Cost estimating engineer Bryan Kampe: 'It gives a kick!'

Bryan Kampe is one of six cost estimating engineers at Ballast Nedam West in Capelle aan den IJssel. Together, they study new project requests to come up with a good quote. We asked Bryan how he likes his job and how he ended up at Ballast Nedam.

Since when have you been working at Ballast Nedam?

"Since November 2020. Before that, I worked for years as a project engineer at a contractor in Rotterdam. In that job, I was also involved in cost estimation. I enjoyed that so much that I wanted to specialise in it further. So when I saw a vacancy for cost estimating engineer at Ballast Nedam West, I applied."

So, was that a good choice?

"Definitely. I find the work very challenging. A construction project has so much going on. From walls to floors and from window frames to installations. We work out as precisely as possible what all those different components cost. Sometimes that's quite tricky, so in that case it's great to be able to brainstorm with other cost estimating engineers or our supervisor."

For example, when is it tricky?

"When the client has special material requirements. Let's say 500 houses have to be built, and then we calculate that 2,500 interior doors are necessary. We know the price of a standard door - so then it's quite simple. But suppose that client wants gold doors, for example, then it becomes a lot more difficult. In such cases, we need a quotation from the supplier first. And that often takes a few weeks, making it a race against time sometimes."

Do you ever fall short with the cost estimates?

"Fortunately, that hardly ever happens. It gives a kick when we win a project and our cost estimates turn out to be correct. I think the fact that we are not often wrong is mainly because we work together and discuss things a lot. And we can always ask our supervisor or other colleagues for advice. There is absolutely no hierarchy. That's what makes it such a nice company to work for."

What kind of type do you have to be to work at Ballast Nedam West?

"Just a friendly person. Ballast Nedam West feels a bit like a family business. I only have nice colleagues, nobody feels superior to anyone else and you can learn a lot here and make great progress. And what I find really cool: we don't just think up things here, we also actually build them."