AJAX Flooring is one of London’s most respected family-run flooring companies, combining over half a century of experience with a dedication to craftsmanship and client service. A founder member of the Contract Flooring Association (CFA), the company has carved a reputation for reliability, high-quality finishes, and a unique approach to commercial flooring.
Managing director Charles Devine is quick to highlight that the business is more than just a flooring contractor — it’s a living piece of family history, intertwined with naval heroism and stories from decades of industry evolution.
The origins of Ajax Flooring are steeped in personal history. The company was founded in 1956 by Don Burill, a man inspired by the ship on which he served during the Second World War. The HMS Ajax, a Royal Navy Leander-class light cruiser, famously engaged the German heavy cruiser Admiral Graf Spee during the Battle of the River Plate in South America. Later, Ajax participated in the D-Day landings.
‘My father always said the ship’s courage and resilience inspired everything he wanted to build into the company,’ Charles recalls. The name Ajax, therefore, is more than a label — it’s a symbol of determination and precision, values that remain central to the business today.
In 1970, Charles’s father joined the company and expanded its horizons. Until then, Ajax Flooring focused solely on carpets and vinyl. Charles Snr established the hardwood division, boldly claiming vast experience in the craft despite only having two weeks’ prior hands-on work.
‘He blagged it,’ Charles admits with a laugh. ‘He knew he could learn on the job, and he did. That confidence and ingenuity became a hallmark of the company’s approach.’ Over the years, the hardwood division grew into a cornerstone of Ajax Flooring’s offerings, allowing the firm to provide a complete flooring service across a wide range of materials.
Then based in Brockley, Lewisham, Ajax Flooring quickly became a trusted partner for councils, schools, and public-sector clients. Direct lines to City Hall enabled them to secure high-profile contracts, installing floors in town halls and other municipal buildings. Over time, the company evolved from direct contracts to framework and tender-based work, expanding its reach while maintaining the personal attention and commitment that have always defined the business.
‘We’ve been into almost every school in London at some point,’ Charles says. ‘Back in the day, summer holidays were no holidays for us — seven days a week, long hours — but that’s how we built trust and delivered results.’
Today, Ajax Flooring employs a team that combines experience and skill with operational efficiency. Charles runs the operations side, while his sister Jayne oversees the commercial side, handling tenders, client relationships and ensuring projects remain on schedule and on budget.
The company has eight experienced floorlayers, an estimator, and four office staff. This structure allows Ajax Flooring to tackle a broad spectrum of projects, from schools and housing associations to retail outlets and nursing homes, with a focus on refurbishment rather than new builds.
‘Schools in particular are a competitive environment,’ Charles explains. ‘They require multiple quotes, budgets are tight, but they also value our history and the quality of our work. That’s why we often get chosen, because they know we can handle whatever surprises a Victorian school might throw at us.’
A strong emphasis on craftsmanship and low staff turnover ensures consistent quality across all projects. Several of Ajax Flooring’s layers have been with the company for over 40 years, offering an unparalleled depth of experience.
Charles himself started sanding and finishing hardwood floors at age 15, learning from his father before leaving for a career in major infrastructure, including with Balfour Beatty and on the Lower Thames Crossing project.
He returned to the family firm when his father fell terminally ill, ultimately taking over operations alongside Jayne.
Ajax Flooring’s portfolio demonstrates both breadth and adaptability. The company has completed work in recording studios, nightclubs, and historic buildings, as well as traditional public and private sector spaces.
One notable project involved a London nightclub’s ‘Sonic Boom’ room, designed for the hard of hearing to feel music vibrations through the floor. Here, Ajax installed Merbau solid timber over specialised underlay, a solution capable of withstanding high traffic and heavy use while delivering precise acoustic performance. The firm has also been involved in restoration projects, refurbishing floors across schools, council buildings, and private estates.
Supplier relationships play a central role in Ajax Flooring’s success. The company collaborates closely with major manufacturers, including Altro, Tarkett, Heckmondwike, and Cormar, relying on these partnerships for material expertise, technical support, and sustainable product options.
‘Communication is everything,’ Charles stresses. ‘When issues arise, you need suppliers who answer the phone, offer solutions, and work with you — not point fingers. That’s how we maintain quality and client confidence.’ Sustainability is a growing focus. Charles actively checks manufacturer specifications for recycled content and environmentally responsible practices, passing this information on to clients who increasingly demand green solutions.
The company’s history is rich with memorable moments and colourful anecdotes. Charles recounts incidents such as his father being bitten by a pub dog while installing carpet for a local tavern or being offered Shetland ponies as payment for a job — which the family transported back in the boot of a Morris van before they were eventually rehomed. These stories capture the personal, human side of the business, highlighting the blend of ingenuity, humour, and dedication that has kept Ajax Flooring thriving across generations.
Beyond the business, Charles remains firmly grounded in family life and South London roots. A lifelong Millwall supporter — though he admits he doesn’t get to The Den as often as he’d like — he grew up around Brockley, not far from the Old Kent Road, where Ajax Flooring was once based. With three young children aged nine, seven and five, spare time is limited, but Charles still finds room to coach his son’s football team, Sutton Dynamos, and unwind with a round of golf when work allows.
Partial to a pint of Guinness or a whisky rather than anything flashy, he’s rarely without Rosie, the family’s red Labrador. His sister Jayne’s Staffordshire terrier, Sid, is also a familiar presence in the office, reinforcing the sense that Ajax Flooring isn’t just a workplace, but very much a family environment — something that’s underpinned the company’s culture for nearly seven decades.
HMS Ajax and the Battle of the River Plate
The company’s namesake, HMS Ajax, was a Royal Navy Leander-class light cruiser launched in 1934 and commissioned in 1935. The ship served extensively throughout the Second World War, seeing action in the Mediterranean, South Atlantic, and Indian Ocean, and surviving significant battle damage before being decommissioned in 1949. The bravery of HMS Ajax inspired Don Burill, influencing the culture and ethos of Ajax Flooring: courage, resilience, and commitment to the task at hand.
The Battle of the River Plate on 13 December 1939 marked the first major naval engagement of World war 2. HMS Ajax, alongside HMS Exeter and HMNZS Achilles, engaged the German heavy cruiser Admiral Graf Spee off the coast of South America. Though Exeter suffered severe damage, the coordinated action forced Graf Spee to retreat to Montevideo, where her captain scuttled the ship rather than risk destruction at sea. Charles emphasises this history embodies the spirit of the company: prepared, professional, and unyielding in the face of challenges.