New Members of the Masterlord Community

By Angela Prichard,

front desk

Last January, we celebrated the start of a new decade, looked forward with optimism to the year ahead, wished everyone a prosperous year. Normal sentiments used by many to kick-start us back into the routine of work and life. Just another year…or so we thought.

 

The world is now one of distance, lockdowns, masks, and temperature checks. Of staying home as much as possible.

 

But what about those times that being at home is not ideal, like when you have an important Zoom call, but the kids and the dog will not leave you alone?

 

Our team can help! We have installed a new Video Screen in the boardroom at Epsilon House Business Center to make Zoom or Teams meetings easier. We also have space available if you just require a room away from distractions.

 

 

Our infra-check the temperature of all that enter the building, and all high touch areas are cleaned regularly throughout the day.

 

With such a strange storm swirling around us all I am pleased to be able to end our January update on a positive note. We would like to extend a very warm welcome to, Black Dog Cyber Ltd, Plumb Proud Ipswich Ltd, Armour Consultants, DS Recruitment and Tammie Bloom Group. All who have moved into the building over the last few months.

 

Looking for your next office space? We have a team of people ready to help you find the right space for your business. Contact us today to find out more.

Could a ‘Virtual Office’ be the right solution for your business?

By Angela Prichard,

Masterlord Virtual Assistant Service

 

At Masterlord, we understand the challenges faced by smaller businesses and startups. So we developed a flexible range of solutions to support you, particularly in these uncertain times when making an investment in office space or staff is more difficult.

 

Our services include a personal Virtual Assistant and the option of a Virtual Office.

 

So how does it work – and what does it cost?

 

Rather than paying for your own part-time or full-time receptionist or admin assistant, you pay just £25 a month to have a ‘receptionist’ who knows and understands your business and answers your calls between 8.30 am and 5pm weekdays.

 

You have an exclusive direct-dial telephone number for your company, answered by a real person using your business name and managing callers in a professional style agreed with you. We can redirect a call automatically to your chosen landline or mobile number, or take a detailed message which we then share with you immediately after the call, via email.

 

It’s a personal service that creates confidence in anyone contacting your business, without any capital or staff costs. You don’t have to worry about voicemail, missed calls, sickness or holidays: we have that covered for you!

 

 

What about a virtual office to create the right impression?

 

As well as a Virtual Assistant, we can provide a Virtual Office service.

 

This includes everything you need to create the right first impression:

 

  • A business postal address
  • Your company name displayed at Epsilon House
  • Discounted rates on the hire of the Epsilon House conference room and boardroom
  • A meet and greet facility for your guests at reception
  • Discounted use of hot-desk areas for informal meetings with clients
  • Free use of the breakout areas within Epsilon House
  • Free and secure on-site parking

 

 

 

Switch to a physical office and save

 

Our Virtual Assistant and Virtual Office services are low-cost, flexible solutions for managing and growing your business, from the beginning of your new endeavour through its development.

 

We’re here for you every step of the way with as much support as you need, as part of a professional office village on Ransomes Europark – home to well-known companies large and small.

 

If you find that working from home is limiting growth or simply not efficient, or you need face-to-face interaction between your team members (and clients when that’s possible again), shared office space or serviced offices at Epsilon House could be the next step.

 

If you decide to upgrade to one of our serviced offices or standalone units, we’ll reimburse you for up to 12 months of your virtual tenancy with us. Check availability or call 01473 276118 and talk to one of our friendly team, or email info@masterlord.co.uk for more information.

There’s more to working in an office than the commute

By Angela Prichard,

Since the World Health Organization declared Covid-19 a pandemic, the UK has experienced local and national lockdowns, with hundreds of thousands of people losing their jobs and many more making the abrupt shift to home working. 

 

Lockdown, social distancing and self-isolation has tested the resolve of many people, but working from home while managing changes to their personal circumstances has also been a challenge. Avoiding the commute is often touted as one of the major benefits of working from home, but there are also negative consequences of home working that need to be considered before it is built into a business’s long-term strategy.

 

The normalisation of home working

 

 

The pandemic has rapidly increased the take up of remote and flexible working, with an almost six-fold rise since the start of lockdown. For many people, the switch to home working some of the time has been a positive experience, with research suggesting that, in the future, more than half of employees want to work from home for part of the week.

 

Thanks to the pandemic, we have learned that, given a decent broadband connection and access to a laptop, most people can get their jobs done from home. Some of the benefits of home working for employees include the ability to work more flexible hours and to reduce the amount of time lost to the commute. However, that only really tells half the story. 

 

Over the past decade, many big companies have reversed their work-from-home policies to get people back into the office and talking face-to-face. Without an office, those companies have found that employees rarely see each other as a group, there’s a lack of social connection, ideas are not shared, innovation suffers and there’s a dearth of teamwork and culture. That’s many of the things a small business needs to be successful. 

 

Everything in moderation

 

 

Homeworking is proven to be most successful when it’s used as part of a hybrid remote-office way of working. The truth is that most workers want the best of both worlds. This is backed up by the research:

 

  • Nine-in-ten employees preferring to have the option to work remotely
  • Only 31% want to work from home for four or five days a week
  • 35% would prefer to work from home for two or three days a week
  • While 25% would like to spend just one day a week working remotely.

