2016 – 2026
CELEBRATING
10 YEARS
OF RED
A decade of building great projects, strong relationships and a better way of doing construction.
A decade of RED
As we celebrate 10 years of RED, we wanted to take the opportunity to sit down with Graham, Ian, Jon and Derek to reflect on our journey to date and look ahead to the future.
Crafted, built, designed and evolved by Graham, Ian and Jon, and later Derek, RED was founded on a shared passion for building great projects, working with great people and enjoying what we do.
Our journey
Where did RED begin?
The idea for RED started long before the company officially launched. Jon recalls standing on a scaffold at Wembley Arena when Graham turned to him and said, “We can do this ourselves. Why don’t we?”
That ambition grew during their time working together.
“We enjoyed delivering projects, but not necessarily the environment we were working in,” says Graham. “We wanted to build a business where people genuinely enjoyed what they did.”
.
Why the name RED?
Like many good stories, there are two versions of how RED got its name.
The official story begins with Graham sketching out ideas after deciding he wanted a name that was bold, memorable and couldn’t be shortened or abbreviated. Inspired while listening to Armada Radio, he initially came up with Armada Construction before refining the concept into the simple, striking RED name and its now iconic red square.
But, as the founders admit, there’s a much better version.
Ian’s wife is Rachel, Jon’s wife is Emma and Graham’s is Dawn - “We’ll let everyone decide for themselves which story they prefer” says Graham.
Did you expect RED to become what it is today?
The simple answer? No.
The original business plan targeted a turnover of around £30 million.
“None of us imagined we’d grow to where we are today,” says Ian.
“We’re incredibly proud of what RED has become, but our ambition was always to enjoy coming to work and build something we believed in.”
What has been the biggest challenge?
Like any start-up, earning trust was one of the biggest hurdles.
“Without a trading history, simply being taken seriously was difficult”, the founders explain.
“Winning those first projects and attracting great people to join us took time. Every successful project helped build the reputation we have today.”
What moments make you most proud?
From securing RED’s first London projects to navigating the challenges of COVID and delivering landmark schemes like 40 Broadway and Curtain House, there have been many defining moments.
“The projects are important,” says Ian, “but what I’m most proud of is the team behind them. Without our people, RED simply wouldn’t exist.”
For Graham it was “seeing my dad in a RED fleece before he passed away and watching our teams collect the various awards over the years.”
What is ‘The RED Way’?
“It’s about honesty, fairness and creating a place where people enjoy coming to work”, says Ian.
Jon adds, “It’s about building a genuine sense of belonging and camaraderie, where everyone supports each other and works towards the same goal.”
Derek believes the culture is equally rooted in “being entrepreneurial, customer-focused and working with good people.”
Together, these principles define The RED Way. Working hard, supporting one another, delivering for clients and never losing sight of what matters outside of work. As the business has grown, maintaining that culture has remained one of RED’s highest priorities.
Looking ahead
While the construction industry has changed significantly over the past decade, particularly around sustainability and ESG, RED’s approach has remained consistent. “We still believe projects are delivered best when everyone works together,” says Jon.
Looking to the future, the ambition is clear: continue growing in a controlled way, remain the contractor of choice for discerning clients, and keep investing in the people who make RED what it is.
Asked for one final message to future generations of RED, the founders are unanimous…
“
Enjoy the journey, value the relationships you build, and remember what makes RED special. The people are, and always will be, at the heart of everything we do.
“
Our journey in numbers
A decade in the making.
The best is ahead.
Thank you to our clients, supply chain partners and team for being part of our success story.