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Championing Diversity, Innovation, and Excellence at the ITP Awards

Written by Dan Ashby on . Posted in Diversity, Events, Leadership, News.

At Cornerstone, our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is fundamental to who we are. We believe that fostering a workplace where every individual feels valued, respected, and empowered is essential to driving innovation and excellence. This ethos was proudly showcased at the Institute of Telecommunications Professionals (ITP) Annual Dinner and Awards, where we not only sponsored the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Award but also celebrated the outstanding achievements of three of our colleagues.

Embracing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for a Stronger Industry

Our sponsorship of the DEI Award reflects our dedication to building a more inclusive and diverse telecoms industry. Spearheaded by our Chief People Officer, Ginette Kilroy, who proudly took to the stage to present the award, this sponsorship reinforces Cornerstone’s belief that diversity drives innovation. By embracing the unique perspectives and experiences of individuals from all backgrounds, we are creating a dynamic and forward-thinking environment where everyone can contribute to the success of the industry.

At Cornerstone, we have embedded inclusive practices at the heart of our strategy, ensuring that our workforce represents the diverse communities we serve. Through initiatives led by our DEI working group and by actively engaging with employees, we continuously improve our practices, promoting inclusivity at all levels of the organisation. We are proud to champion an industry where every voice matters.

Celebrating the Achievements of Cornerstone’s Leaders

The ITP Awards night was a celebration of industry leaders driving change, and Cornerstone was honoured to see three of our own recognised for their contributions:

Helen Main – Telecoms Surveyor of the Year Award

Helen Main, our Head of Delivery, won the ‘Highly Commended’ award ‘Telecoms Surveyor of the Year’. Her exceptional work in overseeing the successful delivery of key telecoms projects across the UK has set new benchmarks for the industry. Helen’s passion for ensuring that infrastructure projects are not only efficient but also sustainably managed has made her an invaluable leader at Cornerstone. This award highlights her commitment to excellence and her ability to meet the evolving demands of the industry with innovation and care.

Andy Train – Special Recognition for Bridging the Skills Gap

Andy Train, Cornerstone’s Chief Network Officer, was honoured with a ‘Special Recognition’ for his work on Bridging the Skills Gap. As Chair of the apprenticeship trailblazer group, Andy led the creation of the Cellular Network Field Engineer (CNFE) apprenticeship scheme, which aims to equip both new entrants and experienced professionals with the necessary skills to excel in a fast-evolving industry. His dedication to standardising training and developing the next generation of telecoms professionals has ensured the sustainability of the sector. This special recognition by industry peers is a reflection of his far-reaching impact on shaping the future of telecommunications.

Belinda Fawcett – Woman in Technology Award

Belinda Fawcett, Cornerstone’s General Counsel and Director of Property and Estates, was a finalist for the ‘Woman in Technology’ Award. With over 20 years of experience in telecommunications, Belinda has been a driving force behind key initiatives that support the growth and sustainability of the sector. As Chair of the Mobile Infrastructure Forum, she has championed greater diversity and inclusion in the industry while leading strategic efforts to expand digital connectivity across the UK. This nomination is a testament to Belinda’s leadership, dedication, and her unwavering commitment to empowering women in technology.

Looking Ahead: Building a Diverse and Sustainable Future

As the UK’s leading digital infrastructure provider, we understand the importance of fostering a diverse workforce that is prepared to meet the challenges of tomorrow. The recognition of Helen, Andy and Belinda at the ITP Awards serves as a powerful reminder of the incredible work being done within Cornerstone and across the industry to create a more inclusive and sustainable future.

By supporting initiatives like the CNFE apprenticeship scheme, promoting diversity at all levels, and ensuring that our infrastructure projects reflect the needs of a connected society, Cornerstone is committed to driving positive change. We believe that when we embrace diversity and empower individuals, we not only build stronger teams but also a stronger industry — one that is ready to face the challenges of the future with innovation, resilience, and inclusivity.

Cornerstone Partner Conference Video Highlights

Written by admin on . Posted in Collaboration, Events, News.

