Sunderland-based Jamie Lewis Joinery has been named Carpentry & Joinery Business of the Year at the North East 2026 Local Awards, recognising a growing local business built on quality workmanship, personality, trust and a strong reputation across the region. Founded in September 2021, Jamie Lewis Joinery is a small carpentry and joinery business carrying out all aspects of second fix joinery, alongside a growing amount of commercial work in schools throughout the North East. From carefully finished interiors to larger-scale school projects, the business has earned a name for delivering reliable work while keeping customers comfortable, informed and at ease. For Jamie, the award is a proud moment and a welcome boost. Having started the business after 13 years working for another company, the win confirms something many of his customers already seem to know: Jamie Lewis Joinery is doing things the right way.

A Sunderland Joinery Business Built From Hard Work

Jamie Lewis Joinery was founded after Jamie spent 13 years working for another company while also completing his own jobs during evenings and weekends. Like many tradespeople with ambition, he reached a point where the question became impossible to ignore: should he keep building someone else’s business, or finally take the leap and build his own? In September 2021, Jamie decided it was time. He had always wanted to work for himself and knew that if he did not make the move then, he might never do it. Starting a business is never a small decision, especially in a trade where reputation, reliability and repeat work matter so much. It meant taking on pressure, responsibility and risk, but it also gave Jamie the chance to shape a business around his own standards and personality. That decision has paid off. Today, Jamie Lewis Joinery carries out second fix joinery and commercial work across Sunderland and the wider North East. The business has grown steadily, not by making big claims, but by doing good work, turning up professionally and leaving customers happy enough to recommend the company to others. For a local trade business, that kind of word-of-mouth reputation is worth everything.

Quality Work With a Personality Customers Remember

Jamie Lewis Joinery prides itself on turning out a great job, but Jamie believes the real difference comes from personality. The team brings skill and professionalism to every project, but they also bring humour, energy and a down-to-earth attitude that helps customers feel comfortable. In any home or workplace, having tradespeople on site can feel disruptive. Customers want to know the work will be done properly, but they also want to feel at ease with the people doing it. Jamie and the team understand this. They like to have a laugh, enjoy a singalong at work and bring a positive atmosphere with them. That might sound simple, but it can make a huge difference to the customer experience. This attitude has helped the business receive great feedback. Customers remember not only the quality of the finished job, but also how the team made them feel while the work was being done. In a competitive industry, that human side matters. A well-fitted door, skirting board or interior finish is important, but so is trust. Jamie Lewis Joinery has built its reputation on both: solid workmanship and a personality that people genuinely enjoy having around.

Taking on the First Employee

One of the biggest milestones for Jamie Lewis Joinery came around a year after the business started, when Jamie took on his first employee, Kyle. This was a major step, not only because hiring staff brings more responsibility, but because it showed the business was growing beyond Jamie working alone. Kyle had previously been Jamie’s apprentice at the company where Jamie worked before starting his own business. Bringing him into Jamie Lewis Joinery was a natural fit, and Jamie describes it as one of the best decisions he has made. Having someone reliable, skilled and committed alongside him has helped the business take on more work and keep standards high. For small businesses, the first hire can be one of the most important decisions. It changes the way the business operates and often sets the tone for future growth. In this case, Kyle has become a key part of Jamie Lewis Joinery. Jamie is clear that without him, the business would not get through the jobs it does. His hard work does not go unnoticed, and this award is as much a reflection of the team effort as it is of the name on the van.

Growing the Business With Another Van on the Road

Another proud moment for Jamie has been recently getting another van on the road. For customers, seeing branded vans out and about might simply look professional, but for a small business owner, it represents something much bigger. It is a sign of progress, investment and belief in the future. Jamie describes the second van as a big leap of faith. That phrase will make sense to anyone who has ever run a small business. Growth often means spending money before you feel completely ready. It means trusting that the work will continue coming in, that the reputation you have built will keep carrying the business forward and that the next step will be worth the risk. The new van also strengthens the company’s presence in the local area. Jamie enjoys getting jobs through word of mouth, and seeing the vans driving around Sunderland and nearby communities helps reinforce the business’s name. It shows that Jamie Lewis Joinery is active, professional and trusted locally. For a company built on reputation, that visibility is a valuable part of continued growth.

Working in Schools Across the North East

A major part of Jamie Lewis Joinery’s work is commercial joinery in schools around the North East. School projects can be demanding because they often need to be completed within tight timescales, especially during holiday periods when buildings are quieter and work can be carried out safely and efficiently. With the six-week holidays approaching, Jamie expects the business to be extremely busy with school work. This kind of seasonal rush requires organisation, reliability and a strong work ethic. Schools need contractors they can trust to complete work properly and on time, because delays can affect staff, pupils and the smooth running of the site once term begins again. Working in local schools also connects the business to the wider community. These are not just commercial buildings; they are places where children learn, staff work and families interact every day. By delivering quality joinery in these spaces, Jamie Lewis Joinery contributes in a practical way to the local area. Whether the work involves second fix details, repairs, upgrades or larger improvements, the end result helps create better environments for the people who use those buildings.

