'I'm really excited about what we can achieve together': London firm acquires Northern Ireland consultancy in undisclosed deal, boosting workforce by 30%

A Northern Ireland specialist innovation and tax incentives consultancy has been acquired by a London firm as part of its UK expansion plans.

Ayming UK, a specialist innovation funding consultancy, has announced the acquisition of Amplifi, which specialises in innovation and tax incentives for UK and Irish businesses and is based near Belfast.

Completed today, the acquisition forms part of Ayming's wider growth strategy to expand its presence across the UK. It brings together two businesses with complementary capabilities and a shared commitment to providing clients with tailored, high-quality support throughout the R&D tax claims process.

The deal also strengthens Ayming's footprint in one of the UK's fastest-growing innovation hubs, with Belfast emerging as a leading centre for innovation over the past decade.

The city was ranked the number one UK location for US overseas R&D investment and among the top five destinations globally for R&D investment, according to Invest Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland was also named the UK's Silicon Valley of the Future by Samsung UK.

This growth is expected to continue following renewed UK Government investment, including £7.5m for Belfast's cutting-edge Cyber AI capabilities, announced at the 2026 Autumn Budget.

Amplifi's established presence near Belfast, combined with its local knowledge and expertise, will give Ayming a stronger platform from which to support businesses across Northern Ireland and access the region's growing innovation ecosystem.

The location will also support further expansion into the Republic of Ireland, where both Amplifi and Ayming already have existing clients.

In addition to its local expertise, Amplifi brings an established track record of supporting small and medium-sized businesses with their R&D tax claims, complementing Ayming's extensive experience in managing larger and more complex claims.

Together, the businesses intend to develop dedicated centres of excellence, giving clients access to specialist advice and support tailored to the size and complexity of their claims.

Mark Smith, managing director at Ayming UK, said: “Belfast, and Northern Ireland more broadly, has become a real hub for R&D and innovation, with an exceptional talent pool and entrepreneurial spirit.

“By bringing Amplifi into the Ayming Group, we're strengthening our presence in this growing market while expanding our UK-wide offering and giving businesses access to the specialist support they need, whatever the size or complexity of their R&D tax claim.

“Just as importantly, Amplifi shares many of the values that underpin our approach at Ayming. Both businesses place great emphasis on building strong client relationships, providing deep technical expertise and standing by clients throughout the claims process from start to finish.

“That makes this acquisition a natural fit, both strategically and culturally, and I'm really excited about what we can achieve together.”

Founded in 2014, Amplifi has grown into an established specialist R&D tax consultancy in Northern Ireland and Scotland, supporting businesses in accessing tax relief and incentives for their innovation activities.

The acquisition will increase Ayming's UK workforce by approximately 30%, bringing additional specialist expertise into the wider business.

Jeff Drennan, managing partner at Amplifi, said: “Delivering high-quality, personal service has always been at the heart of what we do at Amplifi.

“Joining the Ayming Group will enable us to build on everything that we’ve achieved so far, while giving our clients and colleagues access to the expertise and resources of a much larger international business.

“We’re excited about this next chapter and the opportunities it brings to further support the brilliant innovation taking place across Northern Ireland and beyond.”

Chris Maylin, managing partner at Amplifi, added: “For over a decade, we've had the privilege of working alongside some of the most innovative businesses across the UK and Ireland, helping them turn their ideas and ambitions into reality.

“We're incredibly proud of what we've achieved and the relationships we've built along the way, and we're looking forward to continuing that work within the Ayming Group.”