Timeline

2018

Estimators opens new Technical Services Centre

March 2018

Estimators Online announce the opening of its second office in Pune, located 125 miles South East of Mumbai in Maharashtra State, India. The new location is the company’s first purpose built Technical Services Centre

Estimators Ltd becomes Estimators Online and MicroBuild group is formed.

February 2018

In 2018, the company was renamed Estimators Online Limited and is now part of the MicroBuild group of companies. As MicroBuild’s leading brand, all our other businesses and opportunities are born out of the success of Estimators Online Limited. With over 300,000 completed jobs to date, we are the UK’s only paperless and fully digital building estimating service providing our customers with unrivalled levels of expertise and efficiency.

2016

Program of works launched

November 2016

Every estimate completed since August 2013 now includes a program of works

Record sales following the introduction of paperless estimating

April 2016

Estimators Online Limited completes an estimate every five minutes to achieve our best ever monthly sales figures, an increase of 26% on March 2015-.

Britain's largest estimating service provider is also celebrating record sales in the first three months of this year - up 23% year-on-year.

The company also passed half a billion in a quarter for the first time - completing estimates worth £528,637,884.

2015

Paperless estimating is finally here

May 2015

We are pleased to announce, the launch of our new digital take-off system, which means all our quantification data will be taken off digitally.

The new system allows us to measure digitally and enter data using a computer mouse, our estimators will no longer enter figures manually, this will substantially speed up the estimating process.

For customers there will no longer be any print charges.

We currently return over 1000 jobs annually because they were created or printed out of scale. The new digital system will work around most of these issues.

This new system has been created entirely in-house by our R&D and IT teams.

Client copy estimate

January 2015

Client copy estimate launched, along with revised calculator for customising your estimates. Click here for more details

2014

Same day estimating

December 2014

Same day estimating service launched.

New recruits

January 2014

Following the very successful launch of our MATERIALS ONLY take off service. We welcome four new estimators into our Technical Services Department.

FREE Training

January 2014

We offer customers free training seminars at our Gatley base.

Over 100 jobs

January 2014

We receive over 100 jobs in one day, a first in any January.

2013

500th Materials Only take off

December 2013

In only seven weeks post launch, SHROPSHIRE BUILDING SUPPLIES receives our 500th MATERIALS ONLY take off. Proof innovation, dedication and hard work can produce remarkable results.

Welcome TG Builders Merchants

December 2013

TG BUILDERS MERCHANTS based in Nantwich, start using our services.

Welcome JT Atkinson Builders Merchants

December 2013

JT ATKINSON BUILDERS MERCHANTS, based in the North East, start using our services.

Welcome Thistle Building Supplies

December 2013

THISTLE BUILDING SUPPLIES, start using our services.

Welcome George Bence and Sons

December 2013

GEORGE BENCE AND SONS, start using our services.

Customise your estimates

December 2013

Customers can now fully customise an estimate online, including changing materials rates, adding PC and Prime Cost Sums, adding and removing notes and downloading the revisions in EXCEL or WORD formats.

Over 100 jobs

December 2013

We receive over 100 jobs in one day, a first in any December.

Download estimates in Microsoft Word and Excel

November 2013

Customers can now download estimates in Excel and Word formats from the new website.

Launch of new MATERIALS ONLY take off service

November 2013

Launched new MATERIALS ONLY take-off service with our merchant partners.

New website launched

October 2013

Launched new website, with more inter-active functions.

New estimators

October 2013

We welcome two new estimators into our Technical Services Department.

150,000th Estimate completed

October 2013

TRAVIS PERKINS MACCLESFIELD, receives our 150,000th estimate.

Reached 12,500 trade customers

October 2013

WALTON CONSTRUCTION based in Coventry, becomes our 12,500th trade customer.

150 estimates for a single Travis Perkins branch

September 2013

TRAVIS PERKINS CHEADLE receives its 150th job.

