Motion Design
Supporting Motion Design’s First R&D Tax Incentive Claim
Client
Services
Sector
Year
Motion Design
R&D Tax Incentive (RDTI)
Advanced Manufacturing
2026
Overview
Motion Design is a leading engineering and automation company specialising in custom machinery, robotics, machine vision, and industrial control systems. Working across advanced manufacturing and laboratory automation, the business develops highly customised solutions to solve complex technical challenges where off-the-shelf systems fall short.
Innovation is embedded throughout Motion Design’s work, with projects often involving significant experimentation, prototyping, software integration, and iterative engineering.
Despite carrying out substantial R&D activity, Motion Design had never previously pursued the Research & Development Tax Incentive (RDTI). While aware of the programme, there was uncertainty around how the eligibility criteria applied to the specialised nature of their work, alongside concerns about the level of tracking, documentation, and internal effort required as first-time claimants.
After engaging with Swell, this changed. Swell worked closely with the team to identify eligible R&D activity across the business and guide the claim process in a structured and manageable way.
Through their first RDTI claim, Motion Design secured a significant return that can now be reinvested into ongoing innovation, engineering capability, and future growth.
About
Challenges
Uncertainty around RDTI eligibility
Although Motion Design was undertaking significant technical and engineering innovation, it was unclear how the RDTI criteria applied to the specialised and integrated nature of their work. Many projects combined robotics, software development, machine vision, automation, and mechanical engineering, making it difficult to determine which activities were likely to qualify.
Concerns around documentation and tracking
As first-time claimants, the team also had concerns around the level of documentation, time tracking, and supporting evidence required to prepare a compliant claim. Like many growing engineering businesses, R&D activity was embedded within day-to-day project delivery rather than formally separated through dedicated R&D systems.
Why Swell
Motion Design engaged Swell to better understand whether their innovation activities were eligible for the RDTI, and how to approach the process without creating additional burden on the business.
Early discussions identified that a significant portion of the company’s work aligned with the intent of the RDTI, despite the complexity and interdisciplinary nature of the projects involved.
Swell worked closely with the team to understand how R&D activity was undertaken across the business, helping identify eligible work within customer projects, internal platform development, automation systems, robotics, and software integration initiatives.
Importantly, Swell also helped simplify the process for a first-time claimant. Rather than requiring perfect historic records, the focus was placed on building a practical and supportable claim using the information and project documentation already available within the business.
By guiding the claim process step by step, Swell helped turn what initially felt like a complex and resource-intensive exercise into a structured and manageable process.
Impact & Value
Significant funding unlocked for innovation
Through its first RDTI claim, Motion Design secured a significant cash return that can now be reinvested back into the business to support continued innovation, engineering capability, and future development initiatives. The funding represented a meaningful commercial outcome for the business — equivalent to the cost of an additional full-time employee.
A more accessible process than expected
What was initially viewed as a potentially complex and resource-intensive process proved far more manageable in practice. With Swell guiding the claim process step by step, Motion Design was able to approach the RDTI in a structured and practical way, without the process becoming a distraction from day-to-day project delivery and core business operations.
Greater confidence in future claims
The process also gave the team a clearer understanding of how eligible R&D activity exists within the business and how it can be identified and captured going forward. With this clarity, Motion Design is now better positioned to approach future RDTI claims with greater confidence and structure.
Conclusion
Motion Design’s experience reflects a common challenge for highly technical and engineering-led businesses. Significant R&D activity was already taking place across the company, but uncertainty around eligibility and perceived complexity meant the RDTI had never previously been pursued.
By working through the process with Swell, the team gained greater clarity around how their innovation activities aligned with the RDTI criteria and approached the claim in a structured and manageable way.
What initially appeared to be a difficult and resource-intensive process became a practical opportunity to secure meaningful funding without disrupting day-to-day operations.
With a successful first claim now completed, Motion Design is better positioned to identify eligible R&D activity and continue investing in innovation and future growth.
On Swell's Expertise
“We had been aware of the RDTI for some time, but because of the complexity and specialised nature of our work, we were never confident about what would actually qualify. Swell helped bring clarity to that and guided us through the process in a way that felt straightforward and manageable.” — Gary Anderson, Director, Motion Design
On The benefits