Improving the Accuracy of Estimating Construction Costs – Tri-Tech Contracting Ltd
Company Information:
Tri-Tech Contracting Ltd is a construction and engineering company that works on major infrastructure and energy projects across the UK. The company carries out civil engineering and groundworks such as foundations, drainage, concrete works and land preparation, as well as surveying and ground investigations. Tri-Tech also works heavily in the rail industry, providing trained safety-critical workers, electrical isolation services, fencing and vegetation management to keep railways safe and operational. In addition, the company supports renewable energy and national infrastructure projects, including work on onshore windfarms and the Sizewell C power station, helping deliver reliable and sustainable energy for the future.
Project Overview
Tri-Tech Contracting Ltd is a construction and engineering company working on major infrastructure, rail, renewable energy, and national projects across the UK. Accurate cost estimation is essential in construction, as it helps companies price projects correctly, win work through tendering, and deliver projects within budget.
This project focuses on improving how construction costs are researched, organised, and estimated. The intern will help design and build a bespoke cost database that makes it quicker and more accurate for the company to estimate material, labour, and project expenses.
Project Aim
To research current infrastructure and construction costs and design a functional, accessible cost database that improves the accuracy and speed of estimating project expenses.
Key Research Questions
• How are construction costs currently estimated?
• What materials, labour, and other expenses need to be included in project pricing?
• How do costs vary between local and national suppliers?
• How can cost data be organised in a way that is quick and practical to use?
• How can a cost database support faster and more accurate tender submissions?
What You Will Do
• Learn how the company’s existing cost database works
• Research current material and labour costs from local and national suppliers
• Compare and analyse pricing data from different sources
• Organise collected data into a structured spreadsheet or database
• Design a system that is clear, easy to update, and accessible to the estimating team
• Understand how construction companies apply for work through tendering
• Work with the management team to refine and test the new system
Science, Engineering and Technical Understanding
• Learning how infrastructure and civil engineering projects are costed
• Understanding the relationship between materials, labour, and project scope
• Applying data analysis to real-world engineering problems
• Developing structured digital systems for decision-making
• Supporting evidence-based planning in construction projects
Planning and Organisation
• Structure the project into stages (research, data collection, comparison, database design, testing)
• Keep organised records of suppliers and cost sources
• Justify decisions on how data is categorised and presented
• Manage your time independently with support from management
Skills Developed
• Project management awareness
• Research and data analysis
• Independent working
• Organisation and administration
• Communication skills
• Understanding of construction and infrastructure processes
Final Outputs
• A structured, functional cost database or spreadsheet
• A summary of current material and labour cost comparisons
• Clear categorisation of project expenses
• A short written report
• A presentation explaining how the new system improves estimating accuracy
Reflection and Evaluation
Your report may include:
• What you learned about construction cost estimating
• Challenges encountered when comparing supplier costs
• How the new database improves speed and accuracy
• Suggestions for further improvements in the future
https://tri-techcontracting.co.uk/
https://www.crestawards.org/resources/crest-gold-student-guide