Almost by accident, Projectxi has carved out a new way for construction companies to work together.

The Macclesfield-based company has, in a short time, a year to be precise, developed an app, completed several large construction projects, and formulated a different way of working for both them and their customers.

And they have a sense that this is just the beginning.

The company was formed a year ago between siblings Daniel Garrett and Rachel Carney and Rachel's husband Chris when they decided they all had unique skills that could benefit from working together.

Rachel thinks back to when it started "my brother, Daniel, is a skilled builder and he had a business beforehand, but we looked at it and thought we needed a clean slate and said to each other – let's go in, all together."

So, with just a domain name purchased and an idea of how it would work, the company was set up.

COVID, Chris says, affected the construction industry massively and was a key driver in forming Projectxi.

"It was an incredibly difficult period, for the construction industry itself, so coming off the back of that, it felt like the perfect time to try something new."

He continues. "Rachel and I have experience in the services and operational industries, and I have a digital background so with Daniel's obvious skills, it felt we could really offer something different".

"We're not just your average builder," says Rachel "we offer alongside the build, a full design service.

A customer can show us the plan and quite quickly, Daniel and I can see small improvements or reconfigurations that may be needed but also from the financial point of view, making savings for the client where they may not have considered before".

One project as it looked before Projectxi began the project (image- supplied)

Helping bridge the gap between the creative and procedural aspects of any construction certainly helps the clients, but they are also keen on helping their suppliers and contractors also.

For construction companies like Projectxi, the paperwork, and invoicing can be a real burden as they must withhold a percentage of invoices to pay VAT and CIS (Construction Industry Scheme) payments.

As Chris mentions rather frustratedly "dealing with 40 or so of those each month is difficult, for us and for our contractors".

How the house looks now once the project was completed (image - supplied)

Projectxi has developed an app that they say takes a burden off contractors and agencies with its simplicity.

Chris comments: "contracting can be a real burden, with so many invoices and tax implications and as a company and as a contractor, it is difficult to maintain and keep on top of.

So, we have built an app which our contractors upload their invoices into, and then we can accept or reject them.

But what is clever, is that it then calculates what we have to pay for VAT and CIS and where and when to pay it."

Seeing the app in action, it does look like its simplicity would appeal to sub-contractors who are time-poor, which was the aim all along.

Rachel says that the reception to the app has been excellent "you used to be able to ring HMRC and sort all these things out.

But that has disappeared, and the onus is on the sub-contractor to keep on top of it, and the people we've rolled this out to have loved it because it takes so much of that stuff away from them."

Whilst Rachel and Daniel are heavily involved in the project management side of the company and driving the projects through, Chris is leading from the front in terms of innovation.

They plan to keep developing the app, so it helps sub-contractors work compliantly, provides up-to-date health and safety information, and by employing Chatgpt technology to help with project timesheets and invoicing.

All with the core idea of making an industry that is difficult to administrate, a little simpler.

As a company, they've reinvested throughout the year and utilised the R&D tax credits system to help develop this model.

It helped them maintain their record of professionalism which Daniel had built through his nearly 25 years as a builder.

They've continued to go from strength to strength over the last year, with projects booked for the foreseeable future but the team who employ 6 people already, are wanting to grow.

It certainly seems they have the right ingredients for continued success with professionalism, innovation, and project management all playing a big part in their future.

to find out more about Projectxi, visit the website

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