Kamen Brown

Working within the Power, Transmission and Distribution business as a Cabling estimator on schemes from 33kV up to 400kV. I have recently taken on the new cabling estimator to shadow me as I begin working towards to moving to Senior Estimator within the next 6 months.

Typical day to day duties include:

• Ensuring adherence to the Gated Lifecycle, Bid Governance, and Balfour Beatty Code of Conduct.
• Reviewing client tender documents and issuing TQ's as required
• Maintaining accurate estimating records to meet audit and governance standards.
• Manage subcontractor and supplier enquiries with the procurement team to support tender submissions.
• Creating precise tender estimates, incorporating risk and opportunity registers, paving and material schedules etc.
• Production of tender submission documents such as pricing schedules and cost transparency registers.
• Participation in sales to delivery meetings from the estimating phase to the commercial, operational, and finance teams upon contract approval.
• Building and maintaining client relationships while identifying potential business opportunities.

A company with a strong background in architectural steelwork and associated works, I was able to work on some high profile projects such as the new Everton FC stadium and the Thames Tideway scheme upgrading the riverfront walkways. In my role, I was able to implement new welding and testing procedures to the shopfloor due to my past experience in quality documentation and further developed as a contracts manager with a strong emphasis on improving existing processes in manufacturing and on-site installations. During my time here I also completed my SMSTS course adding to my previous qualifications.

Typical duties that I carried out day to day include:

• Carrying out sales to delivery handovers with the estimators.
• Undertaking site surveys to gather information needed for structural engineers/draughtsmen along with assessing site conditions/risks.
• Producing reports to issue information to our design team and liaison back and forth to ensure works are value engineered where possible to maintain budget deliverability.
• Review issued design packs for suitability.
• Working with the procurement team to get orders placed on materials and any specialist subcontractor packages required.
• Planning of installation teams and associated plant and production of all logistics and site based documents required such as delivery schedules, RAMS etc.
• Maintaining communication with the client and ensuring all programme changes were captured with the works delivered on time or changes to the scope of works were priced accordingly.
• Production of interim/monthly applications to issue to the client as well as monthly cashflow forecasts, work in progress reports etc. to issue to our internal accounts team.
• Agreement of final accounts with the client and internal accounts team.
• Collating handover documentation and as-builts for issue to the client.

To begin with, for approximately 18 months, my role was predominantly assistant operations manager where my duties included:

• Sitting in on handovers with estimating on the larger / more complex projects so myself and the appointed project manager has an understanding of the project.
• Reviewing GA's and fabrication drawings with project manager to make sure we have value engineered where possible and ensure the design is as workable as possible to the estimate allowances.
• Production of ITPs & Quality Documentation.
• Managing the procurement of all materials and fixings (Requisitions issued to buyer and managing the budgets).
• Appointing sub-contract labour when required due to lack of in-house capacity.
• Lead on pricing all extras/variations, agreeing with client and assisting in preparation of final accounts.
• Project management on small to medium sized projects.

After gaining more experience I began project managing full time where my duties included:

• Completing project handover with estimating.
• All site surveys & visits as required.
• All client liaison.
• Resourcing and setting up engineers / draughtsmen for production of calculations and drawings.
• Reviewing GA and issuing for approval.
• On approval, having drawing office produce fabrication packages and issuing for ordering and completing manufacture to required site dates.
• Appointing specialist sub-contractors where required.
• Booking all deliveries to site.
• Planning and resourcing all site works RAMS, liftplans, site labour, plant etc.
• Dealing with any issues arising from site.
• Maintaining programme and any date changes.
• Project handovers and documentation.

• Establishing and maintaining relationships with contractors/clients.
• Reviewing enquiries for their suitability and assessing the financial, technical and operational risks of the project risk levels associated with a project.
• Carrying out site visits to assess site conditions and limitations prior to providing quotation
• Analysing plans, bills of quantities and other project documentation in order to estimate costs.
• Preparing and submitting quotations and details of costs for work to be done.
• Monitoring the costs at the different stages of a project to ensure it stays within the estimated costs and liaising with project managers in preparing final accounts.
• Project management of smaller projects.