The Empowering Tech group is a portfolio of brands supporting people (and businesses) who think, learn and work differently.

The group’s principal brand, Scanning Pens was established in the UK in 2003. Since then, the brand has grown into a truly global operation with locations in the UK, United States, Canada and Australia.

With a turnover of approximately £10 million, Scanning Pens is best known for distributing text-to-speech pen scanner technology – created by C-Pen and e-pens – that levels the playing field for those with learning differences and drives educational impact in schools around the world. 

When the Empowering Tech group acquired Wizcom Tech in 2021, they appointed an expert R&D team based in the UK and India to design and develop a new state-of-the-art education support solution.

Led by two founders – Jack Churchill OBE and Toby Sutton OBE, the business combines entrepreneurial ambition with a genuine commitment to making education more accessible and enjoyable for everyone.

The challenge

When Empowering Tech first approached Milsted Langdon and ML Audit, they were in the market for an auditor.

They were looking for a new approach to the way that their audits were conducted which supported their needs as a business and gave them the information they needed to satisfy the board and other third parties, such as banks and investors.

This wasn’t a straightforward task, as they were managing a complex intercompany structure across multiple global entities.

How Milsted Langdon helped

Our first and perhaps most valuable contribution was an honest one. Having reviewed Empowering Tech’s situation, our team identified that the company did not actually require a statutory audit.

Rather than simply delivering that news and moving on, the team took ownership of the situation.

They worked backwards through the prior year accounts to ensure the figures were on a solid footing before proceeding with the current year.

“The team were great at letting us know not just that we didn’t need it, but why we didn’t need it,” said Sharmella Kirby, Finance Strategy Officer at Empowering Tech.

“A full explanation was given, but the above and beyond that impressed us was the fact that the Milsted Langdon team were here throughout the process to closely support and advise us.”

With bank relationships and investor conversations ongoing, having complete confidence in the numbers was essential.

From there, the relationship has expanded naturally and what began as an audit engagement became a comprehensive, full-service partnership covering:

  • Annual accounts preparation
  • Corporation tax compliance
  • R&D tax credit claims (including three years of historic claims)
  • Personal tax returns for both company directors
  • Intercompany accounting support and guidance
  • Strategic financial consultancy

Untangling complex intercompany accounting

One area where the Milsted Langdon team has made a particularly significant difference was in helping the Empowering Tech group understand and manage its intercompany transactions.

“Over the years, the intercompany position became more complex and untidy – to the point where we were all tearing our hair out about it, but we just didn’t know how to deal with it. That was the big problem”, explained Sharmella.

Our team stepped in and guided the finance team through a structured approach to recording and reconciling these transactions, bringing clarity to a part of the business that had previously caused considerable anxiety.

“We just feel like we know what we’re doing and we’ve got a complete handle on it now,” added Sharmella.

Supporting innovation

As the Empowering Tech group prepares to launch a new education support solution following five years of in-house development, R&D tax credits represent a significant financial opportunity.

Our specialist R&D tax relief team, led by Daniel Trace, has been working through both current and historic claims, building a thorough understanding of the company’s development activities.

Sharmella noted the collaborative nature of this work: “They’re picking up from us as well, because we’ve had three years of historic R&D claims.

“So, they’re having to pick apart our historic work as well. It’s very much been a two-way conversation and it is good to see that they’re on top of it.”

The results

Empowering Tech has transitioned all of its tax and accounting services to our teams at Milsted Langdon.

As a mark of trust, the directors of the company have also chosen to move their personal tax affairs to the firm.

“The testament to our trust in Milsted Langdon is our directors handing over their personal taxation to the firm to handle. This speaks volumes about our opinion of the team and their work,” added Sharmella.

The relationship is now moving into a more strategic, consultancy-style engagement as the business prepares for its next phase of growth.

CEO & Co-Founder Jack Churchill OBE has also been recommending Milsted Langdon to his own network, with Sharmella proudly explaining that: “Jack is out and about telling people to, ‘Go with them — they’re brilliant.’”

Why Milsted Langdon?

When asked to describe Milsted Langdon in three words, Sharmella’s answer is telling: “Extreme professionalism, caring about our business and about us as people and value for money. We get a lot of effort from the team there.”

She also highlighted what sets the firm apart from others they have worked with: “We’ve never felt like they’re in it for the money. We’ve always felt that they’ve been very gentle with us.

“They’ve understood our needs and wants. It’s the whole caring nature, the fact that they take an interest in us as owners and our business.”

Empowering Tech also values the joined-up nature of the service that comes from having a single firm that understands the full picture, with specialists in each area all working in a coordinated way.

“When Emily and Tim from Milsted Langdon come to meet us, they have a full picture of what’s happening, rather than it being disjointed,” added Sharmella.

To find out how Milsted Langdon supports businesses just like the Empowering Tech group, please get in touch with the team.