While undertaking a commercial improvement review for our specialist contractor client, GCM identified a critical formula error buried within the company’s tendering process. Left unresolved, this issue would have resulted in underpriced tenders, profit erosion and persistent cashflow problems.
By catching the error, we helped our client avoid a potential loss of around £35,000 on an awarded contract and reduced commercial risk on future projects.
Our client specialises in concrete repairs, waterproofing works and resin-bound flooring. With extensive experience on largescale commercial projects across the UK, the company is known for its technical delivery and specialist expertise.
GCM was engaged to undertake a full business review. We were asked to develop a commercial improvement plan that would help the company grow revenue and reduce exposure to risk.
During the implementation phase of our review, GCM identified a serious flaw: an incorrect formula embedded in the company’s tender templates. This seemingly minor error had the potential to skew pricing across contracts, exposing the business to a £35,000 loss on a single tender alone.
GCM took immediate steps to contain the risk and strengthen our client’s commercial controls. As part of our approach, we conducted a detailed audit of all tenders linked to awarded contracts to assess the impact of the formula error.
Next, we developed a revised tendering template with locked formula cells to prevent critical values from being accidentally changed in the future. Additionally, we introduced an internal process that required all tenders to be reviewed by GCM or a client-side director before submission.
Thanks to GCM’s early intervention, the financial risk was fully mitigated before it impacted project delivery. The new system now ensures pricing accuracy and greater confidence in profit projections. Results include:
To learn how we can support your construction business, speak to a member of our team.
