Commercial and Pre-Contract Lead
Ford Mainwaring
examine tenders
contract review
collaborate teams
lead estimating
site surveys
produce estimates
Be responsible for examining all tender documentation and advising on bid prospects and potential win strategies.
Undertake contract review process with projects team, challenging project costs and reporting project performance to SMT.
Collaborating with Project Managers, Engineers, and other team members to support them to ensure accurate and complete estimates/prices are submitted.
Join Ford Mainwaring as our Commercial and Contracts Lead, where you will lead our commercial initiatives, shape our estimating and tendering process and explore opportunities to continually grow the business.
The role will report directly to the Head of Operations and will also have a direct interface with the Board of Directors.
You will be required to support the business's project delivery teams with site surveys, estimation, technical queries, commercial reviews of terms and conditions, and procurement. You will also lead on estimating all major projects that come into the business.
Supporting business development activities, including assisting with Framework and Bid submission packs.
Producing fully costed, detailed, and accurate estimates in response to surveys, requests for quotations, or tenders.
Documenting, developing, and improving Commercial Policies and Procedures.
Control costs and effectively manage budgets, reporting to the SMT on a regular basis.
commercial mindset
building services
relationship building
organizational skills
m&e qualification
presentation skills
This opportunity will be based in the Stoke on Trent office and will involve travel across the Midlands and North West of the UK visiting various sites.
Are you a commercially minded individual with a strong building services background and a knack for building strong business relationships?
All required IT equipment including Phone, Laptop etc
Excellent organisational skills and ability to support major bid processes.
Location – Based in Stoke-on-Trent with travel to various sites across the Midlands and North West
Ability to secure new business opportunities.
M&E or Building Services related qualification.
Strong presentation skills and ability to represent the company at client meetings.
Previous experience in mechanical engineering, electrical installation, or facilities management.
Possess excellent experience in a similar surveying/commercial management role.
BenefitsSalary – Up to £60k (negotiable) + Car Allowance
25 Days Holiday + Bank Holidays + Volunteering Day
Up to £60,000 (Negotiable)
Nest Pension Scheme with Salary Sacrifice Option
Generous Car Allowance + Business Mileage
3 x Salary - Death in Service cover
Due to continued business growth, there is no better time to join the Ford Mainwaring team!
Full commercial ownership of all framework agreements held by the business.
Annual Performance Related Bonus
PerkBox – With additional rewards on birthdays and work anniversaries
Mental Health Support
Training + Development- personal data relating to candidates will be processed and used to contact them as part of the recruitment process, including checking qualifications and employment history.
£7.5M
Turnover
Reflects steady growth, bolstered by recent M&A activities.
- Founded in 1968, the company has grown from a local engineering firm into a nationwide building services specialist.
- Based in Newcastle‑under‑Lyme, the company thrives on tackling complex projects in secure and technical environments.
- Primarily active in public-sector work, it delivers major mechanical and electrical installations, maintenance, and refurbishments.
- As a trusted partner to the Ministry of Defence, it undertakes HVAC, plantroom revamps, and security‑sensitive projects on military bases.
- Its expertise extends into renewables, installing EV chargers, air‑source heat pumps, and sustainable energy systems.
- Typically, it handles medium‑to‑large contracts across education, healthcare, highways, and defence estates.
- Notable for its apprenticeship and veteran-support initiatives, it crafts long-term talent pipelines through training and hiring pledges.
Two Apprentices Annually
Apprenticeship Commitment
The company aims to recruit two apprentices each year, fostering career development for young professionals.
Annual Bonus
Performance-Based Rewards
Employees are eligible for an annual performance-related bonus as part of their compensation package.
Annual Reporting
Transparency in Governance
Annual reports using GRI frameworks ensure transparency and accountability in their operations.
Stakeholder Engagement
Commitment to Feedback
The company actively seeks and incorporates feedback from stakeholders to improve its practices.
- TRUSTED BUILDING SERVICES ENGINEERS
- Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles aren’t just aspirations – they’re integrated into everything we do.
- We actively work with the communities we serve.
- We offer job opportunities to veterans and reservists.
- The development of our people is crucial to ensure the continued growth of our business.
- We have a clear route for progression for those with the ambition to succeed, regardless of role or level.
- We back these commitments with real investment in safety, wellbeing, and learning.
- Our energetic and enthusiastic team ... support the next generation of talent.
- Our ESG promise: transparent, measurable, and evolving.
Top 25%
Sustainability Ranking
Recognized for top 25% performance in sustainability category by EcoVadis.
2026 Target
Employee Training
Aiming for full employee participation in environmental best-practice training by 2026.
- Support clients with practical, low‑carbon engineering solutions that drive real ESG impact.
- Help reduce emissions, cut energy use, and future‑proof essential infrastructure.
- Transparent annual reporting using GRI frameworks.
- Committed to stakeholder feedback and engagement.
- Ecovadis scores publicly available in Sustainability Report.