What a great day everyone had at the Williams F1 Experience Centre for Cornerstone’s Partner Conference. We have put together a highlights video which captures the delegate experience and reactions to the day.

See our interim CEO Belinda Fawcett reflect on what the day meant for resetting expectations and looking forward to an exciting future. Hear too from some of the senior delegates on the messages they took away and will be sharing with their teams.

It made such a difference to get people together in one space and to feel the energy of human interaction, which has been missing since COVID and virtual working.

And what an amazing venue to share together, which really added to the occasion.

We look forward to catching up with our Partners again!

Stronger Connections Conference

Written by admin on . Posted in Collaboration, Events, News.

Our Legal & Compliance and Property Estates teams got together with our partners at our Stronger Connections Conference this week. Held in London, our audience learnt about the latest developments within the industry and Cornerstone. It was an opportunity to network and discuss best practices and innovative ideas with our partners, to discover how we can continuously make improvements and build better relationships with our site provider community.

As well as a series of presentations hosted by Cornerstone, we had guest speakers from Osborne Clarke, DAC Beachcroft and Cluttons. We got an insight into the latest legal technology, the Economic Crime Act and how it relates to us and research findings from a recent report on the future of connectivity.

“The event was a great success and it was fantastic to have so many people together in the same room. Stronger connections were definitely made and success was certainly celebrated too! Looking forward to the next one already.” Phil Warren, Cornerstone

“It was a huge deal for my team and I to be involved and we came away feeling renewed and positive about our future relationship. The conference was really well put together, professional but personable and it is abundantly clear what a positive direction Cornerstone is now moving in.” DAC Beachcroft

“The content was spot on and the team really appreciated Cornerstone sharing the broader insight into the business’s objectives for this financial year, to give them context for the role they play in helping to deliver against those objectives.” Osborne Clarke

Thank you to all our presenters and attendees for coming along and building stronger connections!

TT24 Charity Cycle from London to Paris

Written by admin on . Posted in Charity, Events, News.

On the 26 September, a small determined group of like-minded cyclists from Cornerstone and its partners cycled from the Tower of London to the Eiffel Tower in 24 Hours for charity. 

Cyclists from Cornerstone, including amongst others: Louis Petzer, John McClymont, Phil Warren, Jack Price, Colin Barnes, and Mark Heeney the on-tour photographer. They were alongside cyclists from our partners Alan Campbell Engineering Services, Mitie and DAEL who teamed up to attempt the endurance bike ride from the Tower of London to the Eiffel Tower in just twenty-four hours. Cornerstone was proud to sponsor the team and we fully acknowledge the difficulties of the challenge, which was outweighed by the sheer determination to support several worthy causes.

It was decided to join forces and raise money for three charities Cystic Fibrosis, Amber, a young person’s homeless charity and Macmillan Cancer Support. 

The team’s target for funding raising was £5,000, with donations online in excess of £6,000, and rising. If you would like to make a donation, the Just Giving page is still active at https://www.justgiving.com/teams/TT24

Your financial support will be hugely appreciated by all the charities and cyclists who took part.

Thank you

Overcoming the practical barriers to connectivity

Written by admin on . Posted in Events, News.

Cornerstone is delighted to have attended the Breakfast Seminar in London today on “Overcoming the practical barriers to connectivity” hosted by British Property Federation, Mobile UK and Wedlake Bell. Belinda Fawcett from Cornerstone was on the panel session along with MBNL, Workspace and Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP discussing the challenges and opportunities presented by communications’ roll out. 

The panel discussion focussed on the roll out of 5G and future technologies and how it will benefit property owners. It was identified that there is a strong demand by property owners to build connectivity in existing and new properties. To fulfil this need, the property industry recognised that they need to collaborate and work together with the operators and use the Electronic Communications Code for effective roll-out. 

It was great to see positive engagement at the seminar amongst the panel members and the audience, where there was an opportunity to identify that improving digital connectivity through telecoms rollout can help prosper UK’s economy.

Read full details of the seminar here.