Project Planner in Reading

M&E Project Planner\\n£500/day (freelance)\\n\\nThe Company\\nThe company are a long-established M&E building services contractor delivering full mechanical and electrical installations across commercial, residential, public sector and industrial projects. With an annual turnover of c.£50m and a directly employed team of around 100 staff, they’re known for flexible fast-track delivery and full design-and-build capability on projects typically ranging from £1m to £15m in value.\\n\\nThe Project\\nYou’ll be joining the delivery team on a major CAT B fit-out for a confidential end client (under NDA), with a £10m mechanical-only package over an 80-week programme. The company are the M&E contractor, with Morgan Sindall as Principal Contractor, and you’ll sit at the centre of planning and programme control for the mechanical works and associated commissioning.\\n\\nThe Role – M&E Project Planner\\n\\nWorking alongside the Project Director, project managers and site team, you’ll take ownership of the M&E programme from pre-con through to handover, ensuring realistic planning, tight tracking and clear reporting.\\n\\nKey responsibilities:\\n\\n * Prepare, manage and update detailed M&E construction and commissioning programmes.\\n\\n * Track activities and progress, issuing weekly progress updates and reports to project and site teams.\\n\\n * Integrate and coordinate subcontractor programmes into the master schedule and monitor performance.\\n\\n * Carry out regular site visits to capture actual progress, outstanding works and photographic records.\\n\\n * Produce 1-week, 2-week and 6-week look-ahead programmes for engineers and supervisors.\\n\\n * Develop mechanical, electrical and plumbing modular programmes where applicable.\\n\\n * Attend weekly progress meetings with the main contractor and subcontractors, comparing planned vs actual.\\n\\n * Build and maintain design, procurement and delivery programmes in line with RIBA stages.\\n\\n * Support risk management, method statements and IMS documentation aligned to NEC4 requirements.\\n\\n * Monitor resource loading, maintain budgetary control and support commercial/claims work (early warnings, compensation events, earned value).\\n\\nYou’ll be using tools such as MS Project, Asta Powerproject, Primavera P6 and Excel to build, track and communicate the programme.\\n\\nExperience & Qualifications\\n\\nWe’re looking for an M&E planner who can hit the ground running on a live scheme:\\n\\n * Minimum 5 years’ M&E project planning experience\\n\\n * Strong understanding of M&E construction methods, build sequence and commissioning.\\n\\n * Confident using MS Project plus one or more of Asta Powerproject / Primavera P6, and advanced Excel.\\n\\n * Experience working under NEC 4 contracts with an understanding of early warnings, compensation events and earned value.\\n\\n * Strong numeracy, IT skills and the ability to turn complex site information into clear, workable programmes for the delivery team.\\n\\nPackage\\n\\n * Freelance: Up to £500 per day (likely CIS), NEC4 contract.\\n\\n * Maidenhead office and site in Thatcham\\n\\nIf you’re an experienced M&E Planner who enjoys being close to site, working with good information and driving realistic programmes on complex fit-out work, please apply with your CV and we’ll be in touch to discuss next steps