A LOCAL firm is boosting its workforce with the help of the Merseyside Special Investment Fund (MSIF).

Independent Radiation Assessment Services (IRAS), based at Bold Business Park, is the 50th firm to benefit from the unique fund launched eight months ago.

The Acorn Fund has contributions from Pilkingtons, SmithKline Beecham, Manweb, the St Helens Trust and St Helens MBC (the fund is a partner of MSIF's Small Firms Fund and is specifically for businesses in St Helens).

IRAS, which tests all kinds of materials for levels of radioactivity - ranging from foodstuffs to soil and grass - received an £18,750 investment from MSIF's Acorn Fund.

Andrew Firth, managing director of IRAS, said: "This is a great boost for the company. The equipment used in the industry is expensive and getting a kick-start financially proved difficult at first as banks were reluctant to lend money to such s specialised company. Thanks to the investment help from MSIF and support from Business Link, St Helens, we have been able to improve our services and create four new jobs. We are also in a much better position to compete with bigger organisations."

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