When Nils Hansen walked into the original Masterlord Estates office next to the café back in 2005, he needed premises for his window filming business. Having outgrown his original site in Martlesham he felt that he needed to be nearer to his car dealership customers.

“They said ‘Come and have a look at this’, and showed me plans for new units at K-Line House.”  Now, more than 15 years later, the hugely successful Window Film Centre has grown to many times its original size and is one of Masterlord’s longest-standing tenants.

“I was able to specify exactly what I needed for the business and the EasyLet agreement made it a simple process with no legal fees.  We like the atmosphere here, it’s a great place to work, well maintained and we’re close to our local dealer customers plus the A12 and A14,” added Nils.

Another plus for Window Film Centre was the ability to add more office or workshop space as they expanded, and plenty of parking.

Nils looks after sales and marketing, while his highly experienced team (some of whom have been with him since the company’s inception), look after the commercial and residential window filming projects, and their other markets of automotive and prestige Fairline motor yachts.

In schools and offices, where sun streams through windows that often don’t open, rooms overheat. Window filming is more effective at blocking heat plus cheaper and cleaner than blinds – and more hygienic.  It also saves energy. A lot of building contractors turn to the Window Film Centre as the experts in retrofitting suitable film, which lasts more than 20 years.

New build properties have excellent insulation and often underfloor heating. Combined with lots of glazing allowing in sunlight the interiors can get hot even in winter and incredibly uncomfortable in summer. Retro fitting an external window film can prevent this from happening

“Sunlight will damage furniture, fabrics and artwork,” explains Nils. “But no developer puts film on the windows, so it’s down to the owner and that’s where we can help.” Conservatories are also a popular place to add window film, to control temperature.

The automotive window tinting and paint protection film part of the business sees an impressive range of luxury and high performance cars arriving at the Masterlord workshop, where skilled technicians fit film to each customer’s specification. It’s one of the most challenging parts of their work, requiring absolute precision. This same dedication to quality is undertaken on all their clients cars be it a 30year old Land Rover Defender or a Vauxhall Corsa. They are all equally important to us says Nils

For luxury Fairline motor yachts, the Window Film Centre team heads for Oundle, where the boats are built, plus at their Ipswich Sea Trials Centre and even to a marina anywhere in Europe to retrofit window tinting either on or out of the water!

Built by a Suffolk company to support and develop local and international businesses, Masterlord Office Village is a community with a difference. It’s now the most popular office village in Suffolk, winning plaudits for its quality of design and fitout and range of support services.

For a business seeking serviced offices, Epsilon House has a distinctive offer that sets it apart from national companies.  Simple leases to save legal fees, high-speed broadband as standard, inclusive electricity, air conditioning and heating, bespoke phone and comms packages, meeting rooms and breakout spaces and a friendly staffed reception. There’s also a virtual office service offering a business address with mail handling and phone answering if no physical office is needed.

“We offer the flexibility on such a large site to move growing companies to larger offices without a major upheaval,” says Masterlord’s Alison Smith. “From custom fitouts, decorating, electrical and plumbing work, air-conditioning and comms to moving offices with our team, even providing furniture. Many companies don’t realise that we also offer meeting rooms by the hour or day at Epsilon House, whether or not you’re based here.”

Recent moves include FC Logistics, who make sure that shipping containers full of frozen food reach the UK supermarket distribution network on time. They have doubled their office size as the business has grown, with food supplies under more pressure than ever.  Financial services company United Kash has also moved to a larger office to accommodate their needs.  Both moves were achieved over a weekend, keeping their businesses operational.

The range of business and support services at Masterlord Estates is what makes it a unique community.  Kings Coffee House at the end of Alpha Terrace provides meeting and event catering along with delicious home made hot and cold food, from breakfast to mid-afternoon.

ABC Wonderland in Unit 5 K-Line is a highly-rated nursery offering creative learning and day care for little ones in a wonderfully immersive environment, with home-cooked food.

For keeping fit, Fitology Studio at 9a Gamma Terrace has a great range of group fitness and well-being classes with qualified instructors in a custom studio. Class times are designed to suit your business schedule, even at lunch-time!  To feel good, head into Epsilon House where Samantha at All About You has a selection of beauty treatments to get you in the mood for the festive season.

Helping other people is the lifelong passion of registered paramedic and operating department practitioner Steve Richards, who uses his specialist medical knowledge and expertise to teach different learning groups and care for numerous patients.

With more than 50 years’ experience providing professional medical care, his three businesses provide a wide range of services including specialist medical cover for sports and other events, professional training courses and medical services in the home.

All training courses are delivered by HCPC registered paramedics and NMC registered nurses, nearly all event assignments are led by a paramedic team leader and all services in the home are managed by experienced healthcare professionals.

