Lee founded Oakmore Builders in 2015 and has become a leading renovations and extensions specialist in South East London.
The business is expected to achieve its first £1m turnover in its current financial year. Not just your typical builder, Lee has a multitude of other skills and speaks four languages fluently, is and plays piano and guitar to a high standard. He also operates businesses in Thailand.
He was expelled from school at 15 and managed to turn his life around by securing an apprenticeship with a local builder, and now has more than 30 years’ experience in the industry.
What do you currently do?
I am the Founder and CEO of Oakmore Builders, a rapidly expanding residential building company, which operates throughout the London Borough of Bromley and South East London.
What was the inspiration behind your business?
I took sole custody of my son when he was five years old, so I couldn’t seriously work a 9-5 job. Establishing Oakmore Builders gave me the flexibility to work the hours I wanted. Today, I probably work 12 hours a day, seven days of the week!
What defines your way of doing business?
We are different to most residential building companies. My main objective was to change the perception of builders in the industry and make people see that Oakmore is credible, trustworthy, honest, transparent and do exactly what we say we are going to do. I want people to recognise the brand name “Oakmore” as a trusted and quality brand.
Who do you admire?
I admire anybody who is not scared of a bit of good, old fashioned graft. These days it seems everybody wants something for nothing and that really annoys me.
Looking back, is there anything you would of done differently?
If I’d have started Oakmore Builders 30 years ago, I’d have more money than Bill Gates!
What advice would you give to someone starting out?
All the usual advice that most entrepreneurs give to people; the main one being get the best, most reliable and trustworthy people around you. The people you employ are a huge part of your success.
