Short History & Background

MASS was formed in 1983 by four partners who, as colleagues at BAe Dynamics in Stevenage, saw the opportunity to supply mathematical and associated scientific services (the origin of the MASS acronym) into the UK defence industry. Initially based in Welwyn Garden City, MASS soon moved to its present offices in a Georgian farmhouse in Little Paxton, St Neots, where it has grown from leasing just 2 rooms to occupying the whole building and extending it twice. One of the original founders, Malcolm Lowes, has remained with MASS throughout and has successfully built the company to its current position of a diversified, successful and growing defence company with more than 100 permanent employees.

Through the 1980’s, MASS steadily developed skills in various technical areas including analysis, mathematic modelling, guided weapon performance analysis, design and development of bespoke systems and RF test and evaluation. Growth was measured but consistent, with a steady move from pure consultancy into a business that was able to make things and write software. In 1993, after a short period of ownership by a venture capital company, a majority holding in MASS was acquired by the Silicon Valley Group – a privately owned UK group operating mainly in the commercial field. This brought investment and was the beginning of a very successful period of growth.

During this period, MASS grew its annual turnover from less than £1m to nearly £13m by 2004. This was helped by winning a number of prestigious managed IT contracts in highly secure areas of MoD business – contracts which continue today and have recently been renewed. At the same time, MASS developed its skills in real-time software, electronics systems design, development and low volume manufacture – particularly in distributed and secure communications for the aerospace sector and also providing a successful contract R & D capability across both defence and commercial market sectors. Throughout this period, MASS has developed a reputation for successfully undertaking technically demanding projects in very short timescales.

An important business development has been in the area of Electronic Warfare. MASS played an key role in the development of the EW Test Facility at BAE Systems Warton and from this has developed unique skills and products in EW test & evaluation. More recently, MASS has opened a facility in Lincoln which has become the centre for its growing EW Operational Support capability.

With the MASS acronym now more appropriate to Military And Special Systems, the Company has built a reputation with its Customers for high levels of flexibility and support, timely delivery and technical excellence. We are justifiably proud of this and it is a core value maintained over many years.

In July 2006, after 13 successful years with Silicon Valley, ownership of MASS passed to Cohort plc.

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