‘Caring for patients is a privilege. I always treat people as I would like to be treated. I’ve been fascinated by medical subjects since I was a child and dedicated my life to caring for people. Some people would say that I eat, sleep and breathe it.  I’m really pleased that three of my four children are also involved in patient care, as an A&E sister, senior physiotherapist and a charity hospital ship manager.’  Steve Richards, Alpha Medical

Steve’s enthusiasm and expert medical knowledge shines through when visiting his medical training centre in Ipswich where the majority of his courses are now delivered.  He was born and grew up in North London and became interested in the human body and first aid because his dad was in the British Red Cross.  Steve became a Red Cross Junior and later a volunteer for St John Ambulance, later becoming a President for the latter charity. 

Professional medical cover assignments covered by the Alpha Medical Group include major equestrian competitions, motor sports, school events and TV and film productions. Steve has provided event medical services for members of the Royal family and well-known films such as Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves and Henry V.  Steve was also one of the first people in the UK to run a private road and air ambulance service.  For some years, Alpha Medical conveyed more than 10,000 NHS and private patients each year both at home and abroad.  

Steve is concerned that anyone can offer so-called ‘first-aid courses’ without the necessary medical qualifications, experience or skills. He urges individuals and businesses to check that tutors are professionally qualified.  Since the HSE stopped regulating first-aid courses, there is no system in place to check instructors and training premises.

‘When it comes to medical training and care, there are no shortcuts.  Our instructors and personnel are experienced healthcare professionals and other qualified people who can be trusted.’  Steve Richards, Alpha Medical

In addition to its dedicated medical training centre, Steve uses Epsilon House Business Centre for its mail services and conference facilities when required.  

‘The Epsilon House Business Centre team have supported my businesses and me in every way possible.  They have always been professional and adapted to the needs of all three of my companies.  I am very pleased to recommend them unreservedly – especially Abi and Katie. I have always appreciated their personal service as it’s very flexible.  I look forward to doing more business with Masterlord in the future.’  Steve Richards, Alpha Medical

For more information please visit www.alpha-medical.co.uk or telephone 01473 499995 (24/7)  

When it comes to getting things done, it’s all about teamwork at Masterlord Estates.  As Suffolk’s leading office village, we take pride in exceeding our tenants’ expectations and keeping their business running even when they have to move offices.

“We all know that moving to a new office can be stressful.  At Masterlord, we remove the stress by offering integrated logistics, professional services and support, making sure that nothing is overlooked. We can also react faster than other business and industrial centres, because our team members are all directly employed and experts in their field.”

Alison Smith, Masterlord Estates 

The team are creative too!  When driving and industrial recruitment experts DS Recruitment needed more space, there was no larger office available in Epsilon House at the time.  So the Masterlord team removed a wall from an adjoining breakout area, fitted new carpet and redecorated to create additional office space – all over a weekend.

It all starts with the team based at Epsilon House, advising on available offices and providing a simple tenancy contract which can include comms, IT and other services.

When it’s time to move, we can arrange our expert craftspeople and services professionals to deliver whatever your business needs, to a tight schedule.  A typical move involves all the people in this picture.

As the previous tenants move out:

• Office team schedule the services needed and confirm a Masterlord Flexi lease. All lease, finance and legal document work is done in-house, providing more savings
• If building work is required, such as partition walls, this is scheduled first
• Painting work completed by professional decorators
• Electrician, plumber and air-conditioning engineers co-ordinate required work and servicing
• IT and comms installed or configured to tenant specifications
• Deep clean service
• Furniture supplied and delivered, or moved from a previous office using our Masterlord Estates van and team members

For example, over two weekends this autumn, the Masterlord Estates team faced the challenge of moving three companies. A complex four-way logistics plan was needed!  The operation went smoothly and each business was up and running in their new home on Monday morning.

“When everything is time critical, so no business time is lost, we have a strong team of professionals to make sure that everything goes to plan.  That’s the Masterlord difference. No-one else can provide that level of service.”  Abi Dawson, Masterlord Estates

Our Team includes..

Brad Culf – Lewis Culf Plumbing and Heating
Gareath Evans – 2F Airconditioning
Richard Shaw & Solomon Greene – Comms Unite
Ash Brock & Grace Carlin – Like Electrical
Hannah and Dean – Hannah’s Decorating
Abbie Howard – Business Hygienist/Office Cleaning
Robertas Krulis  – Rob Joinery
Masterlord’s Emma Rayner, Alison Smith, Abi Dawson & Katie Dinsdale

The key to success for any consultant is listening to clients and understanding the challenges they face.  Aramar Solutions Limited based at Epsilon House advises customers across a broad range of industries about using the power of business data to inform their decisions and strategy.

