A FIRM is celebrating after claiming back £1 million in tax for some of the region’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

R&D Tax Claims (North) Ltd, which has its office in The Base, on Dallam Lane, has hit the milestone for tax relief successfully returned to clients after two years of operating in the region.

The company was launched to assist SMEs in the north by helping them get back money spent on research and development projects.

R&D north west director Pamela Cunliffe has worked for clients across a range of industries during her time in the role.

She said: "I am delighted to have hit such a milestone in this short amount of time heading up R&D Tax Claims (North).

"Being able to offer the opportunity for more companies in the north to benefit from the R&D reclaim scheme is incredibly rewarding, so here's to more millions in the future for the region's SMEs."

Among the clients Ms Cunliffe has worked with is Julie Bowmer, chief executive of Baker Bennett Ltd.

She secured in excess of £60,000, which was claimed for Baker Bennett's innovative reporting system.

It funded the launch of Baker Bennett's own brand products encasing its white label range created for some of the UK's top supermarkets.

Ms Cunliffe has been recognised for her success after being selected as a finalist at the Warrington Business Awards in the businesswoman of the year category.

Originally based in the Midlands, the expansion of R&D Tax Claims (North) into the north west was carried out to help more SMEs reclaim funds and encourage further research and development.

The research and development tax credit scheme is a Government-backed initiative to encourage British companies to develop their products and processes.

The UK has one of the most generous schemes, with an estimated £6 billion per year available to be reclaimed by SMEs.