Senior Estimator in Preston

The Eric Wright Group has a fantastic history. From our beginnings in construction to an award-winning group of companies, our reputation is built on our Chairman's founding principles of a company that must be profitable, ethical and farsighted, as a result we have people, community and social value at our heart. As a multi-award-winning leader in the UK civil engineering industry, Eric Wright Civil Engineering has specialised in delivering vital infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, structures, hydropower and rail for more than 25 years. With our commitment to quality, professionalism, safety and integrity, we have delivered a comprehensive range of projects for a diverse range of public and private sector clients.

This is an exciting time for Eric Wright Civil Engineering. If social value and profit for a purpose is important to you, as well as working as part of a wider Group with an experienced and supportive team then this is the role for you!

Due to continuous growth, we have an exciting opportunity for an established Civil Engineering Senior Estimator to join our award-winning Civil Engineer team based in Preston. We work on securing projects, ranging from £100k to £10m across all sectors of the industry. We have a strong pipeline for 2025 and beyond which will be delivered by our exceptional teams.

What you’ll be doing:

• Analyse and interpret information, including early appraisal of scheme requirements in terms of construction methods, programme and management.
• Identify risks/opportunities and incorporate them into a tender bid.
• Call upon support from Design / Delivery teams as appropriate to plan works delivery strategy.
• Identify key win themes and manage bid, coordinating input from multiple contributors.
• Identify additional information required to inform and benefit the tender.
• Challenge proposed designs and methodology to identify possible alternative construction methods, technologies and products.
• Price civil engineering activities such as earthworks, drainage, ducting and paving from 1st principles, building up labour, plant, material cost components.
• Prepare programme/construction sequence, to establish construction periods.
• Identify subcontract packages, choose suppliers from database and from researching the market, liaise with supply chain, prepare and issue enquiries and analyse and interrogate responses.
• Compile a comprehensive net cost estimate for the works, including preliminary items.
• Present net cost estimate at internal adjudication and implement changes.
• Timely submission of tender, ensuring that the Clients requirements and specifications are met in full.
• Follow up submitted tenders.
• Give others an overview of the scheme, highlighting any job specific risks & opportunities.
• Contribute to discussion on commercial approach.
• Review project 1st appraisal and reflected on post-contract performance of tendered schemes.

About You:

Aligned to our ethos and values, you will be an integral part of our team providing sound knowledge of market rates and prices from 1st principles. You will be methodical and organised with the ability to recognise and source additional resource required to produce estimates, recognise submission requirements to compile a logical sequence of actions necessary to achieve regular deadlines.

Ideally you’ll have:

• Tier 1 or 2 Infrastructure main contractor background with experience in estimating / pricing projects, with a civil engineering focus (bridges, public realm, highways, utilities).
• Expert capability and knowledge of Conquest and ASTA Powerproject software is desirable.
• Good working knowledge of pricing and quantification methods is required.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, coupled with an ability to form effective relationships with partners under time pressure.
• Experience of leading a team is desirable.
• Proficiency in IT, numeracy and MS Office Basic & Estimating Systems is essential.
• Membership of a relevant professional body and/or relevant professional qualification is desirable, such as RICS/CIOB/RIBA/ICE/CIBSE.

In return we offer:

• Competitive Salary
• Company car / car allowance scheme - 100% hybrid / electric vehicles.
• Enhanced annual leave starting at 26 Days + bank holidays rising with service
• Learning and development - we offer a range of learning opportunities to develop talent at all levels within our business focussing on technical competence, upskilling, compliance and governance and career development.
• Pension — 6.5% employer contribution of your salary into your pension to help you save for the future
• BUPA - optional scheme and can include your family to the scheme (50% contribution)
• Company sick pay scheme - Up to 20 days full pay in a rolling 12 month period
• Group Income Protection – 50% of your salary covered for 3 years for long term illness
• Enhanced Paid Family Leave - maternity, paternity, adoption, fertility, compassion, bereavement, crisis, emergency dependants, and much more
• Hybrid working - manage your own diary, working in the office, at home or out with clients
• Onsite gym – we have a gym on site at Head Office which is free to use
• Company Doctor – for when you can’t get to see your own or if you have any health concerns
• Virtual GP - 24/7 access for when you need to speak to a GP
• EAP – Employee Assistance Programme through Health Assured, supporting you and your family with advice, guidance and counselling on a variety of areas such as health, fitness, home life, finances and much more.
• Mental Health support – through the Thrive app, approved by the NHS, provides tools, to tackle, prevent and manage common stressors such as sleep, bereavement, work issues etc.
• Savings scheme – Put aside an affordable amount for a rainy day in the future
• Recognition awards – awards for long service and special birthdays
• A comprehensive health and wellbeing strategy focussed on physical, emotional, financial and career wellbeing

Our Ethos: Working at the Eric Wright Group of companies is truly special. Owned 100% by the Eric Wright Charitable Trust, we are a commercially focused business with a social purpose, which means that after reinvestment in the business, our profit is donated to charity via the Trust. This ownership structure provides a high level of stability for the Group and supports longer-term commercial and charitable strategies. Our reputation is built on our Chairman's founding principles of a company that must be profitable, ethical and farsighted, as a result we have people, community and social value at our heart.

The companies across the Group regularly collaborate to deliver outstanding results on bespoke projects for both public and private sector clients. We are extremely proud of our dedicated, passionate and friendly colleagues who live our values and work hard to make a difference in communities every day.

The Eric Wright Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its employees, contractors and clients and expects its people to share this commitment. Successful applicants may be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring (DBS) check or Disclosure Scotland check and to provide proof of their right to work in the UK. We are committed to equal opportunities, inclusion and fairness across all employment opportunities and service delivery. All managers and employees are expected to promote our values to ensure our workplaces and services are inclusive and accessible.