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How would your building firm perform if inspected for safe moving and handling? What are you doing to protect your team from injuries and aches, and musculoskeletal disorders? Do you know how to minimise the risks? Read on for some advice. Health & Safety Executive (HSE) Inspectors are carrying out visits nationwide from September 2023 onwards. This new initiative is supported by the ‘Work Right Construction: Your Health Your Future’…

What should building firms be charging for in their quotations? Everything! Too many building firms are charging less than they should and it’s driving many of them out of business. That’s why, here at HBXL, we’re on a mission to stop building firms under-charging. To stay in business and have a long-term future, everything needs to be charged. Discounting is not an option. Guesses can’t be made. Rough calculations are…

So what does a successful building firm look like? Of course every construction firm is different but let’s build a picture here of a building firm that is getting it right. The pointers you’ll find below are based on conversations we have day in day out with various business owners, and the accounts of success stories from Simon Lazarus, Managing Director of the Better Business Group (BBG). For info, Simon…

HBXL is on a mission to help builders charge their worth – in other words – to quote the full amount on all your construction projects. Sounds obvious, and maybe you think you do – and maybe you actually do! But we’re going to double-check your thinking as part of HBXL Operation: Stop Undercharging! If you want in – read on! We’re going to show you how to win jobs…

The government introduced carbon emission reducing Building Regulation changes in June 2022 and 12 months on they are now fully enforceable. The grace period is over, and as of 15th June 2023, all new projects must comply. So how does it impact you as a builder today? Job start date – when is it OK to use the old regs? If you started on a project following planning permission before…

VAT reverse charges can be a tricky idea to understand. It’s not easy to know when you need to use it, how you invoice it, as well as which services can be VAT reverse charged – let alone remembering any of that! This article (hopefully!) shines a light on this complex topic… What is VAT reverse charge? Tax is complicated (shock horror!) and sometimes you can charge the VAT to…

There are five key things that you just have to get right (all of them) when you price a construction job, whether it’s a small extension or a five-bedroom new build. Without them you risk breaking even, let alone making a profit. All of which can be addressed with the right estimating software. Basically, not using estimating software like EstimatorXpress is like trying to use a wheelbarrow without its wheel,…

Do you sometimes feel you’re in the dark when it comes to understanding your costs, cashflow, profit, overheads – does wanting your building firm to succeed seems a slog…? It’s not easy for any small business owner – but even harder for someone working in construction. Small UK building firms operate in a highly competitive and unpredictable market. So, to have a consistently thriving business, you really need to be…

Your time may be precious but it will be time well spent getting your head into construction estimating software. Digital estimating can have a huge impact on your building firm. You’ll be accurate, efficient and profitable! Look at it another way – without using a digital estimating process, you risk potential customers choosing your competitors who… quote faster provide a more detailed quote quote a seemingly high figure yet win…

Estimating software that wins builders work is always going to be the go-to product. And EstimatorXpress is that go-to product. HBXL is the only UK based estimating software company that has been providing small to medium builders with practical estimating solutions for over twenty years. Your competitors love it… What is success for a builder? Most builders we speak to judge success as consistently winning profitable jobs, doing them well…

Free “CPCS Dumper & Roller Drivers” – Skills Bootcamp  Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS) NOCN Certification Card for Plant Safety – Forward tipping dumper Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS) NOCN Certification Card for Plant Safety – Roller National Highways Sector Scheme (NCSS) – LANTRA Temporary Traffic Management Basic Course + Card The CPCS Dumper & Roller Drivers Skills Bootcamp provides a blend of technical skills and industry awareness. It’s part…

Actually, construction software developed in the UK is really only the half of it. I could have called this article ‘Why HBXL will help your business do well in 2023’. Because our mission is to help you grow your building firm, not just with software, but with some really great business support too. On this page I’ll briefly tell you about our: Business-winning, time-saving, profit-making, stress-relieving software Estimating Service when…