A brief history

Pluss - A brief history in time!

1960's
Devon County Council runs 'sheltered workshops' for disabled people.

1980's
Devon Industrial Services is established as a service of Devon County Council to run Supported Placement Schemes and specialist learning disability employment services.

1998
Following a reorganisation of local authorities, Industrial Services Group (ISG) is formed - an umbrella partnership between Devon County Council, Plymouth City Council and Torbay Council.

ISG runs a range of specialist employment services for disabled people.

2001
ISG is running 'Matchmakers' - a pre-cursor to 'Workstep'

The Supported Placement Scheme becomes 'Workstep'.

ISG radically modernises its services to reduce financial subsidies and encourage equal terms and conditions with employers.

2002
ISG is running STEPS, an ESF funded training project.

2004
ISG is now one of the largest 'Workstep' providers in the county.

ISG are identified as one of the best 'WorkStep' providers in the country, being singled out as a beacon provider in the 'Adult Learning Inspectorates' Annual report.

ISG's employer engagement is highlighted as an area of business excellence.

ISG is also discussed in the House of Commons as an pioneering example of which other supported businesses should be following.

ISG's (now) Managing Director, Martin Davies, is co-founder of the British Association for Supported Employment.

ISG embarks on a project to become an arms-length company, Pluss.

2005
In August, Pluss is born. A non-profit distributing company limited by guarantee. Pluss is now owned by Devon County Council, Plymouth City Council and Torbay Council.

2006
Somerset County Council become the fourth co-owner of Pluss. Pluss expands in to Somerset.

Pluss is now the largest Social Firm in the UK and one of the first to achieve Star Social Firm status.

2007
Pluss is delivering Meaningful Opportunities, a specialist (ESF funded) employment service for people with Mental Health Issues.

2008
Pluss expands into Bristol.

Pluss develops Pluss Value © and Pluss Enterprise ©.

Pluss achieves the Social Enterprise trade mark

2009
Pluss expands into Bath and North East Somerset.

Pluss develops Future Clean, an innovative and environmentally friendly car washing Social Enterprise.

Pluss employs many people through the Future Jobs Fund.

Pluss is chosen to jointly run Project Search, an Office for Disability Issues initiative.

2010
Pluss wins Prime Contractor status to deliver the Work Choice programme in Devon and Cornwall, and West Yorkshire. Pluss also becomes a subcontractor to Working Links and Shaw Trust throughout the South West.

Pluss is now working in partnership with Somerset Council's specialist Learning Disability employment services.

Pluss wins the BASE Employer Practioner of the Year Award.

Our Finance Director, Paul Love is now on the Social Firms UK board

2011
Pluss is involved in the development of Disability Works UK, a second tier sub-contracting consortium for end-to-end delivery of the Work Programme. Martin Davies, Pluss' Managing Director, is interim Chair.

Pluss launches it's 2011 - 2015 Business Plan which sets out plans to grow the business on a national platform.

Future clean is expanding nationally and internationally.

Pluss is working in the supply chain of multi-nationals such as SIMS and Wates Construction.