Staff training

September 2013

Staff training begins on our new MATERIALS ONLY take-off service.

New estimating system

August 2013

Changed over to our new Java based estimating system.

Over 30,000 Self-Build estimates

May 2013

Dave Tobutt from Plumley in Cheshire, receives our 30,000th Self-Build estimate.

Welcome Sydenhams

March 2013

SYDENHAMS branch network starts using our services.

Welcome Elliott's

March 2013

ELLIOTT'S branch network starts using our services.

Staff training

March 2013

Staff training begins on our new JAVA estimating system.

Single merchant branch passes 500 estimates

January 2013

JEWSON TOTTON branch becomes the first merchant outlet to pass 500 jobs.

2012

Testing new estimating system

November 2012

Testing begins on new JAVA estimating system.

New estimators

October 2012

We welcome two new estimators into our Technical Services Department.

Over 23,000 estimates for Jewson

October 2012

We complete 23,000 jobs for JEWSON.

Welcome RGB

September 2012

RGB branch network starts using our services.

New Technical Services Manager

September 2012

Senior Estimator Gordon Slater is promoted to Technical Services Manager.

Customer training vehicle on the road

August 2012

Customer training vehicle completes visits to all GIBBS AND DANDY branches.

Emerys Building Supplies

July 2012

EMERYS BUILDING SUPPLIES start using our services.

Training provided to 400 Jewson branches

June 2012

Customer training vehicle visits its 400th JEWSON branch in Bridgnorth in Shropshire.

Welcome County

May 2012

COUNTY BUILDING SUPPLIES branch network starts using our services.

LBS

March 2012

LBS branch network starts using our services.

Gibbs and Dandy

January 2012

GIBBS AND DANDY branch network starts using our services.

Welcome Kent Blaxhill

January 2012

KENT BLAXILL branch network starts using our services.

2011

Over 10,000 trade customers

November 2011

Martin Goodall Building Services based in Rhyl North Wales, becomes our 10,000th trade customer.

Materials portal launched

October 2011

Launched materials portal for direct customers to invite nominated merchants to price products live on the new JAVA system, accessed though any web browser.

Naylor Myers

September 2011

NAYLOR MYERS branch network starts using our services.

Direct Builders Merchants

September 2011

DIRECT BUILDERS MERCHANTS starts using our services.

New merchant

September 2011

ALSFORD TIMBER branch network starts using our services.

Ridgeon's

August 2011

RIDGEON'S branch network starts using our services.

Welcome Interline

July 2011

INTERLINE branch network starts using our services.

Over 300 Jewson branches visited

June 2011

Customer training vehicle visits its 300th JEWSON branch in Ipswich.

£10 billion

May 2011

Total value of estimates completed passes £10 billion

Parker Building Supplies

April 2011

PARKER BUILDING SUPPLIES branch network starts using our services.

Another innovation

March 2011

Testing begins on new JAVA system materials portal.

Chandlers

February 2011

CHANDLERS branch network starts using our services.

2010

Build Center branches trained

September 2010

Customer training vehicle completes branch visits to all BUILD CENTER branches.

20,000 Self Build estimates completed

July 2010

JEWSON customer in Lanark receives our 20000th Self Build estimate.

Three Counties Building Supplies

June 2010

Three Counties Building Supplies, start using our services.

Training for Jewson branches starts

January 2010

Customer training vehicle starts the process of visiting all JEWSON branches in Totton, Southampton.

2009

Howarth Timber branch training completed

December 2009

Customer training vehicle completes training visits with all HOWARTH TIMBER branches.

First branch trained using our Customer Service Vehicle

October 2009

HOWARTH TIMBER becomes the first merchant to receive our customer training vehicle.

New Estimating system design agreed

September 2009

Architecture completed for the new JAVA estimating system.

Customer Training Vehicle

September 2009

We rolled out our new customer training vehicle, a Mercedes Sprinter van converted into a mobile office, fully fitted with the latest computer and communication technologies. Designed to visit our Merchant customers for product training.