Working with clients from Woodbridge to Ireland, including FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 companies, Aramar operates across healthcare, energy, retail, logistics and many other markets. They offer specialist advice, support and services for medium to large and group companies, ranging from group consolidation, financial planning and reporting, and business intelligence.

Using the IBM Analytics suite of products, Aramar develops solutions to benefit all aspects of an organisation, from commercial and human resources to finance and operational.

The company has staff in Newcastle, Birmingham, Hertford and Essex, using video conferencing to keep in touch.  In Ipswich, the team has moved offices at Masterlord a number of times as the company developed.

As an IBM business partner, we specialize in the IBM Analytics suite of software for financial consolidation, planning and analysis, reporting, and Business Intelligence. Our experienced consultants can tailor solutions to customer specific needs, as well as train and mentor customers so they can own and maintain their own solutions

Bronyck Stokes Horrigan, Customer Success Manager, Aramar

As the hospitality industry starts to recover from the biggest setback it has ever known, with sales plummeting 64% between April 2020 and March 2021 and 12,000 licensed premises shut down, we talk to Masterlord Office Village tenant Red Oak Taverns about safeguarding the future of their 200 pubs.

Staff shortages, accrued debt and rising costs have all affected pubs reopening. Takeaway food and serving at tables outside were small steps as restrictions were relaxed.  Pubs serving food had an edge, as customers want to return, meeting family and friends for a meal out.  It’s the new normal.

The government’s support with hospitality grants, VAT rate relief and re-opening grants, together with stock credits by leading suppliers, all helped to get pubs and restaurants open again. 

The in-house finance department for Red Oak Taverns has been Ipswich based since 2018, with a team of seven led by head of finance Leigh Meadows. The company was co-founded by Aaron Brown and Mark Grunnell in 2011. 

‘Our pubs are built around the community, so people use them not only for eating and drinking but sometimes as a workspace, especially if they’re working from home.  All our pubs reopened successfully, with outside meals this May and now full service indoors. The commitment and hard work of our tenants, twinned with government and tailored support from ourselves has paid off. We’ve managed the business flexibly, keeping our tenants operating to serve their customers.  It’s a partnership. That’s the secret of our success.

Masterlord offers us ideal office space that we can tailor to our needs, with good comms, parking and easy access.  Working remotely was a success during lockdown, and we managed to solve problems just as swiftly. As team members return to the office, the buzz is coming back.’

Leigh Meadows, head of finance, Red Oak Taverns

Find out more at:  redoaktaverns.co.uk

Providing 24-hour support every day of the year is a vital part of our NHS, and a team of 120 people working shifts with Integrated Care 24 (IC24) at Masterlord Office Village has been a lifeline for patients during the pandemic.

Right through lockdown, with many working from home, the not-for-profit social enterprise offered access to urgent health and social care through the NHS 111 phone service, covering mid and south Essex from their Ipswich contact centre.

IC24 has been at the forefront of urgent care for over 25 years. But the pandemic tested the resourcefulness and resilience of the staff based in Ipswich, showing empathy and reassurance with every patient amid higher than normal call volumes.

Reducing pressure on hospital and GP surgeries for non life-threatening conditions, IC24 has health advisors as a first point of contact. They use triage software, NHS Pathways, to identify the right course of action for a patient, whether that is a referral to a senior clinical advisor or mental health services, an ambulance response for hospital care, a prescription or advice on self-care.

‘Masterlord Office Village is a real business community and in a perfect location for us, with easy access to the A14 and all the facilities we need.  With a 24/7 operation, we have to be agile in responding to demand.’

Abbie Snelling, Head of Estates and Facilities, IC24

An estimated 50% of ambulance call outs are unnecessary, and many people are sent home from A&E having only needed advice. IC24 relieves some of the pressure on the emergency care sector by assessing and helping patients and giving them appropriate care.

But it’s not only about patient care, as the IC24 team at Masterlord Office Village also raised £3,300 for East Anglia’s Children Hospice this year. EACH supports families with children across Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk who have life-threatening health conditions.

For Danielle Quigley, the rewards of having a positive impact on a patient or colleague are an important part of her job at IC24, with no two days the same.  She gained a first class honours degree in criminology and youth studies and worked with young offenders before joining IC24 in 2017 as a health advisor. A keen traveller and runner, she’s now a service delivery manager at the Ipswich contact centre. 

‘Like everyone else in the healthcare arena, my role did change at the beginning of the virus, as there were so many ‘what ifs’. This was the first global pandemic my generation had witnessed. Not knowing what to expect and ensuring that everyone felt safe was obviously difficult. Now, it’s exciting to take part in ongoing learning, developing new skills.’

Danielle Quigley, IC24 Service Delivery Manager for Mid & South Essex

Have a look at their website to find out more.