COVID-19 has provided many challenges for those in the construction sector, resulting in a huge drop in construction in 2020 and many unfortunate cutbacks. Being one of the main industries that is unable to work from home, projects come to a stand still if people are not allowed to be on-site. As we roll into… Read More
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Smart contracts – the future of construction?
We often take a look at advances in construction technology on this blog, from drones to BIM, and today we are looking at smart contracts. Contracts have been used to conduct business since the days of ancient Rome, and continue to be used every single day. Most contracts are long, heavily detailed documents full of… Read More
2020 – well, it was different!
As 2020 comes to an end I thought I’d share some of the problems and solutions that we’ve come across as a small business due to the Covid crisis. 2020 started well and we were receiving increasing numbers of orders – everything was well with the world except some murmurs in the news regarding a… Read More
Green buildings – making construction sustainable
The construction sector is always searching for new and better ways to improve efficiency and keep costs down. In 2020, it’s becoming more evident than ever before that we need to continue to find more environmentally friendly methods of construction, as this industry is definitely guilty of not being the “greenest industry”. With that in… Read More
The importance of apprenticeships in construction
With an ageing workforce, it’s time to look to the youth for the future of construction. It’s no secret that construction is mostly made up from more experienced workers, so how do we get young people interested in a job in the industry? A great way of achieving this is through apprenticeship schemes. As we… Read More
5 key ways to minimise delays in construction projects
For construction projects to remain cost-effective it is absolutely essential to understand where delays may arise and how they can be avoided. Nothing will see costs shoot up faster than should a project end up taking more time than planned; additional labour and materials can quickly see budgets spiral out of control, with every extra… Read More
Is it time to allow people to work from anywhere?
Remote working has been a talking point for many years at this point, but only in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic has it truly taken off and changed the business landscape. By this point, you are likely tired of reading about this virus – but this is not the focus of this article. With… Read More
Is construction ready to embrace BIM?
While perhaps a bit slow to accept change, the construction industry is always looking for bigger and better ways of achieving goals and improving processes. In order to grow, our industry needs to continue to look for more effective and efficient ways of construction, and as a result of this we’ve seen some fantastic pieces… Read More
Furlough – good or bad for business?
Furlough. It’s a word that not many of us had really heard until about 3 or 4 months ago, but now it’s brought up in most conversations. Being able to “furlough” members of the team has been a lifesaver for many UK businesses, but there has been much debate as to whether this is really… Read More
How will construction fare post COVID-19?
2020 has seen the worldwide spread of the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, a virus that has essentially shut the world down. This virus has quickly spread across the globe since January 2020, and has unfortunately taken a lot of lives in the process. In order to protect as many people as possible and stop… Read More
How do we really improve health and safety culture in construction?
Health and safety in construction has come a long way over the last 100 years, but it’s still not quite there yet – and this is something that seriously needs to be addressed for an industry that deals with so many potential risks on a daily basis. Here at Cornerstone Projects, health and safety is… Read More
Coronavirus – We are as prepared as we can be
We are closely monitoring the Coronavirus (Covid-19) situation and are following the advice issued by the Government and Public Health England. In order to effectively manage any impact to our staff or to you as a customer, we have already put in place measures to enable staff to work remotely if required. We are therefore… Read More
Why are we cutting corners in construction?
Taking into account the amount of time and money it takes to complete a construction project; it is completely fair to expect a certain level of quality. You want to be able to walk into a building with the upmost confidence in the structure and foundation, with not a single potential risk in sight. This… Read More
Running a small business – Part 2
This is the second part in a series of blogs discussing the various trials and tribulations that you may come across whilst running a small business (SME – Small to Medium-sized Enterprise). As mentioned in the first blog, I started Cornerstone Projects in 2004 as a one-man band operating out of a spare room in… Read More
Why is there a skills shortage in UK construction?
A shortage in skilled workers has been a problem in the UK construction industry for quite some time now, but it’s really beginning to reach its boiling point as we head into 2020. With an ageing workforce set to retire within the next few years and a clear lack of interest from young people, the… Read More
Why are large construction projects always late and over budget?
One of, if not the biggest issues currently facing the construction industry is the fact that so many projects are finished late and end up going way over budget. We’ve seen countless examples of this over the years, with a lot of them coming from the giants of the industry – no project is safe…. Read More
Running a small business – Part 1
This is the first part in a series of blogs discussing the various trials and tribulations that you may come across whilst running a small business (SME – Small to Medium-sized Enterprise). I started Cornerstone Projects in 2004 as a one-man band operating out of a spare room in my house; we have now expanded… Read More
Can big construction companies continue to treat smaller ones with disdain?
Large Construction firms will often have to outsource work on a project to a smaller subcontractor, to help with the overall project. With almost 350,000 SME’s in the construction sector, they have a lot to choose from. However, there seems to have been a major power imbalance between large construction firms and smaller subcontractors over… Read More
Are low margins crippling the construction market?
Will low profit margins spell disaster for the construction industry? Currently the construction industry is in somewhat of a rough spot, with low profit margins on projects being one of the main contributing factors. Low margins have been a talking point amongst the industry for some time now, and it seems to have taken a… Read More
Underground utility colour codes explained
What are underground utility colour codes? Underground utility colour codes are used to differentiate and identify underground utilities to protect it from potential damage during excavation. There are different types of utilities and in order to tell them apart, either coloured lines or flags, or sometimes both are used. These lines/flags help mark the location… Read More
How to stay safe on construction sites during summer
Are you protecting yourself when working in this hot weather? Construction work is very physical at the best of times, but this kind of labour provides even more of a challenge during the warmer months of the year. While we may not get the best weather in the UK during the summertime, it’s always best… Read More
Using drones in construction
Is drone technology the future of construction? Technology is constantly evolving at a rapid pace, and makes our lives better and easier for the most part. From the fingerprint scanners to voice recognition to having the entire internet at the touch of a button, we are always surrounded by the latest innovative tech as part… Read More
Common causes for delays in construction (and ways to prevent them)
How many projects have you worked on that have suffered from delays? Delays are a nightmare for anyone involved in the construction industry, from workers to project managers to the client themselves. Having to stop or put a project on hold because of various reasons is a frustrating experience, and usually results in extra costs… Read More
Building the future of construction
Are we doing everything we can to secure the best for our industry? Construction has come a long way over the years, and as a whole is much better and safer industry to work in than ever before. But one of the biggest issues still facing the industry is the young people (or lack of,… Read More