 

While wasting less time commuting is the biggest benefit of working from home for more than half of employees (54%), this research shows that they still recognise the many benefits an office can bring. Just a few of the benefits associated with working in an office include:

 

  • More Social interaction – The face-to-face social interaction that takes place in offices helps to build a sense of togetherness and culture while working in-person with others generates creativity and innovation. 
  • Better mental health – Working from an office creates a work-life boundary that can reduce the number of hours people work and improves mental wellbeing.
  • Returning to normal – After the impact the pandemic has had on all of our lives, returning to the office for some of the time will become an important part of a sustainable ‘new normal’. 

 

Get the best of both worlds with our serviced office spaces

 

 

How can small businesses with tight budgets achieve this highly desirable remote-office way of working?

 

The serviced office spaces we offer here at Masterlord Office Village are the perfect solution. With flexible arrangements available, small businesses can benefit from the social interaction, creativity and sense of culture working together in an office brings, while also giving employees the option to work from home one or two days a week. 

 

The fully furnished serviced office spaces also benefit from a range of facilities, such as an on-site cafe and creche, which can help employees adapt to their changing circumstances and the new normal. Masterlord offer a wide range of office, industrial and production space suitable for all businesses.

 

From serviced offices within the popular Business Centre or stand alone units on the estate. With flexible terms, onsite management and a range of space to choose from, Join the Masterlord Office Village community, the ideal business location to make your next move.

 

Call 01473 276100 or email info@masterlord.co.uk to find out more about the serviced offices at Masterlord Office Village. 

Flexible Working Solutions and Covid Safety here at Masterlord, Ipswich

By Angela Prichard,

How do you feel about going back to the office in a post-lockdown world? Confused, worried and apprehensive? Or maybe you fall on the side of feeling positive, keen and eager to get back to normality? There are many unknowns and challenges ahead, which could derail even the most positive person. However, with a little careful thinking you can make your return to the office as smooth as possible.

 

That’s why Suffolk’s premier office village, Masterlord, provides office space with flexible contracts as well as a 30-day notice period.  We see it as being in business together. We’re always flexible, helping small businesses adapt to changing circumstances and find a solution that suits them, without over-committing at a time when the future is unclear. Our friendly, collaborative approach is why we’re home to leading companies large and small, right here on the huge Ransomes Europark.

 

When we begin transitioning back to life in the office things are going to look and feel quite different to how they were throughout 2020. Everyone’s situation will be unique. However, despite the disruption that the Covid-19 pandemic has caused, the office still has a fundamental role to play in the future of businesses of every shape and size.

 

Of all the businesses we’ve spoken to, home working is not the cure-all some articles proclaim it to be. Some workers are far less productive at home than in the office while video conferencing can be a poor substitute for face-to-face meetings with clients, colleagues and management.

 

 

Home working

For some people, working from home has given them a work-life balance they’ve never had, while others have felt isolated or stressed and miss the camaraderie and social interaction that comes from office working.

Says Masterlord’s Abbi Dawson:

“We’ve found that many of our tenants enjoy coming into the office to see friendly faces, even if for a few days a week. We always offer flexible solutions for businesses to make their work as easy as possible, and have remained open throughout lockdowns and different tier restrictions, looking after essential workers and others.”

 

 

Your own business premises

Small businesses with long-term office contracts do not have flexibility when they really need it. It’s not just rent to worry about, there are also bills for security, utilities, furniture, internet and phone services.

For employers, it is a physical space to bring people together, coordinate activity and output and boost creativity. For employees, it facilitates face-to-face interaction and allows for mentoring and managing in a way that home working cannot replicate. Even after the recent successes of working from home, after the pandemic, very few employees want to continue with home working full time.

 

A few of the benefits of a rented office space include:

  • Motivation – For most people, working in an office surrounded by colleagues who are working towards a common goal helps them focus and pushes them to succeed.
  • Support and training – Working from home can be incredibly isolating, particularly for workers who need support or are new to the role and require training. Many workers need guidance and want a sense of belonging that only office working can bring. 
  • Communication – Not everyone is a great communicator via email, over the phone or on video conferencing. An office allows people to communicate in a way that suits them. Research suggests that face-to-face communication can be 34 times more effective than a text-based conversation.

 

 

Office spaces are changing 

There is little doubt that Covid-19 is going to accelerate changes in office use and the type of arrangements and facilities businesses will look for when choosing rented office spaces. Previously, factors such as inflexible and long-term contractual agreements and the costs associated with setting up an office were reasons why some small businesses may have favoured a home working arrangement.

 

We provide flexible renting options and terms and conditions that can meet the changing needs of businesses. Work-ready offices remove the costs and time associated with setting up an office, while our on-site nursery facilities allow you to better manage any childcare requirements your teams may have. 

 

Perhaps most importantly, Covid-19 has made the health and wellbeing of employees a priority. We provide facilities such as an onsite cafe, modern, well-lit offices with a greater focus on space and a thermal detection camera on entry for reassurance and peace of mind. This is our on-going commitment to our tenants’ safety. 

