Former electrician Luke Harris founded Harris Evolution just seven years ago and it’s already punching above it weight.
With clients throughout the UK, including carrying out works at Premier Inn, student accommodation firm UPP and South Gloucestershire Council, the Bristol-based company is gaining a reputation for its honest and principled approach.
Managing Director Luke and his business partners Dean Houghton, Martin Cox and Chris Elliott, believe the sector is in desperate need of “proactively honest” contractors.
He said: “Too many times we were hearing about contracts running wildly over-budget or angry clients left with shoddy and unfinished work.
“There is a national shortage of construction workers in the UK, coupled with higher and higher costs for materials – but that should not give building firms the green light to ramp up unnecessary costs to the client.
“We spent a lot of time working for other people and suddenly realised we didn’t like how things were being done for customers. We want to raise the standards of the entire industry, evolve and stay true to our core values. At Harris Evolution we pride ourselves on being honest with our clients and doing our very best to foresee any issues well ahead of the tools coming out.”
Over the last five years Harris Evolution has doubled its revenue year on year, building a strong infrastructure with the future very much in mind.
Director Dean Houghton, who started as an electrician with the company, said: “We have invested heavily in the future with key personnel. We realised early on that you’re only as good as your staff.
“We are very much a team that has grown together and we all have the same goal in mind, to prove a business model likes ours, based on integrity, trust, efficiency and openness can become one of the top providers and suppliers of refurbishments in the UK.”
The young staff at Harris Evolution believe in innovation and working together as a team, with no single person solely responsible for one area of the business.
They work collaboratively with their clients throughout the project – and collaboratively at their Bristol HQ to make sure every voice within the team is heard.
Finance Director Martin Cox believes there is a market for a company that takes a real pride in the finished results.
He said: “We have always believed in our core values of teamwork, integrity, respect and honesty. We provide a different approach where the end result is more important than the bottom line.
“We want to exceed expectations and that’s what sets us apart.”
Chris Elliott, who runs the commercial arm of the company, said clients had returned to them again and again.
He added: “We are steadily gaining a reputation for delivering quality refurbishments that, thanks to our collaborative approach with our clients, exceeds expectations.
“We are also honest about the feasibility, time and costs at every stage. Because we work closely as a team, we work together to spot potential problems, share information and get through those pitfalls efficiently.
“The relationship with all our clients is crucial to our company. We want them to trust us to do the job right…and keep coming back.”
The Honeycombe Dental Clinic highlights the diversity of Harris Evolution’s client base, ranging from student digs to healthcare providers. The company recently refurbished the clinic’s dental surgery.
Owner Miguel Colaço said: ‘’Harris Evolution were able to install a surgery at Honeycomb Dental Clinic.
“From the very start of the customer care to the actual delivery of the works, their professionalism and capability was second to no other and we would definitely recommend them to other businesses. This third surgery is our pride and joy.’’
