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I recently came across a story that stopped me in my tracks. It was about Alfred Nobel – yes, that Nobel, of the Nobel Prizes. Apparently, when his brother died, a newspaper accidentally published Alfred’s obituary instead. He was more than a little disappointed by how he was described. That moment made him rethink what kind of legacy he wanted to leave behind. It changed the course of his life.

Now, I’m not suggesting for one minute that I rank alongside Alfred Nobel (!) or that I’m looking for global recognition – but it did make me think about what I’m working towards. Am I, as Managing Director of the HBXL Group, making the impact I wanted to when I joined the family business. And is HBXL succeeding in what we’re trying to achieve for builders across the UK. Because construction is a tough industry right now…

My dad, Adrian, founded HBXL in 2000, having been a builder – then a property developer. So, growing up I saw first-hand what it takes to run a residential construction business. The long days. The cashflow worries. The responsibilities. The health & safety risks. The juggling act between the site, the staff, subbies, the suppliers, the customers, and the next job. It’s relentless. And yet, builders like my dad – like many of you – are the backbone of the UK’s housing industry.

Adrian and I celebrating HBXL’s 25th Birthday with the team in 2025

That’s why HBXL matters to me. We’re not some faceless tech company churning out software in an IT bubble. We exist to make builders’ lives easier. To take the stress out of quoting. To help people stay organised, compliant, and profitable. To give small firms the same digital edge that big property developers have – but without the jargon, without the overheads, and without needing an office full of admin people to run it all.

Construction software that makes a difference

Because we speak to multiple builders every working day, we’ve been able to add to our tool kit with proven software. After EstimatorXpress (still the market leading estimating software for UK residential builders 25 years on), came PlansXpress, our CAD architectural drawing tool. Then Health & Safety Xpert, then ContractsXpert. BuildProjex, our new cloud-based job management tool, was created for those saying, “I’m losing track of what’s happening on site. I need to take back control.” Builders ask. We answer.

The most important message we try and get out there? You make your money on the laptop not on the building site. Your laptop is gold. It’s where the magic happens. Don’t think of that grey computer as the boring, maybe even scary, home of admin. It’s your gateway to a successful future.

Sitting down at your laptop to estimate projects are the best times! You’re preparing for profit. Tracing someone’s plans to provide 3D models with the quote, wins money-making projects. Dropping your estimate into our Health & Safety software, literally gives you peace of mind. Same with our contract software. I could go on. The building site is where you fulfil your obligations. Whether there’s money at the end of the job is down to what happened and continues to happen (think project management) on the laptop.

An Estimating Service that delivers

The HBXL Estimating Service was born out of listening to builders who said, “There are days when I just don’t have time.”  Or “I don’t feel confident about costing this complex project.” So, we brought together an experienced team of professional estimators who really know the building site. The thought that goes into each estimate is amazing. And it’s a win-win because every day they themselves are putting our software through its paces, helping the software developers hone and enhance the digital tools.

Construction Skills Bootcamps that change lives

The HBXL Skills Academy came from another realisation – that builders want to learn and grow, not just get by. Government-funded Skills Bootcamps in estimating, project management, CAD design – these are the skills that turn a good builder into a great business owner. And talking of business, we even provide a business management course – because not many builders started their building companies with a deep knowledge of cashflow, overheads and the Modern Slavery policy…

I should add, it’s not easy for us to make the courses widely available. They’re really valuable as well – highly practical and they bring about almost immediate change for the attendees. We have to jump through a lot of hoops to expand our fully-funded and 90% funded courses into more regions, so more builders around the UK can benefit. Mind you, the success stories definitely make it worth it. In the meantime, as we pursue more Local Authorities for funding, we became an Approved Training Organisation with the CITB. So Levy Members wherever they are in the UK can access the courses, subject to their own eligibility.

What our software isn’t

Our aim is to deliver real value, as in quality solutions. We’re not about chasing after as many sales as possible. So, we’re definitely not for everyone. If you’re looking for speed over accuracy, then we’re probably not for you. Quick turnaround solutions by their nature don’t provide the depth and control that our customers are looking for.

But what do I ultimately want for residential builders in the UK today? For governments of any colour to give them the respect they deserve, spend some serious money, avoid over-legislation and to unblock the planning permission bottlenecks that are stopping them from building. Simple really.

And when I think about my own legacy (bit pretentious!?) – it’s not about running a successful company. It’s about carrying forward what my dad started: supporting builders, protecting livelihoods, and modernising an industry that deserves so much more recognition.

At its heart, HBXL has always been about helping small builders build better businesses. Whether that’s through tools, services, or training – we’re here to give them the power, confidence, and clarity to do what they do best. And make the profit they deserve.

We’ve still got a long way to go – but I’m incredibly proud of how far we’ve come.