Our Story & Culture
Discover Ainscough’s culture & history: 45+ years of growth, strong values, and a commitment to excellence. Learn more about our team.
BUILDING A LEGACY:
THE AINSCOUGH INDUSTRIAL SERVICES STORY
From humble beginnings in 1976, when the Ainscough family laid the foundation for an industrial services company, our journey has been one of continuous evolution and expansion. The spirit of innovation led to the establishment of Ainscough Crane Hire in 1982 and Ainscough Engineering in 2001, setting the stage for future growth.
In 2005, we cherry-picked assets and certain team members from Pickford Vanguard to form Ainscough Vanguard, which ran alongside Ainscough Crane Hire to offer lifting solutions outside the remit of a heavy crane lift.
The AIS Group holding company was formed in 2013, and Ainscough Vanguard was renamed AIS Vanguard a year later. Our growth trajectory accelerated even further with the acquisition of AIS Wind Energy in 2019, followed by the formation of AIS Eurelo in 2020 and a strategic joint venture with Eurelo Tech, solidifying our pan-European industrial services offering.
VIG was acquired in 2024, and we are excited to announce Flegg Projects as our latest acquisition, further strengthening our UK presence and expanding our service offerings to an even wider range of industrial sectors.
Ainscough Industrial Services: A Timeline of Growth
Today, as a privately-owned and independent group, we leverage our 45-plus years of experience to deliver exceptional industrial services across Europe and beyond. With a team of over 300 skilled professionals, a robust international supply chain, and a formidable fleet of equipment, we tackle projects of any scale and complexity. Our local branch network ensures we maintain a client-focused approach, whether it’s a single-machine move or a multi-site project. We’re not just building a business; we’re building a legacy of excellence in industrial services.
Company was originally set up by the Ainscough family
Ainscough Crane Hire was formed
Ainscough Engineering, a subsidiary of Ainscough Crane Hire, was formed following a national expansion program
Amalgamation of Ainscough Engineering and Pickford Vanguard to become AIS Vanguard
Ainscough Crane Hire sold By the Ainscough Family
Matt Ainscough takes over the company
Ainscough Industrial Services was formed to become the Group holding company
AIS Projects formed, becoming New subsidiary of AIS
Acquisition of AIS Wind Energy, a company operating in the UK and internationally specialising in the installation, removal and maintenance of onshore wind turbines
AIS Eurelo – Germany, Poland And Czech, 2023 second German location
AIS Eurelo – Germany, Poland And Czech, 2023 second German location
Acquires VIG Industrial who specialise in machinery relocation and Installation engineering the machine moving with the AIS Group
Acquires Flegg Projects – one of the UK’s leading service providers of logistics and engineering services, with a renowned market reputation for moving individual items of specialist equipment to entire factory relocations and system installations
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Why Choose Our Consulting Services?
AIS’s culture isn’t just a set of words on a page; it’s the very foundation of how we operate. We’re deeply proud of the people-first environment we’ve cultivated across the AIS Group.
It’s about more than just policies; it’s about genuine care for our team’s well-being, continuous investment in their development, and a steadfast commitment to transparent communication. We believe in doing business with integrity, ensuring every interaction, whether with our staff, clients, or partners, is rooted in fairness and responsibility.
ONE TEAM, ONE GOAL:
We champion collaborative teamwork across all disciplines and with our clients because we know that together, we achieve more.
STRAIGHTFORWARD SOLUTIONS:
We cut through the complexity with a no-nonsense approach, prioritising clarity and simplicity in everything we do.
UNWAVERING COMMITMENT:
We're 100% dedicated to delivering on our promises, ensuring every job is done right and on time, every time.
PRECISION MATTERS:
We understand that attention to detail is paramount, underpinning both safety and quality in all our operations.
DEDICATED EFFORT:
We believe in hard work, and going the extra mile to ensure every promise is kept and every project milestone is met.
INTEGRITY AT OUR CORE
We operate with unwavering integrity, treating our team, clients, and partners with fairness and respect.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY:
We recognise our duty to protect the planet, striving to increase recycling and reduce our carbon footprint in all operations.
We believe these values are essential, not just for business success, but to create a positive influence on our industry and the world around us.
Why Choose Our Consulting Services?
AIS’s culture isn’t just a set of words on a page; it’s the very foundation of how we operate. We’re deeply proud of the people-first environment we’ve cultivated across the AIS Group.
It’s about more than just policies; it’s about genuine care for our team’s well-being, continuous investment in their development, and a steadfast commitment to transparent communication. We believe in doing business with integrity, ensuring every interaction, whether with our staff, clients, or partners, is rooted in fairness and responsibility.
Our core values aren’t just ideals; they’re the guiding principles that shape our daily actions:
ONE TEAM, ONE GOAL:
We champion collaborative teamwork across all disciplines and with our clients because we know that together, we achieve more.
STRAIGHTFORWARD SOLUTIONS:
We cut through the complexity with a no-nonsense approach, prioritising clarity and simplicity in everything we do.
UNWAVERING COMMITMENT:
We're 100% dedicated to delivering on our promises, ensuring every job is done right and on time, every time.
PRECISION MATTERS:
We understand that attention to detail is paramount, underpinning both safety and quality in all our operations.
DEDICATED EFFORT:
We believe in hard work, and going the extra mile to ensure every promise is kept and every project milestone is met.
INTEGRITY AT OUR CORE
We operate with unwavering integrity, treating our team, clients, and partners with fairness and respect.
STRAIGHTFORWARD SOLUTIONS:
We cut through the complexity with a no-nonsense approach, prioritising clarity and simplicity in everything we do.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY:
We recognise our duty to protect the planet, striving to increase recycling and reduce our carbon footprint in all operations.
We believe these values are essential, not just for business success, but to create a positive influence on our industry and the world around us.
TRUSTED BY THESE INDUSTRY LEADERS