Supporting Local Sport, Events and the Community

Jamie Lewis Joinery also gives back to the community whenever possible. Jamie sponsors his son’s football team, supports boxing events that Kyle has fought on, and continues to carry out work in local schools and community spaces. This kind of support shows the business is not only working in the local area, but actively contributing to it. For many small businesses, community support is personal. It is not about large corporate campaigns or polished slogans. It is about helping where you can, backing local people and supporting the events, clubs and activities that matter to those around you. Jamie’s sponsorships reflect that down-to-earth approach. They show pride in local sport, local people and the connections that make communities stronger. Being visible in the community also helps customers see the character behind the business. People like to support companies that support others. When they see Jamie Lewis Joinery involved in local teams, events and schools, it reinforces the idea that this is a business with roots in the area. That matters, especially in trades where trust is built through familiarity, recommendations and the confidence that someone genuinely cares about their reputation.

The Power of Word of Mouth

Word of mouth has played an important role in the growth of Jamie Lewis Joinery. Jamie loves getting jobs through recommendations because it shows that customers are happy enough to pass his name on. In the trades, that is one of the strongest compliments a business can receive. A recommendation carries more weight than any advert because it comes from someone with first-hand experience. When a customer tells a friend, relative or colleague that Jamie Lewis Joinery did a great job, they are putting their own trust behind that recommendation. That kind of endorsement cannot be forced. It has to be earned through good work, reliability and a positive customer experience. The company’s vans also support that local visibility. When people see professional-looking vans driving around Sunderland and the wider area, it keeps the business front of mind. Combined with strong customer feedback and a growing portfolio of work, that visibility helps create momentum. For Jamie Lewis Joinery, reputation has been built job by job, conversation by conversation and recommendation by recommendation.

A Proud Win Against Strong Competition

When Jamie found out that Jamie Lewis Joinery had won Carpentry & Joinery Business of the Year, he was “chuffed.” The win felt like a great achievement, especially because he knew some of the other companies nominated and recognised that they were very good at what they do. That makes the award even more meaningful. Winning is always special, but winning in a category filled with respected local businesses gives the recognition extra weight. It shows that customers and supporters saw something in Jamie Lewis Joinery that stood out, whether that was the quality of the work, the service, the personality of the team or the reputation the business has built since 2021. For a business that is still relatively young, this kind of recognition can be a big confidence boost. Jamie sees it as a sign that the company must be doing something right. It is also a moment to reflect on how far the business has come in a short time: from Jamie taking the leap into self-employment to growing the team, adding another van and winning a respected local award.

A Win Backed by Customers

Jamie believes the award reflects the support of customers past and present. After sharing the nomination on social media, he likes to think that those who had worked with the business took the time to vote, helping Jamie Lewis Joinery secure the win. That customer support means a great deal. It shows that people not only appreciated the work done for them, but felt the business deserved to be recognised. In many ways, customer-voted awards are especially meaningful because they are based on real experiences. People vote because they remember the service, the job, the attitude and the impression a business left behind. For Jamie Lewis Joinery, the win strengthens the relationship with customers. It confirms that the hard work is being noticed and that the company’s approach is resonating with people. Quality joinery matters, but so does the way customers feel throughout the process. This award suggests that Jamie and Kyle have managed to create the right mix of professionalism, workmanship and personality.

Looking Ahead to a Busy Future

The immediate future looks busy for Jamie Lewis Joinery, especially with the school holidays approaching. The six-week break is a key period for school-related projects, and Jamie expects the business to be manic with work during that time. Busy periods like this can be challenging, but they are also a sign of trust. Schools and commercial clients need reliable tradespeople who can get work completed efficiently, and being chosen for those projects shows confidence in the business. With another van now on the road and Kyle continuing to play an important role, Jamie Lewis Joinery is preparing for the next stage of growth. Looking further ahead, the business appears focused on continuing to build its reputation the same way it has so far: through good work, strong relationships and a positive attitude. Growth does not need to mean losing the personal touch. In fact, for Jamie Lewis Joinery, that personality is one of the things that makes the business stand out. As the company takes on more work, keeping that same spirit will remain a major part of its success.

Thanking Kyle, Family and Customers

Jamie is quick to thank the people who have helped make the journey possible. First, he gives credit to Kyle, who works alongside him and plays a huge role in getting jobs completed. Jamie describes Kyle as a great asset to Jamie Lewis Joinery and says his hard work never goes unnoticed. He also thanks his family, whose support has helped him manage the stress that comes with running a business. Being self-employed can bring freedom and pride, but it also comes with pressure, long hours and constant responsibility. Jamie is honest about the fact that without his family, he believes he may have gone back to working for someone else. Their support helps take away some of that stress and keeps him moving forward. Most of all, Jamie Lewis Joinery would like to thank everyone who voted. The support is truly appreciated and has helped turn a local nomination into an award-winning achievement. As Carpentry & Joinery Business of the Year, Jamie Lewis Joinery is a brilliant example of a Sunderland business built on hard graft, quality work, personality and the support of a loyal local community.