Costain

Costain Achieves Efficiency at £150m Gatwick Airport Station

UK's second busiest airport station redeveloped on time and on budget with 70+ users onboarded in just four weeks.

Hours Saved Per Week

£150mn

Project Delivered

Onboarded

Users in 4 Weeks

<div class="gather-embed"><div class="ge-body" style="padding-bottom:0"><div class="ge-intro-accent ge-anim ge-d1"><p><strong>35+ hours saved per week. 70+ users onboarded in four weeks. BIM integration pioneered.</strong> That’s the documented impact of Gather on Costain’s £150 million Gatwick Airport station redevelopment.</p></div><p class="ge-anim ge-d2">Gatwick Airport station underwent a major redevelopment to improve capacity at the UK’s second busiest airport. Costain won the project in 2019 and delivered the upgrades on budget and on time in 2022 — with Gather providing digital site records from day one for both the core delivery team and subcontractors.</p></div></div>

<div class="gather-embed"><div class="ge-body" style="padding-bottom:0"><h2 class="ge-anim">The challenge</h2><p class="ge-anim">A large-scale, high-profile project like upgrading Gatwick Airport station came with significant documentation challenges:</p><ul class="ge-anim"><li><strong>Manual documentation:</strong> Error-prone methods of documenting site activities on paper created a constant risk of inaccurate records</li><li><strong>Double handling:</strong> Redundant work of collating paper site diaries onto spreadsheets consumed hours every day</li><li><strong>Information delay:</strong> Traditional methods caused significant lag between site activities and office awareness</li><li><strong>Reactive management:</strong> The project team had to react to resource utilisation issues instead of proactively addressing them</li><li><strong>Cost visibility gaps:</strong> Lack of clarity on actual labour hours and associated costs risked budget overruns</li></ul><div class="ge-diagram-wrap ge-anim"><div class="ge-diagram-label">From paper diaries and double handling to a single platform with BIM integration</div><svg class="ge-diagram-svg" viewBox="0 0 660 190" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" style="min-width:400px;"><rect x="0" y="0" width="285" height="190" fill="#fff9f9"/><text x="14" y="18" font-size="8.5" font-weight="700" fill="#dc2626" font-family="Inter,system-ui" letter-spacing="0.08em">BEFORE GATHER</text><rect x="20" y="30" width="245" height="65" rx="6" fill="#fff7ed" stroke="#fdba74" stroke-width="1"/><text x="142" y="48" text-anchor="middle" font-size="9" fill="#c2410c" font-family="Inter,system-ui" font-weight="700">Paper Site Diaries</text><rect x="30" y="56" width="65" height="28" rx="3" fill="#fff" stroke="#fdba74" stroke-width="0.8"/><text x="62" y="73" text-anchor="middle" font-size="7.5" fill="#c2410c" font-family="Inter,system-ui">Resource forms</text><rect x="105" y="56" width="65" height="28" rx="3" fill="#fff" stroke="#fdba74" stroke-width="0.8"/><text x="137" y="73" text-anchor="middle" font-size="7.5" fill="#c2410c" font-family="Inter,system-ui">Allocation sheets</text><rect x="180" y="56" width="75" height="28" rx="3" fill="#fff" stroke="#fdba74" stroke-width="0.8"/><text x="217" y="73" text-anchor="middle" font-size="7.5" fill="#c2410c" font-family="Inter,system-ui">Cost spreadsheets</text><rect x="20" y="105" width="110" height="50" rx="5" fill="#eff6ff" stroke="#93c5fd" stroke-width="1"/><text x="75" y="123" text-anchor="middle" font-size="8" fill="#1d4ed8" font-family="Inter,system-ui" font-weight="600">Double handling</text><text x="75" y="135" text-anchor="middle" font-size="7.5" fill="#1d4ed8" font-family="Inter,system-ui">Paper → spreadsheet</text><text x="75" y="147" text-anchor="middle" font-size="7.5" fill="#1d4ed8" font-family="Inter,system-ui">every single day</text><rect x="145" y="105" width="120" height="50" rx="5" fill="#fdf4ff" stroke="#d8b4fe" stroke-width="1"/><text x="205" y="123" text-anchor="middle" font-size="8" fill="#7e22ce" font-family="Inter,system-ui" font-weight="600">Reactive management</text><text x="205" y="135" text-anchor="middle" font-size="7.5" fill="#7e22ce" font-family="Inter,system-ui">Data arrives too late</text><text x="205" y="147" text-anchor="middle" font-size="7.5" fill="#7e22ce" font-family="Inter,system-ui">to act on problems</text><text x="142" y="175" text-anchor="middle" font-size="8" fill="#dc2626" font-family="Inter,system-ui" font-weight="600">No cost visibility, no proactive control</text><line x1="297" y1="16" x2="297" y2="174" stroke="#e5e5e5" stroke-width="1" stroke-dasharray="4,3"/><line x1="310" y1="95" x2="340" y2="95" stroke="#22c55e" stroke-width="2.5"/><polygon points="340,90 352,95 340,100" fill="#22c55e"/><rect x="360" y="0" width="300" height="190" fill="#f0fdf4"/><text x="374" y="18" font-size="8.5" font-weight="700" fill="#16a34a" font-family="Inter,system-ui" letter-spacing="0.08em">WITH GATHER</text><circle cx="510" cy="50" r="32" fill="#dcfce7" stroke="#22c55e" stroke-width="2"/><text x="510" y="44" text-anchor="middle" font-size="10" fill="#15803d" font-family="Inter,system-ui" font-weight="800">GATHER</text><text x="510" y="56" text-anchor="middle" font-size="7.5" fill="#16a34a" font-family="Inter,system-ui">70+ users</text><rect x="390" y="100" width="75" height="22" rx="4" fill="#bbf7d0" stroke="#22c55e" stroke-width="1"/><text x="427" y="114" text-anchor="middle" font-size="8" fill="#15803d" font-family="Inter,system-ui" font-weight="600">BIM Model</text><rect x="480" y="100" width="85" height="22" rx="4" fill="#bbf7d0" stroke="#22c55e" stroke-width="1"/><text x="522" y="114" text-anchor="middle" font-size="8" fill="#15803d" font-family="Inter,system-ui" font-weight="600">Cost Reports</text><line x1="510" y1="82" x2="427" y2="100" stroke="#22c55e" stroke-width="1.3" opacity="0.6"/><line x1="510" y1="82" x2="522" y2="100" stroke="#22c55e" stroke-width="1.3" opacity="0.6"/><rect x="395" y="135" width="225" height="28" rx="5" fill="#dcfce7" stroke="#bbf7d0" stroke-width="1"/><text x="507" y="150" text-anchor="middle" font-size="8" fill="#15803d" font-family="Inter,system-ui" font-weight="600">25+ hrs/wk resource • 10+ hrs/wk commercial</text><text x="507" y="162" text-anchor="middle" font-size="7.5" fill="#16a34a" font-family="Inter,system-ui">35+ hours saved every week</text><text x="510" y="182" text-anchor="middle" font-size="8.5" fill="#16a34a" font-family="Inter,system-ui" font-weight="600">£150m delivered on time and on budget</text></svg></div></div></div>