Welcome to Brickies

June 2009

BRICKIES BUILDING SUPPLIES, start using the service.

Boys & Boden

June 2009

BOYS & BODEN start using our services.

Howarth Timber & Building Supplies

May 2009

HOWARTH TIMBER & BUILDING SUPPLIES, branch network starts using our services.

Estimators pass 7,500 trade customers

May 2009

????Builders become our 7,500th trade customer.

75,000 estimates completed

March 2009

JEWSON Hayle branch, receives our 75000th estimate.

New estimators

January 2009

We welcome two new estimators into our Technical Services Department.

2008

£5 billion

December 2008

Total value of estimates completed passes £5 billion

New office ready for business

December 2008

Building works on the new offices are completed.

New staff

November 2008

We welcome two new estimators into our Technical Services Department.

Benchmark

September 2008

Benchmark Building Supplies start using our services.

We're moving

September 2008

The company moves to new offices in Gatley, South Manchester.

500 self build this month!

June 2008

We achieved the milestone of completing 500 self builds in a single month.

JT Dove

May 2008

JT DOVE branch network starts using our services.

Paslode

April 2008

We welcome PASLODE as a preferred manufacturer.

1,500 estimates in a month

March 2008

We achieved the milestone of completing 1,500 jobs in a single month.

Welcome Jubilee Building Supplies

February 2008

JUBILEE BUILDING SUPPLIES start using our services.

Next generation software

February 2008

Decision was made to write the next generation software as a Web2.0 application written in JAVA.

Ernest Bentley

February 2008

ERNEST BENTLEY based in Manchester start using our services.

Huws Gray

January 2008

HUWS GRAY branch network starts using our services.

2007

50,000 estimates

September 2007

BRADFORD'S BUILDING SUPPLIES Axminster branch, receives our 50,000th estimate.

Welcome Connell's

April 2007

CONNELL'S BUILDING SUPPLIES, start using our services.

Exall and Jones

February 2007

EXALL AND JONES, start using our services.

BPS

January 2007

BPS based in Leamington Spa, starts using our services.

2006

ECD Building Supplies

December 2006

ECD BUILDING SUPPLIES, start using our services.

Fossway

November 2006

FOSSWAY BUILDING SUPPLIES, based in Newcastle, starts using our services.

Welcome MKM

July 2006

MKM BUILDING SUPPLIES branch network starts using our services.

KRM Building Supplies

May 2006

KRM BUILDING SUPPLIES, based in Nottinghamshire, starts using our services.

Welcome Blanchford

May 2006

BLANCHFORD BUILDING SUPPLIES, based in Oxfordshire, starts using our services.

John Nicholls

April 2006

JOHN NICHOLLS, based in Oxfordshire, starts using our services.

Welcome Lawson's

March 2006

LAWSON'S branch network starts using our services.

Welcome Kellaway

February 2006

KELLAWAY BUILDING SUPPLIES, based in Bristol, starts using our services.

CRS

February 2006

CRS BUILDING SUPPLIES, start using our services.

2005

Jewson

September 2005

JEWSON branches can set material prices online.

Download estimates

July 2005

Customers can download completed estimates online.

Bradfords Building Supplies

March 2005

BRADFORDS BUILDING SUPPLIES branch network starts using our services.

Profile

February 2005

Trade customers can set labour rates online.

EH Smith

January 2005

EH SMITH based in the Midlands, start using our services.

Build Center electronic link

January 2005

BUILD CENTER, start receiving quantified data directly into its trading system.

2004

Tudor Building Supplies

November 2004

TUDOR BUILDING SUPPLIES, based in Hereford, starts using our services.

Welcome James Burrell

October 2004

JAMES BURRELL based in the North East start using our services.

Turnbull Building Supplies

August 2004

TURNBULL BUILDING SUPPLIES based in Lincolnshire, starts using our services.

