Recruitment firm celebrates 20 years by moving up in the world

IRS Recruitment, which was founded in 1991 to provide personnel to the oil and gas sector in the North East, has grown to serve a wide range of industry sectors, including business services and office support.

Next month, the company will mark its 20-year presence in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, with a move to a more prominent High Street location.

In recent years, IRS, which has its head office in Suffolk, has been based in a rented town centre office in Bank Chambers, above the NatWest bank in Northallerton.

Now it has bought another property in High Street, which was vacated last year by the local branch of the NFU.

Yesterday, the company revealed that this investment will allow room for growth, with extra recruitment consultants set to come on board later this year.

IRS has been ranked in the UK's 50 fastest-growing private recruitment businesses – for the third year running.

IRS chief operating officer Susanne Barker said: "We have an enviable reputation for consistent delivery and excellence for candidate and client alike.

"With a national team of 20 experienced and skilled recruitment consultants, our ability to match the right candidate to the right position is second to none."

IRS is helping to source engineering, project support and office support personnel for a major Tyneside engineering firm building a 150m oil production platform in the North Sea as part of a 20-month contract.

In the past, IRS has played a key role in placing blue and white-collar workers for firms across Tyneside and Teesside, as well as Aberdeen and projects in the North Sea.

Michelle Rowley, who has headed up the North Yorkshire branch since 2004, said: "IRS Recruitment has been an integral part of Northallerton for nearly 20 years, during which time it has built up a very good reputation with both job seekers and organisations across the private and public sectors with vacancies to fill.

"Although set up to cater to the offshore industry – we're probably best known as a recruitment specialist in the engineering recruitment fields – IRS provides staff to a multitude of industries. This includes an increasing number of clerical, commercial and management positions."

Mrs Rowley's team in North Yorkshire offers a range of services, from advice on employment law and industrial relations to testing of candidates.