IPE celebrates 25 years with a homecoming

IPE, the UK’s longest established, independently owned Broadcast Systems Integrator, is celebrating its 25th Anniversary on April Fool’s Day with a move to new premises that herald its return to its roots in Melbourn.

IPE designs, installs and commissions the technical facilities in radio and television studios. Nearly everyone in the country will have watched TV and heard radio programmes that were made in IPE-equipped studios, from Strictly Come Dancing to everything on Radio 1.

The company was founded on 1st April 1983, and with a staff of two, it became one of the first tenants of the embryonic Melbourn Science Park. Today, IPE employs a large team of engineers and turns over several million pounds per year. It is with great excitement that the company will relocate to its new custom-adapted premises in Melbourn – 25 years to the day since it was founded.

“We have moved several times over the years, in order to find premises large enough to build complete radio stations”, said founder and MD, John Chalmers. “Melbourn will be more convenient for our staff and customers, and feels like home to IPE. Our new premises will greatly increase our production capabilities, and we’re planning to remain there for a long time to come.”

The expanded premises will be put to good use immediately, as the company is also celebrating winning its largest single contract. IPE has just been nominated as the BBC’s chosen contractor to provide a fleet of six outside broadcast vehicles over the next three years. The new premises will enable the company to work on three of those vehicles simultaneously, as well as its ongoing projects and work scheduled on the BBC’s Broadcasting House rebuild, their new facilities in Manchester, and projects for the 2012 London Olympics.

How does the company account for its continued success? According to co-founder and Technical Director, Colin Judge, it is by combining years of experience with sound engineering skills, and a management style that keeps both staff and customers happy. “We’re still being successfully foolish 25 years on”, he added.

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