Martlesham based window company celebrates 25th anniversary

Homestyle UK Windows was started out of a garage in Kesgrave by Graham Shemmings in 1999, with his first-ever employee being his 19-year-old daughter Karen Claydon. 

Today it is led by Mrs Claydon and her brother Daniel Shemmings out of their showroom based in Martlesham, and on Friday they celebrated the business' 25th anniversary. 

Karen Claydon, left, was the company's first employee and Daniel Shemmings, right, joined soon thereafter.  (Image: Shikhar Talwar) Mrs Claydon said: "The most important thing is the legacy of this business.

"We lost our dad three years ago, so we treat this business like a legacy, that he would be proud of. 

"To sit here today and celebrate 25 years in this industry is a proud moment for him and us."

Mr Shemmings added that the window-making industry is quite volatile and has had a bad reputation in the past. 

"It was our father's vision to change that reputation of the industry and 25 years of continued trading in this industry is no mean feat really," he said. 

Windows was their father's passion and something that he got a "buzz" from, Mr Shemmings said.

The business has provided windows to the Principality of Sealand  (Image: Archant) The pair of them also remembered that one of their initial business was supplying windows to the Principality of Sealand, a self-declared nation off the coast of Felixstowe. 

Mrs Claydon said that no one else was ready to supply windows to the micronation, but she and her father decided to get on rowing boats and travel 11km away from Suffolk's coast.

Today the main business is based between Ipswich and Woodbridge but they still get a lot of jobs directly from customers dotted all across the county. 

The owners say that most of their employees have been there for several years, and are like family to them. 

They also attempt to give back to society by donating to Ipswich's St Elizabeth Hospice and sponsoring local football clubs.