IN THE three decades since it launched, ISF has grown to be a market leader in materials handling and process engineering specialising in the animal feed sector.

The company which is in the running for the Small Business of the Year and Employer of the Year titles has significantly grown over the last decade and in the last five years and increased its turnover by 40 per cent.

This increase has been reflected in profitability with an increase of 130 per cent. They attribute their success to the skills, dedication and knowledge of their team.

ISF employs 24 people, based in York, with designers, project managers, site co-ordinators and sheet metalworkers, as well as sales and marketing.

Recognising the national skills shortage in engineering, ISF has focused on retaining and attracting high-quality staff.

It invests heavily in staff training and development providing training and support for all employees - from health and safety, to leadership and management.

The firm has three apprentices and, in recent years, it has focused on promoting the business and engineering industry as a career path to young people at local academic institutions including York College and Derwent Training Association.

It believes that the team’s passion to work for a company that makes a difference to both its clients and the industry they work in, has been the catalyst behind ISF’s success as both individuals and the team.

They say: “The ISF team is like a family; helping each other to achieve excellence in everything they do and pushing each other to continually improve.

"This culture has been instilled in the bones of the company since Iain Scott founded ISF in 1989 and is championed through from managers and team leaders, through to apprentices.”