Do you know what the role of principal designer entails? As we’ve spoken about previously, health and safety is and should be a big concern for anyone working in the construction industry. With so much that could go wrong, it’s important to protect ourselves and reduce the amount of risks that we subject ourselves to…. Read More
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Working at height in construction
Are you fully aware of the dangers that come with working high above the ground? Construction has never been more safe as an industry, but there are still areas that can pose a potential threat. One of the biggest areas of risk in the industry is working at height, and the potential hazards that comes… Read More
Smaller means more agile, more passion and for REAL!
I’ve said in previous blogs and articles that my career has always been in bigger businesses. Don’t get me wrong, I was at the forefront of technology, worked with some extremely bright and capable people. But, looking back, I lacked the passion and drive I have now working for a small and growing business. Strangely,… Read More
Cornerstone now on a mission with a vision & values
At the back-end of last year, my boss, Duncan (the creator and owner of the business) embarked on a leadership course. Aptly named “Growth Catalyst”, the course is a leadership development program for small businesses in Merseyside with 2-250 employees. It is developed by experts in the field of leadership and management and the program… Read More
Is construction the last challenge in the battle for gender equality in the workplace?
Could we be doing more to promote a more inclusive working environment? Construction has always been considered a ‘male dominated’ industry, but that statement may no longer be true in 2018. Times are changing and the presence of women in construction is a lot stronger than it ever was. While there are a lot of… Read More
5 common misconceptions about the construction industry
Have you fallen for any of these myths about construction before? While the general perception of the construction industry has changed over the years, there are still a lot of common misconceptions that simply aren’t true. It’s easy enough to believe what you hear, but these myths about the industry could end up doing more… Read More
5 qualities needed to become a great construction project manager
Do you know the skills needed to become a great project manager? With a team of skilled workers and all of the resources already bought, exactly how important is a construction project manager? A construction project manager will oversee all operations to do with the project and will lead and manage all aspects of the… Read More
How to be a successful bidder on a construction project
In need of some helpful advice to land the bigger contracts? Struggling to land any contracts? Have you considered the fact that it may be down to the bid that you are proposing? To put it simply, construction bidding is the process of submitting a proposal to undertake a project – but you probably already… Read More
GDPR & marketing to prospects
You will, no doubt, of heard of the new General Data Protection Regulations that came into effect on the 25/05/18. GDPR is a European directive with the specific intention to protect individuals against the misuse of their personal data. There has been a lot of confusion about whether this effects business to business communications and… Read More
How to build a happy and productive construction workforce
Are you looking after your workers? A construction project is nothing without it’s workers, so ensuring a productive (and happy) workforce is essential for getting a project finished on time. With that being said, we’ve decided to look into a few different ways you can keep your workers in positive spirits and make sure your… Read More
5 ways to keep costs under control on a construction project
Finding yourself going over budget on every project? Overspending on a construction project is a nightmare for everyone involved, and we’d all like to do our best to avoid it. There are some things such as delays due to weather that are out of our hands, but there are a few things we can do… Read More
Continuing success for cornerstone
Cornerstone Projects registered its 2000th customer during May 2017. Now in their 13th year, they are pleased to have reached this milestone so quickly. The last 6 months has also seen the fastest growth in both new customers registering and orders placed for utility searches and additional services such as CAD drawing, Section 50’s, Capacity… Read More
The cost of utility plans (disbursements) – where’s the cheapest city in the UK?
It’s nearly 7 times the cost to pay for utility plans a basic utility search in London as it is in Yorkshire. The cheapest place to call for utility plans covering Gas, Electric, Water, Sewer and BT is Leeds, Bradford and Sheffield at only £20.00 + VAT. The cost in London is a staggering £139.94… Read More
Should I be searching for communication cables and fibre in my underground utility searches?
Fibre and cable networks are growing rapidly. This is mainly due to the demand for faster broadband and improved rural access. Cable and fibre networks now create further challenges for anyone putting together underground utility plans prior to starting any excavation. The challenge for many is two-fold… 1. Should I be including this as part… Read More
Utility disbursement costs for underground utility searches – why so varied?
Some utility companies provide plans for free and some charge up to £75 disbursement charge – the majority are somewhere in between. There is no definitive precedent for disbursement pricing for utility plans – the costs are very much a subjective decision made by the utility company. The ones offering no disbursement costs are perhaps… Read More
Listen, take note and you’ll find so much more…
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been keeping a note of every time a customer mentions something they like about our utility search service. The reason for this is that I had convinced myself that, as we offer a standardised product (a utility report should not be different regardless of who provides it), speed and… Read More
Why should you consider buying underground utility plans before starting a construction project?
Do I need underground utility plans for my project? Anytime you want to construct a new building in an unfamiliar or new environment, you should ensure that you observe Health & Safety requirements. You have to confirm whether the land has any underground pipes, fiber optic cables, or electrical cables. For you to ensure safety… Read More
Cornerstone completes it’s 40,000th utility search
During September 2017, Cornerstone Projects Ltd saw it’s 40,000th underground utility search go through its books. Over the 13 years or so in business, this means the Cornerstone Projects team have ordered and checked over a 1/3 of a million individual plans from the utility companies. And this doesn’t take into account that a lot… Read More
Exciting developments to our utility search proposition coming soon…
We’re making some more utility search options available following some great feedback from our customers. These are exciting new developments that will offer some great benefits as follows:- Instant access plans Ever been in desperate need to see individual utility plans as they come in before your pack is complete? You will soon have the… Read More
Underground utility search expert, Cornerstone Projects, appointed to provide Scottish Water plans
The UK’s leading underground utility search provider, Cornerstone Projects, has been appointed by Scottish Water as an approved supplier on their commercial plant enquiries. It’s an exciting move for the nationwide company, which has been providing professional services to the UK construction industry for over 13 years. Now, appointed to provide Scottish Water plans to… Read More
Taking care when locating buried utilities
Whether you are planning a self build project, an extension or simply excavating an area where you are unsure of what is beneath the surface it is wise to check with the utility companies first. Many people make assumptions with regards to locating buried utilities that often come back to haunt them. Locating buried utilities… Read More
The importance of outsourcing your underground utility searches
What happens when you outsource your utility search? Simple really. You provide details of the site/route that you require a utility search for – usually also providing a plan with the search area clearly defined. You then need to choose your search requirement. Most providers offer a basic search (gas, water, sewer, electric, BT etc.)… Read More
What happens in the US with utility searches when Donald Trump builds his Mexican wall
Safer, cheaper, quicker and much easier than the UK! I’m new to the Industry and the whole process of Underground Utility Searches. I must admit my first impression is that calling for utility plans here in the UK can be slow, frustrating, expensive and exhausting. I was duly reminded that these are the exact… Read More
The challenges of construction projects in the winter
Although British Winters aren’t famous for heavy snow, this year it is very likely, alongside. frozen grounds and cold winds. These are elements that can be a nightmare for us in the construction industry. The cost implication of these can be heavily felt, even without any reported rise in the cost of building materials. … Read More