Foster Property Maintenance was originally set up in 1976 as Foster Industrial Protection by John Foster, who still plays an active role as chairman of the company.

But the future of the business now rests with the next generation and his son Steve, who, as a qualified builder, has literally helped to build the family business and the Wisbech business park site – designing and project managing the whole scheme.

The two men are happy to show me around the impressive site – meeting the team and looking around the new Foster Renewable Energies showroom, where you can see examples of energy efficient heating systems in use.

As a newly appointed Green Deal scheme provider, the business is hoping to win work retrofiting homes to make them more eco-friendly.

It is a new and promising strand to the business which also includes two other divisions, Foster Renewable Energies, and Foster Property Developments.

Its fleet of vans and lorries is also an increasingly familiar site on the county's roads as it works on major housing contracts with Norwich City Council and Great Yarmouth Borough Council.

Beyond its Wisbech HQ, the firm has bases in Norwich, Great Yarmouth and Grantham.

In fact, the firm, which already works with about 30 social housing landlords, is set to grow into a £50m-a-year business in the next two years.

But as John Foster explains, the key to its success has been anticipating market changes, helping the business to evolve and thrive.

'A lot of the industrial work started to dry up in the 1990s and there was less spending on aircraft bases,' he said. 'I've experienced several recessions and changes to potential markets. I tend to look forward to see where the markets are going. Housebuilding is definitely going to take off – and is taking off.

'There's a massive pent up demand, and not just social housing, but from the private landlords as well. There is so much opportunity.'

One idea he is ruminating on is a new type of housing scheme aimed at older people which falls somewhere between a retirement home and sheltered housing. 'My favourite phrase is 'thinking out of the box',' he adds. 'But I am often accused of throwing hand grenades! But if you stand still, you won't last long.'

Like many family firms, the business employs several family members.

Steve's mum Sheila still works in the accounts department, while his sister is a residential liasion officer and his nephew and uncle also work for the firm. 'That's been part of our success, to have like-minded people around, and we've also been able to grow our staff numbers by word of mouth,' Steve adds. 'Some of the people working here have been here over 35 years. The culture side has been very important to us and because we are growing, it's now more important, and probably more difficult to maintain. But we are putting a lot of funds into that side of the business. It's very important for example that the people in Great Yarmouth know what's happening elsewhere in the business.'

Corporate social responsibility is also important to the firm, which has invested about £100,000 in a range of community initiatives.

'It's part of our mantra that we try and employ local people, and we also try and take on apprentices as well,' John Foster explains.

Both men concede that as the business grows it could change the nature of the company, but they are keen to make sure it stays true to its roots. But what is the secret of the firm's success? 'It's simple – recruiting the right people,' Steve says. 'We have recruited some really good operations managers. If people need an answer, they get it fairly quickly without going through a load of bureaucracy to get there. We can think on our feet.

'You are only as good as your last job,' he adds. 'That has helped us get repeat business and it helps us bring new clients in. Our customer satisfaction levels are 98pc and that's something we put lots of emphasis on. The main thing going forward is the environment and how we are going to help save it – that's why we set the renewable energies side up as a bespoke offering. We have been banking land, and we are starting our own affordable housing scheme this year.' He said the hope is that the business will be able to offer a full range of services, from housebuilding to property maintenance and green deal retrofiting work.

The firm has also been involved in trying to boost skills in the industry – but suffered a setback after a joint bid for government cash failed to secure backing. However, Steve Foster says the bid fits with its belief in thinking ahead: 'We've also got aspirations for a green training school on site to gear ourselves up for the green revolution, so that when it happens we have got the skills.'