<div class="gather-embed"><div class="ge-body" style="padding-bottom:0"><h2 class="ge-anim">The solution</h2><p class="ge-anim">Gather provided in-person training with Costain and key subcontractors. Over 70 users at supervisor level and above received thorough onboarding in less than four weeks — eliminating paper from the project before it could become entrenched.</p><div class="ge-gauge-row ge-anim"><svg class="ge-gauge-svg" width="88" height="88" viewBox="0 0 88 88" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><circle cx="44" cy="44" r="34" fill="none" stroke="#bbf7d0" stroke-width="9"/><circle cx="44" cy="44" r="34" fill="none" stroke="#22c55e" stroke-width="9" stroke-dasharray="149.5 213.6" stroke-dashoffset="0" stroke-linecap="round" transform="rotate(-90 44 44)"/><text x="44" y="40" text-anchor="middle" font-size="16" font-weight="800" fill="#15803d" font-family="Inter,system-ui">70%</text><text x="44" y="54" text-anchor="middle" font-size="8" fill="#16a34a" font-family="Inter,system-ui">onboarded</text></svg><div class="ge-gauge-label"><h4>70+ users onboarded in 4 weeks</h4><p>Gather’s mobile-native platform let supervisors record labour hours and assign them to work activities on the go — eliminating paper diaries and after-shift office trips.</p></div></div><div class="ge-quote ge-anim"><span class="ge-quote-mark">“</span><p class="ge-quote-text">Gather is simple and easy to use. I no longer have to complete paper allocation records. I can easily distribute the team’s working hours to pre-planned work activities.</p><div class="ge-quote-attr"><span><strong>Brian O’Connor</strong> · Supervisor · Costain</span></div></div><h3 class="ge-anim">From onboarding to BIM integration</h3><div class="ge-timeline-outer ge-anim"><svg class="ge-timeline-svg" viewBox="0 0 580 148" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" style="padding:20px 16px 8px;"><line x1="84" y1="44" x2="496" y2="44" stroke="#e5e5e5" stroke-width="2.5" stroke-linecap="round"/><line x1="84" y1="44" x2="290" y2="44" stroke="#22c55e" stroke-width="2.5" stroke-linecap="round"/><circle cx="84" cy="44" r="26" fill="#22c55e" stroke="none"/><text x="84" y="38" text-anchor="middle" font-size="11" fill="#fff" font-family="Inter,system-ui" font-weight="800">01</text><text x="84" y="52" text-anchor="middle" font-size="8" fill="#dcfce7" font-family="Inter,system-ui" font-weight="600" letter-spacing="0.05em">WEEK 1-4</text><line x1="84" y1="74" x2="84" y2="78" stroke="#22c55e" stroke-width="1.5"/><text x="84" y="92" text-anchor="middle" font-size="11.5" font-weight="700" fill="#171717" font-family="Inter,system-ui">Fast Onboarding</text><text x="84" y="107" text-anchor="middle" font-size="9.5" fill="#737373" font-family="Inter,system-ui">70+ users trained</text><text x="84" y="120" text-anchor="middle" font-size="9.5" fill="#737373" font-family="Inter,system-ui">in-person sessions</text><circle cx="290" cy="44" r="26" fill="#22c55e" stroke="none"/><text x="290" y="38" text-anchor="middle" font-size="11" fill="#fff" font-family="Inter,system-ui" font-weight="800">02</text><text x="290" y="52" text-anchor="middle" font-size="8" fill="#dcfce7" font-family="Inter,system-ui" font-weight="600" letter-spacing="0.05em">DAILY</text><line x1="290" y1="74" x2="290" y2="78" stroke="#22c55e" stroke-width="1.5"/><text x="290" y="92" text-anchor="middle" font-size="11.5" font-weight="700" fill="#171717" font-family="Inter,system-ui">Live Reporting</text><text x="290" y="107" text-anchor="middle" font-size="9.5" fill="#737373" font-family="Inter,system-ui">25+ hrs/wk saved</text><text x="290" y="120" text-anchor="middle" font-size="9.5" fill="#737373" font-family="Inter,system-ui">on resource allocation</text><circle cx="496" cy="44" r="26" fill="#fff" stroke="#d4d4d4" stroke-width="2"/><text x="496" y="38" text-anchor="middle" font-size="11" fill="#a3a3a3" font-family="Inter,system-ui" font-weight="800">03</text><text x="496" y="52" text-anchor="middle" font-size="8" fill="#d4d4d4" font-family="Inter,system-ui" font-weight="600" letter-spacing="0.05em">ONGOING</text><line x1="496" y1="74" x2="496" y2="78" stroke="#d4d4d4" stroke-width="1.5"/><text x="496" y="92" text-anchor="middle" font-size="11.5" font-weight="700" fill="#404040" font-family="Inter,system-ui">BIM Integration</text><text x="496" y="107" text-anchor="middle" font-size="9.5" fill="#737373" font-family="Inter,system-ui">Labour costs overlaid</text><text x="496" y="120" text-anchor="middle" font-size="9.5" fill="#737373" font-family="Inter,system-ui">on 3D model</text></svg></div></div></div>

