Our Story & Culture
Discover Ainscough’s culture & history: 50+ years of growth, strong values, and a commitment to excellence. Learn more about our team.
Our Story: Ainscough Industrial Services Since 1976
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 acquired assets and personnel 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 further with the acquisition of AIS Wind Energy in 2019, followed by the formation of AIS Eurelo in 2020, solidifying our pan-European industrial services offering.
AIS VIG Industrial was acquired in 2024, and the following year we acquired Flegg Projects, 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, independent group, we draw on 50-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 an extensive fleet of wholly owned specialist equipment and transport, 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.
The Ainscough family established the business, laying the foundations for its future growth in industrial services.
Ainscough Crane Hire was formed, developing the family's lifting capabilities and supporting projects across the UK.
Ainscough Engineering, a subsidiary of Ainscough Crane Hire, was formed as part of a national expansion programme.
Ainscough Engineering was amalgamated with Pickford Vanguard to form AIS Vanguard.
The Ainscough family sold Ainscough Crane Hire.
Matt Ainscough took over the company and oversaw its continued development and investment in specialist services.
Ainscough Industrial Services was formed as the Group holding company.
AIS Projects was formed as a subsidiary of the Group.
AIS Wind Energy joined the Group, adding specialist capabilities in wind turbine installation, removal and maintenance.
AIS Eurelo was established to provide international industrial relocation and installation services, strengthening the Group's operations across mainland Europe.
AIS VIG Industrial joined the Group, bringing additional machinery relocation, installation, and engineering capabilities.
The Group acquired Flegg Projects, one of the UK’s leading providers of logistics and engineering services.
Leadership at Ainscough Industrial Services
Matt Ainscough, Chief Executive Officer
Matt Ainscough took over the industrial services business in 2009 and is Chief Executive Officer of the AIS Group.
Under his leadership, the business has grown into a group of specialist companies, expanding its industrial engineering, machinery relocation, and logistics capabilities across the UK, Europe, and beyond.
The Group remains privately owned and independent, maintaining its family-business foundations while investing in its people, equipment and services.
Our Culture and Values
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.
DETAILS MATTER:
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 keep our promises and meet each project milestone.
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 reduce our environmental impact, 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.
Our Culture and Values
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.
DETAILS MATTER:
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 keep our promises and meet each project milestone.
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 reduce our environmental impact, 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.
Work with Ainscough Industrial Services
Whether you need support with a single machinery move or a complex multi-site project, our team can help identify the right expertise for your requirements.
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Learn more about opportunities to join us through our careers page, or explore the charities and good causes we support.
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