Assistant Estimator

Atkins Search have an exciting opportunity for an Assistant Estimator to join an established, privately owned construction main contractor based in Leicestershire.

Our client is
a reputable construction specialising in specific sectors, becoming the expert in their chosen field. Operating across the healthcare, education and commercial delivering projects of up to £8m.

With a secured pipeline of work, you will have the opportunity to work on interesting and dynamic tenders, with opportunities for progression available as the business continues to grow.

• Professional and approachable working environment
• Market-leading contractor in their chosen sectors
• Exciting opportunities to progress as part of an expanding team
• Secured pipeline of interesting, dynamic projects
• Established and supportive team

Our client is expanding and looking for an Assistant Estimator to join their dedicated team and be part of their promising future. Their company values professionalism, approachability, and a client-focused approach, so they seek a candidate who aligns with these values. The ideal candidate will be self-driven, proactive, and bring a positive, can-do attitude. You should be eager to take initiative and ensure projects are delivered on time with high quality.

In this role, you will support their Pre-Construction team in developing competitive tender submissions, focusing on our Turnkey Imaging projects. This involves using trade package subcontract enquiries and first-principal pricing methods. Experience in refurbishment projects, whether from a trade background or a previous estimating role, is highly advantageous.

As their projects are nationwide, some travel and occasional overnight stays may be necessary to conduct tender surveys on relevant sites.

As an Assistant Estimator, you will undertake or assist the pre-construction team, in undertaking the following duties:

• Analyse tender documents to determine subcontract trade package and material needs
• Evaluate tender documents to prepare inquiries for individual trade package subcontractors
• Organise and send out tender inquiries to subcontractors and suppliers
• Review and align received subcontractor quotations for consistency and compliance
• Compile and document Tender Qualifications and Exclusions as required
• Prepare a Tender Cost document following standard in-house formats
• Identify any pricing gaps and address them by calculating labour, plant, and material costs from first principles
• Develop preliminary tender-stage schedules for smaller, straightforward projects
• Produce quantity take-offs for general work items (e.g., floor finishes, partitions, ceiling finishes)
• Calculate project preliminaries, estimating costs based on schedule duration and specific project needs (e.g., welfare, waste management, protection measures)

• Ability to work well under pressure, to meet tight timescales and deadlines
• Work well as part of a team as well as the ability to work with own initiative
• Committed to work beyond the core hour to ensure timescales and deadlines are achieved
• Desire and commitment to develop understanding of the role and the construction industry to progress to Estimator position
• Excellent IT skills, particularly Microsoft Office
• Excellent time management and negotiation skills
• Successful Enhanced DBS (This will be obtained by the Company as part of the onboarding process)
• Good Understanding of JCT / NEC Forms of Contract (Advantageous)
• Degree Qualified / Construction related qualification (Advantageous)
• Previous estimating / main contractor experience (Advantageous)

Excellent opportunity to join a reputable, privately owned main contractor operating as part of a collaborative team.

• Competitive salary and package
• Company car or allowance
• Regular opportunities for progression
• Generous holiday allowance
• Laptop and Phone
• Company pension scheme
• Eyecare
  scheme
• Long service awards

Atkins Search act as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and an employment business for the supply of temporary workers. We specialise in Construction, Consultancy, Residential and Infrastructure recruitment, and service in the East and West Midlands, South Yorkshire, Staffordshire, Lincolnshire, Peterborough, and Northern Home Counties regions.