BUILT AROUND HOW YOU WORK
Fit-Out
The best fit-outs aren’t just well-built. They’re designed around how your business actually operates: your teams, your culture, your plans for the next five years. Get it right and the space works for you. Get it wrong and you’re managing the consequences long after the contractor has left.
Slate Contracts delivers commercial fit-out for end user clients and professional teams across London, the Home Counties and Southern England. Whether you’re taking on a new space or rethinking one you’ve outgrown, we work directly with you from initial brief to handover.
One team. One point of contact. Accountable throughout.
We also work with our own design team, which means we can offer a complete design and build service for clients who want a single point of contact and a single point of accountability from concept through to completion. No managing multiple contractors. No gaps between design intent and what actually gets built.
Understanding fit-out: what you need to know
Commercial fit-out broadly falls into two categories, and understanding the difference matters when you’re planning your project.
Cat A fit-out takes a shell or core space, essentially a blank building, and delivers it to a standard that’s ready for occupation. This typically covers raised floors, suspended ceilings, basic lighting, mechanical and electrical services, and fire safety systems. Cat A is most commonly carried out by landlords preparing a space for new tenants.
Cat B fit-out is where the space gets tailored to your specific business. This is the layer on top of Cat A: the partitioning, meeting rooms, breakout areas, kitchen and welfare facilities, branding, furniture and all the finishing touches that make a space yours. Most occupiers commission Cat B works when they move into a new office or take on a refitted space.
Slate Contracts works across both Cat A and B. We’re equally comfortable delivering a Cat A shell to landlord specification or taking a space from blank canvas to a fully operational workplace.
HOW WE WORKWe believe the most important part of any fit-out is what happens before anything goes on site.
A brief that isn’t fully understood leads to decisions made under pressure later, and that’s when costs rise and programmes slip.
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We start by getting to know your business, how you work and what you need from the space. No two clients are the same. We don’t assume.
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Working with our design team, we develop a layout that meets your requirements, reflects your culture and makes the most of the space available. We present this clearly before anything is signed off.
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Before we start, you’ll have a clear programme and a detailed cost plan. We don’t do surprises. If something changes, you hear about it immediately.
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We manage all trades, coordinate all specialist contractors and maintain site presence throughout. You have one contact, not a rotating cast of project managers.
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We walk you through the completed space before handover, address any snagging and make sure everything is exactly as agreed.
One point of contact, start to finish
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75 years combined senior management experience
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2 offices covering London, the Home Counties and Southern England
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One point of contact, start to finish • 75 years combined senior management experience • 2 offices covering London, the Home Counties and Southern England •
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Rated on Google Reviews
What this covers
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Commercial office fit-out
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Cat A and Cat B works
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Design and build
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Workplace design and space planning
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Partitioning and internal layouts
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Mechanical and electrical services
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Flooring, ceilings and lighting
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Kitchen and welfare facilities
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Branding and bespoke joinery
Frequently Asked Questions
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It depends on the size and complexity of the project. A straightforward Cat B fit-out for a smaller office might take six to eight weeks. A larger, more complex project involving structural work or a full design and build could take several months. We’ll give you a realistic programme at the outset, and we’ll stick to it.
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A fit-out typically involves creating a new interior within an existing shell, making an empty or unfinished space ready for use. A refurbishment updates or improves an existing space that’s already been occupied. There’s overlap between the two, and we’re happy to advise on which approach is right for your building.
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Yes. We’re experienced in working in and around occupied spaces, and we take the disruption to your business seriously. We’ll agree on a programme and methodology that minimises the impact on your day-to-day operations.
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Absolutely. We regularly work alongside client-appointed architects, interior designers and project managers. We’re used to fitting into existing professional teams and working collaboratively to deliver the project.
“Working with Slate Contracts has been an excellent experience. “
They are a highly professional and reliable company, consistently demonstrating strong communication skills. The team is friendly and approachable, making collaboration seamless and enjoyable. They promptly attend to and complete the work following the work order, ensuring that every project is executed efficiently and on schedule. The quality of their work is outstanding, as they use high-quality materials and adhere to a very high standard in all their projects. Additionally, they provide comprehensive and transparent quotes, which helps in planning and budgeting effectively. Overall, Slate Contracts is a fantastic company to work with, and I highly recommend their services.
Rayana Betts MTPI AssocRICS, Senior Property Manager — Rendall & Rittner
Got a project in mind?
Tell us about it. We’ll have a straight conversation about what’s involved, what it’ll cost and how long it will take.
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