1,000 estimates for Build Center

August 2004

We complete our 1,000th Job for BUILD CENTER to date the fastest take up rate by any merchant.

Estimate details passed directly to Jewson

July 2004

JEWSON start receiving our quantified data directly into its branch trading systems.

First independent merchant

June 2004

First independent merchant, CUMBRIA BUILDING SUPPLIES starts using our services.

Available at all leading builder's merchants

May 2004

Our solus agreement with TRAVIS PERKINS ends and within weeks all the other national builders merchants start using our services.

Covers Timber & Builders Merchants

May 2004

COVERS TIMBER & BUILDERS MERCHANTS becomes our first regional merchant partner.

Available at BuildBase

May 2004

BUILDBASE national branch network starts using our services.

Available at Jewson

May 2004

JEWSON national branch network starts using our services.

Welcome Build Center

May 2004

BUILD CENTER national branch network starts using our services.

£1 billion

February 2004

Total value of estimates completed passes £1 billion

10,000 estimates completed

February 2004

We complete 10,000 jobs for TRAVIS PERKINS.

New staff

February 2004

We welcome two new estimators, into our Technical Services Department.

Hepworth PlastiDrain added to estimates

January 2004

HEPWORTH PlastiDrain becomes a preferred product manufacturer.

2003

5,000 self build estimates

November 2003

TRAVIS PERKINS customer in Somerset, receives our 5000th Self Build Estimate.

Velux windows

September 2003

VELUX becomes a preferred product manufacturer.

20,000 estimates produced

August 2003

R & C Poole Builders in Dorset, receive our 20,000th estimate.

Catnic lintels

February 2003

CATNIC LINTELS becomes a preferred product manufacturer.

2002

2,000 builder customers

December 2002

Nuttall Construction, based in Somerset becomes our 2,000th builder customer.

Redland Roof Tiles

October 2002

REDLAND ROOF TILES becomes a preferred product manufacturer.

British Gypsum

September 2002

BRITISH GYPSUM becomes as a preferred product manufacturer.

1,000 customers

August 2002

ALPHA BUILDING SERVICES, based in Leyland Lancashire, becomes our 1,000th builder customer.

Live estimate data passed to Travis Perkins

July 2002

TRAVIS PERKINS start receiving data directly into trading systems.

Marley Roof Tiles

June 2002

We welcome MARLEY ROOF TILES as a preferred product manufacturer.

Estimators send material data electronically to a builders merchant

May 2002

We created a platform to send material data directly into builders merchants trading systems.

Build-the-Dream

April 2002

We launched a new Self-Build estimating service with TRAVIS PERKINS build-the-dream website.

Began talks with builders merchants

January 2002

TRAVIS PERKINS & KEYLINE become our first Builders Merchant customers.

2001

1,000 Estimates completed

March 2001

TGN Builders Sheffield, receive our 1000th estimate.

Service launched for homeowners

February 2001

Launched services targeting domestic planning applicants.

John Carr

January 2001

JOHN CARR becomes our first preferred product manufacturer.

2000

Service for small builders launched

December 2000

Services launched targeting small builders.

Estimators Online Limited formed

November 2000

Estimators Online Limited was formed, the first company in the UK to offer an affordable labour and materials estimating service, available to anyone involved in domestic building projects.

1998

Simon Lees

September 1998

Following two years of research and development Stephen Whitby formed a partnership with Simon Lees (software specialist) together they developed the concept into a quantification system, designed for domestic building works.

1996

Work begins to speed up the building estimating process

Stephen Whitby desperate to find a solution to speed up his estimating process and after researching and evaluating all the options available, he decided to create his own system.

1978

Innovative from the start

Our company has a strong legacy of innovation which began at Stockport Technical College in 1978, where our founder Stephen Whitby completed his building studies. Following this, he ran a successful building business based in Cheadle Hulme, South Manchester.