About us

Welcome, and Thanks for Visiting!

I’m Ricky Harding, the Founder and Director of RLH Trades Ltd. Our journey as a limited company began in 2017, with incorporation following in 2018, but the roots of RLH Trades go back much further.

After completing my training and college education, I started working with MFI in 2002 and began trading under the sole trader name "RLH Elite." In the early days, we focused on kitchens, bedrooms, and electrical work—a time when Part P was the only electrical requirement, asbestos was something you read about in the newspaper, and, unfortunately, a "that’ll do" mentality was common in the industry. Thankfully, things have evolved for the better.

Adapting Through Challenges

Everything continued steadily until 2007, when the credit crunch forced many tradespeople to adapt. This was when we installed our first bathroom, a natural progression from kitchen installations. Just as we thought we had navigated those challenges, MFI shut its doors in 2008, creating a highly competitive market with an oversupply of kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom fitters. This pushed us to focus more on electrical installations while also taking on air conditioning contracts, an emerging field at the time. It was during this period that our first steps into renewable energy began.

Although air conditioning was a great experience, my passion remained in domestic work. By 2011, we returned to kitchens and bathrooms, taking on and managing large-scale projects—including high-end mansions in Epping Forest. From that moment, the goal became clear: to bring that same level of quality work closer to home. By 2015, we had successfully achieved this, and the decision was made to transition into a limited company.

Navigating the COVID Era

RLH Trades went from strength to strength after becoming a limited company, but then COVID-19 hit. When lockdowns were announced, we made the decision to continue working only if our customers were comfortable. To our surprise, every scheduled customer wanted to proceed, and even previous clients reached out, requesting work during lockdown.

This unexpected situation gave us time to refine our skills in solar battery and UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) systems, something we had explored years earlier. Our first solar and battery installation was completed in 2021, and this field has been rapidly growing ever since.

COVID affected everyone in different ways, but one key takeaway for us was this: everyone connected to RLH Trades—customers, suppliers, and team members alike—is an honest person with strong moral values, which align with my own.

Looking Ahead

Today, RLH Trades continues to grow, and I take immense pride in what we’ve accomplished and the relationships we’ve built over time. We’ve handled jobs that others considered problematic and consistently delivered outstanding results, exceeding expectations.

Our journey is far from over. We love what we do, and we are built for this work. The next chapter for RLH Trades is just beginning, and we look forward to continuing this journey with our customers—both old and new.

Thanks for reading our story.

Ricky Harding
Founder & Director, RLH Trades Ltd