September 16, 2024
Explore how an IP audit can unlock business value, reduce risk, and support growth. Briffa Legal helps UK SMEs leverage IP audits for stronger protection and strategy.
For many businesses, intellectual property (IP) is an invisible asset that quietly drives growth, brand recognition, and market competitiveness. Yet too often, IP is under-documented, under-protected, and under-leveraged. That’s where an IP audit can make a real difference - not just as a legal exercise, but as a strategic business tool.
With government-backed funding available for eligible UK SMEs, there has never been a better time to take a closer look at your IP portfolio. Here's why an IP audit should be on your business agenda, and how Briffa Legal can help you make the most of it.
An IP audit is a structured review of your business’s intellectual property assets. It goes beyond simply listing trade marks or patents. A full audit identifies what you own, where protection is lacking, what’s at risk, and how your IP can be better exploited or commercialised.
The process typically covers:
For growing businesses, especially those in tech, creative, and consumer sectors, the audit is often the first step toward understanding how IP contributes to enterprise value.
Many business leaders assume IP is purely a legal issue. In reality, it's a commercial asset that can support investment, M&A activity, revenue generation, and market entry.
Here’s how an IP audit can unlock value:
In short, an IP audit helps turn intangible assets into actionable value.
Through the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO), eligible SMEs can access part-funded IP audits. Under the current scheme, businesses contribute just £750 towards a £3,000 audit, with the remaining £2,250 covered by the government.
The process is accessible, efficient, and delivered by qualified professionals. Importantly, it positions SMEs to compete more effectively and make strategic decisions based on a clear understanding of their IP landscape.
Briffa Legal is a leading UK firm specialising in intellectual property law. With decades of experience advising creative, tech, and entrepreneurial businesses, we are ideally positioned to deliver practical, business-focused IP audits.
When you engage Briffa for your audit, you can expect:
Our approach combines legal precision with commercial insight - helping you see beyond compliance and toward growth.
If you’re scaling your business, seeking investment, or launching new products or services, an IP audit is not optional: it’s essential. It equips you to:
Whether you’re applying for government funding or commissioning a private audit, taking this step shows your business is serious about its most valuable assets.
Contact Briffa Legal to find out how an IP audit can unlock new value in your business.
An IP audit is a comprehensive review of your company’s intellectual property assets. It identifies everything from your trade marks and designs to copyrights and trade secrets, assessing ownership, potential risks, and opportunities for commercialisation.
It's a strategic business activity. While it has a legal component, its main purpose is to unlock commercial value. An audit can reveal new revenue streams, strengthen your position for investment, and provide a clear strategy for using your IP to grow the business. This is a core principle at Why It’s More Than Jus.
Yes, it's more accessible than you might think. The UK's Intellectual Property Office offers a part-funded scheme for eligible SMEs, covering a large portion of the cost. This makes it a very cost-effective way to protect and leverage your most valuable assets.
The ideal time is when your business is preparing for a significant change. This could be scaling up, seeking investment, launching a new product line, or expanding into new markets. An audit ensures your IP is protected and properly valued before you take that next big step.
