FEATURE
Cornering the market – Cornerstone Business Solutions directors Chris Petty ( left ) and Chris Bibby are proud of the IT firm ’ s 15 years of progress .
WORDS : JULIE BURNISTON
IT firm continues growth with commitment to customer service
Celebrating 15 years of Cornerstone
In the dynamic world of business , milestones represent growth , tenacity and determination . The journey of Cornerstone Business Solutions stands as a testament to these qualities .
Founded in June 2008 under the leadership of directors Chris Petty , Chris Clark and John Storey , from its inception Cornerstone ’ s focus has been on delivering excellence in IT and telecoms .
Over 15 years the company has flourished and now has an impressive portfolio of Teesside clients .
At the heart of this success story is a resolute commitment to hard work , innovation , and a tight-knit team .
“ The team really are the heart and soul of Cornerstone ,” says managing director Chris Petty , who works closely with his fellow directors John and Chris , together with a fourth director , Chris Bibby , who joined the board five years ago .
“ Between us , the directors have different skill sets and it works perfectly ,” continues Chris . “ And we ’ ve built an excellent team around us as we ’ ve grown .
“ We ’ ve taken on at least one new apprentice for each of the last four years , which is something we firmly believe in – giving talented young people opportunities and making them our workforce and leaders of the future .”
The team has continued to grow to meet an increasing number of clients who represent some of Teesside ’ s leading names including Scott Bros and three local law firms .
Cornerstone also provides IT and telecoms support to a global company with a Teesside base .
They ’ re now one of the most instantly recognisable business names in the region but Cornerstone ’ s journey hasn ’ t been without its challenges . They ’ ve come through the credit crunch , Covid pandemic and cost of living crisis , weathering each storm . When others downsized , they turned up the volume on marketing . The contracts and awards have rolled in . “ We ’ ve never looked back ,” says Chris . “ We ’ ve been ambitious from the start . People know that we give a first-class , round-the-clock service and rely us on as an extension to their in-house team .
“ We pride ourselves on our levels of customer service and have brought back true service values to the industry . We dovetail our services with our clients ’ unique business needs .”
On the back of purchasing their own dedicated two-storey offices at Preston Farm , in Stockton , Cornerstone ’ s achievements continue unabated .
They recently celebrated becoming a Crown Commercial service provider , meaning the firm can deal directly with government departments , rather than having to go through a complicated tendering process , while they are also an approved NHS supplier .
With Cornerstone Business Solutions as the cornerstone ( pun intended ), the directors have launched a wider group of companies to complement the original IT business .
Alongside it , Cornerstone Education Solutions has been instrumental in revolutionising educational IT support . Cornerstone Marketing Solutions , led by Jamie Tinkler , has illuminated the digital landscape with expertise in social media , web and videography . And Cornerstone Visual Media Solutions has set a benchmark in delivering cutting-edge information screens in prestigious locations , including Teesworks and Teesside International Airport .
Complementing this array of offerings , Cornerstone Commercial Property Solutions thrives in the realm of property acquisition and rental , while the recently launched Cornerstone Recruiting Solutions further enhances the group ’ s diverse capabilities under the leadership of Gemma Holmes .
“ We ’ ve been ambitious from the start . People know that we give a first-class , round-the-clock service and rely us on as an extension to their in-house team .”
And the firm has big growth plans , with Chris remaining at the helm but mentoring others to become the company ’ s future MDs .
Beyond the accolades and accomplishments , Team Cornerstone live by the mantra ‘ work hard , play hard ’, believing that success isn ’ t just about business ; so they celebrated their 15-year anniversary with a party for staff , clients , family and friends .
As it celebrates 15 years of achievements , Cornerstone embraces the future with open arms , confident that the challenges of the past and its united team will propel them to even greater heights .
Cornerstonebs . co . uk
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