Document https://technodocbox.com/Windows/69529462-Hs-21-hs-41x-handheld-reader-user-manual.html, page 140.
Apparently you can embed special characters. You send it as %nn, so you’d need to embed %09 in the QR code to represent the tab. If the scanner doesn’t interpret it, it’s because it’s not enabled by default, which means switching it on on the scanner via a special code. All explained in the document above.
I think I’ve read this right, but it’s late, so apologies if that’s not quite it!
Thank you very much for your help! It’s been bugging me all night long.
I’ll give it a try tomorrow when I’m back in. If it doesn’t work, I quit 
Using that user manual I was able to scan one of the manufacturers QR codes to enable a tab after every successful scan. Being as though I’m unable to access the software due to it being a work computer, that’s the best I can do!
So it enables us to not have to press tab between scans but it doesn’t allow all 3 QR to be compressed into 1. It’s speeded up the process considerably already.
So thank you for your help 
I’m chuffed I was able to help. Happy scanning! 