We fit out offices. That means taking a building, whether it is an empty shell or a tired existing space, and turning it into somewhere your team can actually work. We handle the design, the construction, and every trade in between.

What is a commercial office fit-out?

A commercial office fit-out is the work required to make a building interior suitable for occupation. The term covers everything from basic infrastructure (electrics, ceilings, flooring) through to the finished workspace you move into.

Most fit-outs fall into two categories: Cat A and Cat B.

Cat A fit-out

A Category A fit-out is the landlord’s scope. It takes a building from shell condition to a lettable standard. That typically includes:

  • Raised access flooring
  • Suspended ceilings with lighting
  • Mechanical ventilation and air conditioning
  • Basic electrical distribution
  • Fire detection and sprinkler systems
  • Finished lift lobbies, toilets, and common areas

After a Cat A fit-out, the floor plate is a blank canvas. It is functional but empty, ready for a tenant to make it their own.

Cat B fit-out

A Category B fit-out is the tenant’s scope. This is where the space gets its identity. Cat B work typically includes:

Cat B fit-outs vary a lot in cost depending on the level of specification. A straightforward open-plan office with standard finishes might come in at around £40 to £60 per sq ft. A high-spec fit-out with bespoke joinery, feature lighting, and premium materials is more like £80 to £120 per sq ft. We give you a fixed price before work starts so there are no surprises.

How a fit-out project runs

Every project is different, but the broad phases are the same.

Survey and briefing. We visit the site, take measurements, and sit down with you to understand how your business works, how many people need desks, what kind of meeting spaces you need, and what budget you are working with.

Space planning and design. We produce CAD floor plans with multiple layout options. Once you pick a direction, we develop 3D renders so you can see the finishes, furniture, and lighting before committing. Changes at this stage cost nothing. Changes on site cost money and time.

Procurement and build. Materials are ordered and our trades move on to site. A typical Cat B fit-out for 5,000 sq ft takes 6 to 10 weeks. Larger projects are phased so we can hand over floors or zones as they complete, rather than making you wait for the entire building.

Handover and aftercare. We walk the space with you, compile a snagging list, and fix anything that needs attention. After handover, we stay available for any follow-up work or adjustments.

Dilapidations

When your lease ends, most landlords require you to return the space to its original condition. This means stripping out all the Cat B work your business added: partitions, kitchens, flooring, branding, and any modifications to the Cat A infrastructure.

We manage dilapidations from survey through to reinstatement. That includes agreeing the scope of works with the landlord’s surveyor, carrying out the strip-out, making good the Cat A finishes, and leaving the space in a condition that satisfies the schedule of dilapidations. Getting this right avoids disputes and the cost of a third-party claim.

Why Linvex

We have been fitting out commercial offices for over 40 years. Our joiners, electricians, plumbers, decorators, and furniture installers are all employed directly, not subcontracted. That means one team on site, one programme, and one point of contact for you.

We work across offices, healthcare, education, and public sector buildings. Most of our projects are in Yorkshire and the North East, though we take on work across the UK when the project is right.

If you are planning a new office layout, reconfiguring an existing space, or refurbishing a tired workplace, we can help with that too.