Bristol recruitment firm ISL, set up by a 30 year old fed-up with the way the industry treated its workforce, is celebrating its 10th anniversary by achieving a record turnover.
The firm, founded by recruiter Henry Keeys, turned over £3.1m in 2016-17 and also increased net fee income by 35% on the previous year.
Henry runs the business – which recruits nationally into skilled and senior IT and engineering roles -with director Alan Furley, who joined in 2008 aged 29, and his father Geoff, who is also the co-founder.
The entrepreneurs have ambitious plans to more than double the size of the business over the next three years – taking employee numbers from 28 to 60, entering new markets and expanding overseas.
Henry said: “The past decade has undoubtedly been a rollercoaster, but when we set out it seemed like the only way to stay in recruitment.
“Alan and I were both put off by a lot of the heavy-handed tactics and mindless activities that focus solely on numbers. We wanted to build a business that aims to help consultants pursue quality over quantity.
“This strategy allows people to have autonomy and to put trust in their abilities and attitude – and it’s an approach we’re happy to see is working.
“The past three years have been particularly strong and showed a solid upward trajectory, so we’re pleased to be heading into our 11th year in good shape.”
ISL was last year shortlisted by the CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel Development) Awards for its ground-breaking Project Evolution career development programme – a professional development model which promotes autonomy and personal responsibility.
Alan added: “This approach to talent attraction and retention within our own business is something we will be concentrating on even further in the coming 12 months as we seek to create new opportunities both at home and further afield.”
Pictured: ISL director Henry Keeys and Alan Furley
