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Reflecting on a Remarkable Year at ISF

Phil Black - PII Editor 19/11/2025

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The year 2025 has become a genuine milestone for ISF as the business continues to strengthen its position within British engineering and specialist manufacturing. In November, the company was shortlisted in two prestigious categories at the Yorkshire Post Business Awards: Small Business of the Year and Business Leader of the Year for Managing Director, Iain Scott.

Although ISF did not take home the trophies, reaching the finals in both categories stands as a significant achievement that the entire team is rightly proud of, particularly given the calibre of companies and leaders represented across this year’s shortlist.

For Iain, who founded ISF 36 years ago and steered it from a one-man workshop into a respected national engineering partner, becoming a finalist among some of Yorkshire's most influential and transformative business leaders carried special meaning. “To be in that company is an honour in itself,” he said. “It's a real reflection of what our whole team has built over the years.”

Celebrating a Quietly Powerful Contribution to British Manufacturing

ISF operates in a sector that many people rarely see yet one that the entire UK food supply chain relies upon. Designing, fabricating, and installing bespoke machinery for the UK's animal feed milling industry, the York-based company manufactures every piece of machinery in-house.

This gives the company complete control over build quality and enables its engineers to solve complex, site-specific challenges that off-the-shelf equipment simply cannot address.

This commitment to craftsmanship, precision engineering, and long-term customer partnership is one of the many reasons ISF was recognised in the Small Business of the Year shortlist. With sustained growth over the last three years, the business has worked to solidify relationships throughout the sector, increase investment in digital fabrication technologies, and continue to refine leaner, more efficient manufacturing processes.

The current highly-skilled 23-strong team, many with more than twenty years at the business, testifies to the deep-seated loyalty and pride embedded within.

As British engineering continues to evolve, the contribution of ISF remains quietly influential. Its machinery supports feed mills across the UK, helping operators improve reliability, product consistency, and plant efficiency. This behind-the-scenes impact on national food security is one of the least understood strengths of the sector and one that ISF will continue to champion.

isf contribution to british manufacturing

A Leadership Story Rooted in People, Purpose, and Pride

Iain's nomination for Business Leader of the Year recognised far more than commercial success. It acknowledged a leadership style built on integrity, resilience and a real commitment to people. His journey from a 16-year-old apprentice sheet metal worker to founder of one of the UK's leading feed mill engineering specialists spans over five decades of continuous industry contribution.

From the outset, Iain built ISF on core principles: quality first, people always and relationships above transactions. Many of the company's long-standing customers have partnered with ISF for decades and around 95% of all work still comes from repeat business. Internally, a culture of mentorship and shared pride runs deep.

Apprentices grow into experienced engineers, expertise is passed down across generations and every colleague is encouraged to take ownership of their craft. This culture has created a workforce that values precision, responsibility and long-term thinking.

This people-centred approach has guided ISF through a range of challenges, from Avian Flu outbreaks and the 2008 financial crash to the COVID-19 pandemic. Each time, the company adapted without compromising its core values, whether it was diversifying into construction to protect jobs or transforming its workshop into a PPE distribution hub to support essential services during the pandemic.

A Year of Milestones, Momentum and Looking Ahead

Beyond the recognition at the Yorkshire Post Business Awards, 2025 has been a year defined by momentum and meaningful progress. ISF has completed several major engineering projects across the UK, strengthened its apprenticeship partnership with York College, and continued its long-standing commitment to quality through maintaining ISO 9001 accreditation for the 27th consecutive year. This consistency positions ISF as one of the most reliable and quality-focused businesses within the UK feed milling engineering sector.

Looking ahead, succession planning and next-generation development remain at the very core of ISF's long-term strategy, with a strong leadership team stepping to the fore and an impressive pipeline of apprentices and rising engineers.

The business is well set for further sustainable growth over the coming decades. The company's focus on skills, continuous improvement, and long-term customer relationships ensures its impact on British manufacturing will continue to deepen.

Proud, Reflective, and Ready for the Next Chapter

While the awards ceremony did not end in a trophy, earning finalist positions in two competitive categories shines a light on ISF's impact and values and forward-moving momentum. This is a team that deeply cares about its craft and the vision of a leader who has spent 36 years building a business designed to endure. “We're incredibly proud of how far we've come,” says Iain. “And we're even more excited about where ISF is heading next.”

Contact the ISF team on;
www.isfyork.com/contact