Property fit-out, refurbishment and bespoke joinery expert SJS has announced a record £12 million turnover and appointed four directors.
Managing director Craig Murie has steered the firm to the milestone figure from £900,000 a year in just eight years as the workforce has more than doubled.
He has now promoted Alan Timlin to commercial director and and John Anderson to estimating director. Both joined the Edinburgh firm in 2012.
Brian Drake, who has headed SJS’s projects division since 2014, becomes operations director.
Respected industry professional Gary McGurk has joined the business as a director to oversee the strategic direction of business development, client relationship management and marketing.
Murie, 48, said: “The team have done a magnificent job to deliver the scale of growth we have seen since late 2011. As well as hitting £12 million in turnover, our headcount has increased from 25 to 62. Despite the short timescale, it has been controlled growth.
“While we are proud of everything we have achieved, we also recognise that what got us to where we now are will not solely be what takes us to the next level. That is why we are creating a stronger leadership team and a structure that better suits the size of organisation we are in 2019, ensuring we are fit for the professional and business challenges ahead.”
When Murie joined the firm it was predominantly a bespoke manufacturing joinery business. The highly-skilled CAD, joinery and French polishing team at its 25,000 sq ft production facility outside Edinburgh still accounts for £3 million of the turnover.
Murie added: “These promotions are a recognition of what these colleagues have put in and the passion they have to make us even more successful. It’s also about laying the groundwork to take us to the next level.
“We have a talented team across the board and our culture is hugely important to us. We want people to be happy at their work and to create a great work environment with real career progression.”
SJS has carried out refurbishments and fit-outs of offices, hotels, leisure outlets, niche residential, universities, schools, shops, pubs and a wide variety of other developments. A current order is to provide 384 bespoke sleeping pods for the new Code Hostel being developed in Dublin. Its offerings range from office reception desks to customised furniture for hotels.
A key milestone in the firm’s growth was a refurbishment contract which included the design, manufacture and installation of customised language translation booths at Heriot Watt University, where he studied to Civil Engineering.
On the back of that success the firm has earned further contracts with Heriot Watt as well as Edinburgh University, Queen Margaret University and Napier University.
Another key project was a commercial office fit out for Knight Property Group at Castle Terrace, Edinburgh, which was the first million-pound contract for SJS. The refit of Laings flagship jewellery store in the capital was another landmark which showcased both SJS’s project expertise and quality bespoke joinery.
The business is currently delivering a £1.2 million commercial office fit out at Exchange Plaza, the heart of Edinburgh’s commercial and financial district, for a prominent Scottish business.
McGurk said: “I couldn’t have hoped for a better time to join the company, as there is no doubt that SJS is starting to attract a lot of attention for all the right reasons. All of the directors are extremely excited about this next chapter and the huge opportunities we have to continue the growth and expansion of the company.”
