At a glance
EmpowerRD and a Uplift-introduced specialist are two legitimate ways to prepare a UK R&D claim. They differ most clearly in who does the drafting work. EmpowerRD's platform guides the client through the inputs and generates the technical narrative with adviser review. A Uplift-introduced specialist takes the information and produces the claim and the Additional Information Form for the client to review and sign off.
| Criterion | EmpowerRD | Uplift Tax (introduction) |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2017 (publicly listed) | Blue Llama Ltd incorporated 2020 |
| Model | Platform + adviser, client-led drafting | Introducer to HMRC-registered specialist who prepares the claim |
| Typical fee | Publicly positioned below traditional consultancy percentages | No win, no fee (charged by the specialist) |
| Minimum claim size | Tends to be more economical for mid-to-larger claims | No minimum at assessment stage |
| Scope | R&D tax credits focus | R&D, Capital Allowances, Land Remediation Relief |
| Trustpilot rating | Publicly listed rating, high (in the 4-to-5 star range) at time of writing (April 2026), publicly available, subject to change | Not individually rated; specialist firms are rated on their own pages |
| Cost of initial assessment | Free initial consultation | Free assessment, then no win, no fee if you proceed |
Where EmpowerRD excels
EmpowerRD has three clear strengths that we will not pretend otherwise about.
1. Lower percentage fee. EmpowerRD's public positioning is built around a lower percentage fee than most full-service consultancies. Because the platform absorbs a meaningful part of the inputs and drafting work, that fee saving is real. For a mid-to-larger claim, the absolute saving versus a traditional consultancy can be material.
2. Platform tooling. The EmpowerRD platform gives clients a structured way to capture project inputs, cost allocations and technical narratives. For a tech-forward team that prefers a software-driven workflow, the experience is more self-serve than a consultancy-led engagement. Some finance and R&D leads genuinely prefer that.
3. Repeat claim efficiency. For companies that claim every year, the platform retains structure between years and reduces the incremental effort on each new claim. For an annual claimant that wants a repeatable process rather than starting from scratch with each engagement, the model works well.
For the right client, EmpowerRD is a genuinely sensible choice.
Where Uplift Tax fits differently
Uplift Tax is not trying to replace a platform. It is a different model entirely.
1. The client does not draft the technical narrative. In a Uplift-introduced specialist engagement, the specialist takes technical input from the company in an interview format and produces the project write-ups and the AIF. For a first-time claimant or a busy engineering lead who would rather answer questions than write long narratives, this saves real effort.
2. Multi-relief assessment at the front door. The free assessment looks at R&D Tax Credits, Capital Allowances and Land Remediation Relief together. Platform-based R&D tools are built for R&D and do not surface Capital Allowances or Land Remediation. For a company that has recently fitted out premises or acquired contaminated land, that integrated view matters.
3. Sector-matched specialist, not a generalist platform. The network includes specialists in software, manufacturing, engineering, biotech and construction. A specialist who has seen fifty software claims before yours asks sharper questions than a generalist platform. That sector match can improve both the robustness and the value of the claim.
Who should consider EmpowerRD
EmpowerRD is a reasonable first call if:
- You have an internal engineering or product lead who is willing and able to draft technical narratives.
- You are already a regular claimant with well-structured cost allocations and are mainly looking for a lower fee.
- You prefer a software-driven workflow and like owning the process end to end.
- Your claim is R&D-only and you do not need a Capital Allowances or Land Remediation view.
Who should consider Uplift Tax
Uplift Tax is a more natural fit if:
- You are a first-time claimant and do not have a clear picture of what qualifies under HMRC rules.
- You want an independent eligibility view before engaging anyone to prepare a claim.
- You want the specialist to do the technical write-up after an interview, rather than drafting it yourself.
- You want the Capital Allowances and Land Remediation question answered in the same assessment.
- You want a sector-matched specialist rather than a generalist platform.
For more detail on the process, see our how-it-works page and the methodology.
What both have in common
- Both work under the HMRC merged R&D scheme rules. Background: merged scheme guide.
- Both involve a percentage fee paid out of the successful claim rather than up front.
- Both require the Additional Information Form to be completed correctly.
- Both ultimately rely on HMRC-registered advisers for sign-off of the claim.
Claim types where the model choice matters most
The choice between a platform and a specialist is more consequential for some claim types than others. A few honest observations.
Software claims. Platform models tend to work well here because software R&D narrative follows a repeatable structure (technical baseline, uncertainty, advance sought, resolution). For a software team willing to draft within a guided form, EmpowerRD's model is a good fit. For a software team where the engineering leads do not have time to draft, a specialist-led interview is more efficient. First-time software claimants often prefer the specialist path because they do not yet know which narrative details HMRC responds to.
Engineering and manufacturing claims. These often involve a mix of product development, process engineering and materials science. The narrative tends to benefit from a specialist who has seen similar claims before, because the right framing of the scientific or technological uncertainty is less formulaic than in software. A platform can still work but the client-drafting burden is typically higher.
Biotech and life-sciences claims. Specialist-led preparation is almost always the better choice, because the interaction between R&D activity and regulated trial activity requires nuanced handling. The same applies to claims where the competent professional is a scientist with limited time for narrative drafting.
Fee transparency
EmpowerRD publicly positions on a lower percentage fee than full-service consultancies. The specific rate depends on claim size and engagement terms, and is disclosed during onboarding. The fee is lower because a portion of the claim preparation work is handled by the client via the platform, rather than by the adviser. This is a clear and legitimate trade-off: the client contributes time in exchange for a lower fee.
Uplift Tax network specialists charge a no-win-no-fee percentage fee that sits in the mid-range of the UK market. The fee covers full claim preparation by the specialist, including interview-led technical narrative drafting, cost schedule preparation, AIF completion and HMRC submission. There is no platform for the client to learn, and no drafting work for the internal team beyond answering interview questions.
Which is cheaper in total depends on how you price your own team's time. For a team that can draft technical narratives quickly and wants the lower headline fee, EmpowerRD's model is attractive. For a team that would rather pay a specialist to handle drafting, a network introduction is the better match.
HMRC enquiry posture
Both EmpowerRD and Uplift Tax network specialists operate under the same HMRC rules and enquiry environment. A platform-generated narrative is still a narrative that can be challenged; a specialist-drafted narrative is still a narrative that can be challenged. The difference, where there is one, is in who leads the enquiry response. Under the platform-led model, the adviser leads but the client's original inputs drive the response. Under the specialist-led model, the specialist leads the response.
For a first-time claimant, or for a claim in a higher-risk sector, the specialist-led enquiry handling is generally the more comfortable arrangement. For a repeat claimant with a mature internal process, the platform-led approach may be entirely workable.
A note on compliance and positioning
Uplift Tax is an introducer service. We are not a tax adviser, accountant or legal firm. We do not prepare R&D claims. We run an eligibility assessment and introduce you to an HMRC-registered specialist who takes the engagement forward under their own regulated terms. Recovery values at assessment stage are indicative only.
References to EmpowerRD on this page are drawn from publicly available sources including the EmpowerRD website, Companies House filings, Trustpilot and trade press. We have not attempted to describe internal processes we cannot verify.