As the brainchild of husband-and-wife team, Ryan Lee and Sarah Charley Lee, RJL Interiors is the epitome of a company that has hit the ground running. Having only been created last year, the business has already earned multiple industry accolades, as well as securing a double award nomination at the prestigious Fit Out Awards. Construction Industry News recently caught up with Sarah to see how this meteoric rise has been achieved.
“We established the business last June, bringing together Ryan’s background in joinery and site management, and my experience in design and project management,” explains Sarah, Head of Business. “We had both previously worked for other companies, but the stars aligned and presented the opportunity to do something together, so we decided to go for it.”
What could have been a dangerous leap into the dark has proven to be anything but, with RJL Interiors having quickly amassed an impressive portfolio of work and substantial industry recognition, including not one but two nominations at the 2025 Fit Out Awards. “We were shortlisted for Small Project of the Year for our work at Acumen Cyber Security Headquarters, which we’re delighted with. It was a great contract to be involved in and showcased a great deal of what we’re able to offer as a company.
“What’s even more pleasing, however, was our nomination for Contractor of the Year. We’d have never dreamt of getting this level of recognition so quickly and it shows that we’re heading in the right direction. Even though we didn’t win either category, just to have been in the running for two categories, particularly Contractor of the Year, was an achievement in itself. We have definitely exceeded all our initial expectations.”
In terms of the award-nominated project, the Acumen Fiber Security headquarters in Glasgow saw the transformation of a 6,800 sq ft 120-year-old heritage building. Acting as principal contractor, RJL delivered everything from partitioning and glazed offices to AV walls, mechanical services, and bespoke branding elements. “It was our first actual project as principal contractor,” Sarah outlines. “We installed a massive AV wall with 10 screens and a backlit logo that really popped off the dark wall. Following concept approval; the client decided to proceed without designers, so we stepped in to support the design process. It became a real showcase of what we can do.”
While it just missed out on the Fit Out Awards, RJL Interiors has scooped up a string of other honours, including Best Specialist Joinery Contractor, Excellence in Project Management, Best Emerging Commercial Fit Out and Joinery Firm, and Best Specialist Fit Out Contractor at the SME Awards. Sarah herself was recently named one of the Top 100 Influential Women in Construction and, if she wasn’t busy enough, alongside the construction arm, she also runs a consultancy through RJL, offering business development and project management support.
“We’ve had a really successful year. We live and breathe this business, and we work incredibly hard to make sure that every touchpoint—whether it’s a project, a social media post or a tender—reflects a consistent, professional brand.”
That brand is built on a complementary skill set. Ryan brings hands-on trade experience and excels in costing, estimating and site delivery, while Sarah’s strengths lie in design coordination, tender and quality management. It’s proving to be a dynamic formula that has allowed the company to grow rapidly, with a flexible workforce that scales to meet project demands.
“At the moment, we have around 20 working with us, but at any given time that can be 50 or 60. We’ve got crews based in Scotland, the North, the Midlands and London. That helps us manage costs and logistics more efficiently.”
RJL’s team is highly qualified, with all site managers fully accredited and every team member trained in first aid, fire safety and asbestos awareness. “We’re committed to investing in our people because that’s the best way to get the best out of them. We’ve helped three of our joiners become site managers. We’re growing together.”
The company’s current workload spans the UK, with active sites in Portsmouth, London, Wilmslow, Gateshead and Glasgow, with new projects launching soon in Coventry, Derby and Leeds. While commercial and retail fit-outs have dominated its portfolio, RJL is now pivoting back toward museum and heritage installations—an area close to both founders’ hearts.
“Our aspiration by the end of next year is to have a more even divide between commercial, retail and museums,” highlights Sarah. “Collectively we’ve worked in some of the most prominent institutions in the UK and internationally, and we’re tendering for several opportunities right now.”
With a clear vision, a growing team, and a portfolio that speaks volumes, RJL Interiors is poised for even greater success in the year ahead. “We’re getting to a point where we can cherry-pick the work we really want to win,” Sarah concludes. “And that’s exactly where we want to be.”