15 Years of Crafting Excellence: An Industry Leaders Interview with Robin Knowles
From basements to Britain’s most prestigious homes - Knowles really understands what it means to build luxury. As the company celebrates its 15-year milestone, LPF Founder Priya Rawal sat down with Robin Knowles, Managing Director of Knowles, for an exclusive Industry Leaders Interview. Robin shares how the company evolved from a specialist basement contractor into one of the UK’s most respected names in super-prime construction, the values behind its success, and what’s next as Knowles continues to lead in the luxury property space.
Knowles is reaching an exciting 15-year milestone – how has the company evolved over the years, and what are you most proud of?
Over the past 15 years, Knowles has grown from a specialist basement contractor into one of the most respected super-prime principal contractors across London and the Home Counties. Our portfolio now encompasses some of the country’s most exquisite full-scope refurbishments, high-end developments, and heritage restorations. I’m incredibly proud of the team we’ve built, the relationships we’ve forged, and the reputation we’ve earned for delivering excellence. It’s a testament to our unwavering commitment to quality, craftsmanship, and unparalleled service.
What inspired you to establish Knowles, and what was your vision when you first started?
Although Knowles is celebrating its 15-year anniversary this year, as a family-run business, we bring over 30 years of experience in the industry, dating back to the 1960s, when I worked with my father and his company. Construction is in my blood, and I have many memories of working on a construction site.
Ultimately, Knowles was founded with a clear vision: to create a construction company that would set new benchmarks for quality, professionalism, and craftsmanship. From the outset, my goal was to build a business that was dynamic, agile, and self-sufficient - delivering a seamless, client-focused service that not only met but consistently exceeded expectations. These values remain at the heart of Knowles today.
What do you believe sets Knowles apart as a trusted name in luxury construction, and why do you think the company has become the go-to partner for London’s leading architects, project managers, and developers?
Knowles is distinguished by our ability to deliver projects in their entirety - from start to finish - beginning with the first boots on the ground and continuing through to the final turn of the key. From gritty structural work to fine interior design and fit-out, and extending into post-construction care, which is managed by our Special Projects and Aftercare team, we offer a truly end-to-end service.
This seamless approach ensures quality, professionalism, and efficiency at every stage. The ability to deliver, manage, and maintain a project at such a high level and calibre is unique in this industry.
Our reputation has been built on trust, expertise, and meticulous attention to detail. We understand the complexities of high-end projects and work collaboratively with clients and project teams to bring their vision to life. Our ability to combine technical expertise with a proactive, solutions-driven mindset truly sets us apart, ensuring every project is delivered to the highest standard.
We do this by retaining and investing in our teams, who sit within our specialist in-house divisions. Having these true experts at Knowles allows us to deliver projects with precision and efficiency. This layer of dynamism enables us to approach projects in a truly unique way - something that is valued by the many professionals we have the pleasure of working with.
Describe a typical working day as Managing Director of Knowles.
Impossible - no two days are the same!
My role is a balance of strategic oversight, client engagement, and hands-on involvement with my teams on tenders, project coordination, and live delivery.
A typical day involves site visits, reviewing project progress, meeting with clients, and ensuring our teams have the resources they need to deliver exceptional results. I’m also focused on business development, ensuring Knowles continues to evolve and innovate.
While sometimes challenging, the variety in my working day allows me to understand the cogs of Knowles from all angles—buying, project managing, health and safety, marketing, and board-level strategy. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
What have been some of the greatest challenges you’ve faced as a business, and how have you overcome them?
Like any business, we’ve faced challenges - from economic downturns to the complexities of our projects. The key to overcoming them, and to pushing forward during these times, has been our ability to quickly adapt. This is a true testament to our strong, expert team.
Challenges often present opportunities, and we’ve always approached them with a problem-solving mindset.
Reflecting on the past 15 years, what have been some of the standout highlights and key moments for you and the company?
There have been many memorable moments - from working on some of London’s most prestigious properties to securing our first project outside the capital, delivered by our Knowles Country division. Expanding our services to offer a true concept-to-completion package and the recent growth of our Special Projects & Aftercare division have also been significant milestones.
Above all, seeing the business evolve while maintaining our core values has been incredibly rewarding.
Knowles has recently launched its Special Projects & Aftercare division – what prompted this move, and how does it align with your vision for the future of the company?
The launch of our Special Projects & Aftercare division was a natural evolution of our existing services, designed to provide bespoke solutions for our clients’ unique property needs.
Our Special Projects team offers an efficient, white-glove service for projects that, while smaller in scale, require the same level of precision, expertise, and attention to detail as our larger schemes. This dedicated division allows for an agile approach, ensuring fast-tracked project completion while maintaining the highest standards of quality and craftsmanship.
Our Aftercare team was established in response to clear demand - our clients want ongoing support and preventative maintenance to preserve the exceptional quality of their properties. We recognised the opportunity to formalise a service we were already providing, reinforcing our commitment to long-term client relationships.
By offering a comprehensive, end-to-end solution, we ensure that every home remains in pristine condition for years to come.
Looking forward, what’s next for Knowles? Where do you see the business in the next 15 years?
If the next 15 years are anything like the past 15, I’m excited for continued growth and innovation at Knowles—further strengthening our position in the luxury construction sector.
In the coming year, we’re enhancing our offering in the country through our dedicated Country office, and expanding our post-construction services through the Special Projects & Aftercare division - to ensure our relationships with clients continue beyond the build.
What advice would you give to those aspiring to lead in the luxury property and construction sector?
There are many layers of advice, but the main points would be: continually evolve and invest. Don’t be afraid to adopt programmes or tools that give you more time to focus on seamless execution and quality - luxury doesn’t tolerate chaos.
Think like a client, not just a contractor - it’s important to marry creativity and dynamism with commercial acumen.
Build a team that shares a collective desire to achieve excellence. I’m fortunate to be surrounded by the best team, who help drive Knowles and maintain our position in the industry.
Finally, remember that reputation is your best currency. In this industry, word-of-mouth and trust are two of the most important qualities when working with ultra-high-net-worth individuals.
Finally, what does “luxury” mean to you, particularly within the context of the work Knowles delivers?
Luxury is about more than just high-end finishes - it’s about craftsmanship, attention to detail, and creating spaces that stand the test of time.
At Knowles, luxury means delivering flawless quality, ensuring every element of a project is executed to perfection, and providing an exceptional client experience from start to finish. Our commitment is always to deliver excellence.
Get in touch
Knowles Construction Limited
Office: 12th Floor, Capital House, 25 Chapel Street, London, NW1 5DH
E: millie@knowles.uk.com