Shorts Lifts is one of two trading divisions of Shorts Industries Ltd., which in turn is part of a 30 million pound group of companies, Read Holdings Ltd., a British owned, fifth generation family group.

Shorts Industries has been operating since 1945. Initially trading as Shorts (Lifts) Ltd, the company soon built up an excellent reputation for providing the UK lift industry with both a high standard of customer service and high quality products. Early in 1997 the company name was changed to Shorts Industries Ltd. In order to reflect wider aims for company development and Shorts Lifts and Shorts Environmental were formed as trading divisions.

Operating from a purpose built National Sales Distribution Centre based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, Shorts Lifts continues to provide the UK lift industry with the same high standard of service and products they have come to expect, whilst Shorts Environmental provides the same level of service to the UK air conditioning installation industry.

In 2003, Shorts Lifts continual commitment to customer service saw the opening of Shorts Southern regional office in order to better service customer needs in the South of England.

As a reflection of the high quality service that Shorts provides to its customers, the company has been certified to ISO9001 for both lift and air conditioning equipment supply and in addition, Shorts Lifts is a full member of the Lift and Escalator Industry Association (LEIA).