 

 

Covid-safe serviced office spaces

The rollout of the coronavirus vaccine provides increased hope that small businesses will soon be able to return to something approaching normal. With the flexible contracts and excellent facilities offered here at Masterlord Office Village, you can welcome the new normal in an office space where every safety precaution has been taken and your business is supported as it recovers and grows.  

So what are the flexible solutions at Masterlord? 

– We offer shared office space without tying your business into a long-term contractual agreement. It’s affordable and puts you at the heart of a supportive business community in a fully equipped office.  

 

  • With a notice period of just 30 days, our tenants have the peace of mind to be able to adapt to a constantly changing business environment, reducing risk and capital expenditure.
  • Flexible contracts or monthly rolling agreements allow small businesses to find a workspace solution that suits them now, and gives the agility to upsize if you need more space.
  • We offer the fastest broadband speeds in the area and a range of telephone options. This, plus free parking, a popular onsite café and even a nursery for the little ones, makes us a unique choice in Suffolk.

 

You can check our availability and take advantage of our exclusive ‘try before you buy’ deal. Just pay £100 to rent an office for a week and we’ll refund the money in full if you enter into one of our flexible contracts. We’re here for you!

 

To find out more about the shared office space and serviced offices that we offer, please call our friendly team on 01473 276118 or email info@masterlord.co.uk.

New ABC Wonderland nursery opens!

By Angela Prichard,

We’re delighted to welcome our latest addition to the Masterlord community with the opening of ABC Wonderland, offering exceptional child care and nursery facilities with an ‘outstanding’ Ofsted rating. Under latest Government guidelines, nurseries may remain open.

 

A world of wonder awaits little ones aged up to 5 in the entrancing nursery, with individual  areas for different ages (1-2, 3-5), shared spaces both inside and, in summer, outside. There’s always freshly prepared food, eaten together family style, and a range of hands-on activities to stimulate and educate in a relaxed atmosphere.

 

ABC Wonderland is owned and run by Alex Nunes and her husband Luis  – who doubles as chef  – with qualified early years practitioners to ensure every child has creative fun.

 

Alex’s 17 years’ experience and qualifications are evident as you step into the stunningly designed space. Much thought and effort has gone into making this a nursery like no other, with an open curiosity approach to everything, reflecting Alex’s passion.

 

There’s a magical sleep room for babies and different adventures for up to 2-year-olds and 3 to 5-year olds. Every week offers a different theme, with food from different countries in a friendly family atmosphere.

 

 

Open from 6am weekdays, the nursery is a Covid-secure and stimulating space for little ones, right here at Masterlord in Unit 5, K Line as you enter the village.

 

For more information or to arrange a visit, call Alex Nunes on 07972 913375 

Alternatively drop the team an email – abcwonderland.2009@gmail.com 

Covid Update – We Are Here For You

By Angela Prichard,

We know how important it is to have continuity in your business and to work safely. Masterlord Office Village is the base for many essential services, operations and key worker businesses, we will continue to support our community during the latest lockdown. Diligently following Government guidelines Epsilon House and the Masterlord Office Village is open, providing a safe environment for businesses to operate.

In the meantime key resources can be found on the .Gov website including

Details on the New Government Restrictions as of November 5th 2020

The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) (No. 4) Regulations 2020

Details on the Job Support Support Scheme extension

Details on additional financial support for businesses during Covid-19

 

OUR SAFETY MEASURES

Your safety is our top priority and we have taken measures to ensure that you can be confident about moving around and working on the Masterlord Office Village. Our on site safety procedures (including but not limited to) are:

 

Advanced temperature screening at Reception. We monitor the temperature of everyone coming into the building using the latest thermographic camera screening technology so that we can alert someone to a potential problem. This is a no-contact system and has no facial recognition, for privacy.

 

All tenants and visitors will benefit from enhanced screening, which is leading the way in office safety. The back door is now closed to all tenants for your safety, so that everyone must pass through Reception. Thanks for your co-operation by not using the back door!

 

Enhanced cleaning and disinfecting of all shared areas and facilities, including toilets, kitchens, meeting rooms, lifts and stairwells. In the kitchen, please place all your items in the dishwasher to avoid additional handling.

 

Respecting the recommended 2m social distancing, particularly in public areas and at reception, where a screen has been erected on the desk.

 

The lift is limited to one person at a time. Please stay 2m from the lift door when waiting to enter. We recommend using the stairs when possible.

 

Hand sanitizers are provided in shared areas and reception. Washing your hands on arrival with soap and water is also recommended.

 

Remember that office air-conditioning only circulates air in your office. There is no central air-conditioning or ventilation system.

 

Epsilon House will remain open with all our stringent safety and hygiene protocols in place. You can be confident that we’ll be here for you – whether you choose to continue working from your office or from home. Don’t forget that we can provide a range of options for business at home using our VoIP phones or phone divert as well as virtual PA and receptionist services.

If there is anything else we can do to help you through lockdown, call us on 01473 276100 or contact us via email reception@epsilonhouse.co.uk