Cowburn Watson-Box

Project and Cost Management Consultancy. We keep it simple and we make it happen.

Who we are

We’re a team that loves all things built environment – we have a passion and drive for helping make ideas come to life and we love working with likeminded people!

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Projects completed

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Years experience

Some of the people and places we've worked during our time....

What we do

There’s more to us than programmes and cost plans! We’re a hard-working team that believes that trust, honesty, respect, and transparency are key to any project’s success.

We believe in a hands-on approach, managing projects as if they are our own, and take pride in being strategic thinkers and innovative problem solvers. We provide our partners with tailor-made services to suit individual needs to deliver required outcomes for specific project and strategic objectives.

Cost Management Discover More Programme Management Discover More Project Management Discover More Fund Monitoring Discover More

Kind words...

I had the pleasure of working with Carolann which managing the Town Centre Regeneration projects for Bolton Council and in a similar role for Wirral Council. She is fantastic to work with. Her approach to cost consultancy is the most pragmatic and supportive I've ever experienced. She is an excellent communicator and her attention to detail is entirely what we needed in setting up and running some extremely challenging and specialist projects which included a museum, a market, a public park and an office development. I would recommend Carolann to anyone and I hope to continue to work with her in the future.

Cathy Palmer Head of Regeneration Delivery, Wirral Council

I have worked with Matt since April 2021 in my role as Chair of the Technical Implementation Group of the Preston Towns Fund. On a portfolio of varied and diverse projects, Matt has been a driving force, key at both a project and programme level. In addition to his knowledge and experience, Matt has brought a no-nonsense, practical and results-based approach to the team with a passion for progress which has been highly effective. Matt has always made himself available, his thinking and guidance providing a broad and innovative perspective on the tasks at hand.

Mark Flemming Director of Strategic & Commercial Projects, UCLan

In my role as Development Manager, I worked with Matt and Carolann on a complex high profile city centre scheme, the guys delivered Project Management, Contract Admin and Quantity Surveying services with an extremely high level of professionalism whilst always maintaining a personable approach. The guys always ensured any reporting was ahead of the curve to ensure the most accurate information was available when making decisions.  The scheme had many moving parts with some unique elements which were all handled without any issues, enabling me to focus on the tasks I had at hand.

Sam Darby Bruntwood/SciTech

I have worked closely with Matt and Carolann over the last 4 years on a 110,000 sq ft city centre grade A office refurbishment including overseeing tenant fit outs. The building is now fully let to four tenants. My role was as client representative with Matt acting as Project Manager and Carolann providing QS advice .All elements of the project were delivered on time, within budget and to a high specification as confirmed by the early letting of the space. Matt and Carolann are both first class professionals who always go the extra mile to deliver an exceptional service.

Steve Thorncroft Director - SMT Projects

Carolann and I worked together in the Major Projects Works Team of Capital Programmes (Manchester City Council) for almost 5 years when she undertook a secondment position directly within the Council as Commercial Lead. Her knowledge and ability to adapt and integrate into our team were fantastic. Whilst appreciating and working within the Manchester Established working practices, she also challenged some of our ways of working and helped drive forward new approaches to help us deliver projects more effectively. She was an asset to the team, always available for advice, guidance and a chat supporting both her own commercial team members and the wider team and clients. She is an asset to any project delivery team.

Gillian Ramsbottom Programme Manager, Manchester City Council

I worked with Carolann when she undertook the commercial lead role within Manchester City Council. The project in Gorton with NHS partners adopted a robust due diligence approach running a business case process with multiple stake holders, alongside council procedures to ensure a compliant contractor contract that mirrored 100% the agreed business case. This was a challenging process which would not have been so successful without Carolann’s professional advice, training, and her personal pragmatism to help me guide and lead the wider contract team. On a personal note, Carolann keeps it real and is very personable. She is always available for a chat no matter how busy she is which is essential when working though difficult processes. I have really enjoyed working with her and look forward to more opportunities to work together in the future.

Jason Ward Framework Manager at Morgan Sindall

Carolann has been involved in the role of QS/EA/Cost consultant on a number of projects supporting the Rochdale Development Agency in their role of delivering projects for Rochdale Borough Council.  Carolann's extensive knowledge and keen attention to detail has been particularly helpful in the ongoing delivery of our Upperbanks project.  The hotel and build to rent project have provided a number of challenges where Carolann has gone above and beyond to assist in problem solving, providing clear and concise advice in a manner for all audiences that has aided a number of key decisions.  Carolann is a highly valued member of our professional team and I look forward to working with her on many future projects.

Elise Daley Senior Project Manager, Rochdale Development Agency

In our industry we are often faced with something beyond “normal project delivery”.   Working with Carolann we were faced with a programme of works:- multiple projects and multiple funding streams. As the projects progressed, in addition to forecasting, costs aligned with principal client’s accounting function, were reported individually to the meet stakeholders’ requirements, and collectively. This required innovative and logical thinking, beyond typical project delivery QS duties, all of which Carolann provided with her normal attention to detail, positive and professional manner. I have worked with Carolann for many years and her enthusiasm, support and endeavour are greatly valued.

Tim Laycock Director Pierre Angulaire

info@cowburnwatson-box.com