025

Time:        08:30 – 10:30 (registration & refreshments from 08:30 – 09.00)

There will be ample opportunity for questions throughout the session, however, if you would like to submit a question before or have any specific questions or areas that you would like the session to address, please send them to the AFB at secretariat@foreignbanks.org.uk as soon as practicable. You will receive details on how to join this in-person session a week before the event.