Lancashire coatings business set for continued growth with 25 per cent turnover increase

For the six months leading up to the end of November 2023, the specialist coatings business accelerated growth by increasing its turnover by 44 per cent, compared to the same period last year. This lays the foundations for a strong financial future, forecasted at £1.4m for 2024.

Specialising in ceramic, stainless steel, thermal and bronze coatings and overlay technology, the family-run business reported that during the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for its services continued to grow. The business was able to make a £30,000 investment into improving its welfare facilities for staff, as well as installing a new office in February 2022 to bolster its customer-facing relations and attract more business.

Since 2021, IRS has increased its monthly revenue through organic growth and is currently onboarding an average of four new customers a month. The coatings company also recently launched a new website, which forms part of a wider marketing plan to expand its regional platform to a larger customer base.

Founded in 1989 by John Berry, the late father of the current owner, Rob Berry, the business has been supported by accountancy and business advisory firm JS for over 20 years. Within this time, JS has provided taxation and accountancy support to support the coating specialist firm on its growth journey.

JS continues to act as the business’s accountancy partner and tax advisor, as IRS anticipates a record-breaking turnover for the end of this financial year. The business now aims to focus on nurturing the next generation of talent through investment in apprentices and training courses.

Rob Berry, Managing Director at IRS Surfacing Technologies, said: “At IRS, quality is what we pride ourselves on, and I truly believe this is why the business continues to do so well. It’s not just quality in our products, but in everything from our staff to service, through to after service.

“As a business owner, seeing an uptick in your financial performance is always good news, and a trajectory we want to stick to. Throughout our journey, we’ve been supported by JS, and James has always been there for us, they have played an important part in our recent success.”

James Wood, accounts partner at JS, said: “I’ve worked with Rob for 15 years now, and it has been a very rewarding experience. Rob has been in the industry for over 31 years, and it’s clear to see his expertise translated into the output IRS provides. I look forward to working with Rob and the team at IRS as we continue to provide the company with the help and advice they need to propel them to even greater heights.”