<div class="gather-embed"><div class="ge-body"><h2 class="ge-anim">The results: £150m delivered on time and on budget</h2><p class="ge-anim">The project team estimated that Gather saved them over 35 hours per week — time redirected from administrative tasks to strategic project management and problem-solving.</p><div class="ge-callout ge-anim"><div class="ge-callout-big">35+</div><div class="ge-callout-title">Hours saved per week</div><p class="ge-callout-body">Resource allocation alone saved 25+ hours weekly. Commercial reporting saved another 10+ hours. This freed the team to focus on decisions, not data entry.</p></div><h3 class="ge-anim">Weekly time savings breakdown</h3><div class="ge-chart-outer ge-anim"><div class="ge-chart-label">Hours saved per week across resource allocation and commercial reporting</div><svg class="ge-chart-svg" viewBox="0 0 560 162" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><text x="9" y="82" text-anchor="middle" font-size="9" fill="#a3a3a3" font-family="Inter,system-ui" transform="rotate(-90 9 82)">Hours</text><line x1="36" y1="122" x2="540" y2="122" stroke="#e5e5e5" stroke-width="1.5"/><rect x="76" y="32" width="120" height="90" rx="4" fill="#22c55e" opacity="0.85"/><text x="136" y="56" text-anchor="middle" font-size="9" fill="#fff" font-family="Inter,system-ui" font-weight="600">Resource allocation</text><text x="136" y="76" text-anchor="middle" font-size="18" fill="#fff" font-family="Inter,system-ui" font-weight="800">25+</text><text x="136" y="92" text-anchor="middle" font-size="9" fill="#dcfce7" font-family="Inter,system-ui">hours per week</text><rect x="236" y="52" width="120" height="70" rx="4" fill="#22c55e" opacity="0.7"/><text x="296" y="76" text-anchor="middle" font-size="9" fill="#fff" font-family="Inter,system-ui" font-weight="600">Commercial reporting</text><text x="296" y="96" text-anchor="middle" font-size="18" fill="#fff" font-family="Inter,system-ui" font-weight="800">10+</text><text x="296" y="110" text-anchor="middle" font-size="9" fill="#dcfce7" font-family="Inter,system-ui">hours per week</text><rect x="396" y="18" width="120" height="104" rx="4" fill="#16a34a"/><text x="456" y="42" text-anchor="middle" font-size="9" fill="#fff" font-family="Inter,system-ui" font-weight="600">Combined saving</text><text x="456" y="66" text-anchor="middle" font-size="22" fill="#fff" font-family="Inter,system-ui" font-weight="800">35+</text><text x="456" y="82" text-anchor="middle" font-size="9" fill="#dcfce7" font-family="Inter,system-ui">hours per week</text><text x="456" y="100" text-anchor="middle" font-size="8" fill="#dcfce7" font-family="Inter,system-ui">£150m on time + budget</text><text x="136" y="136" text-anchor="middle" font-size="9" fill="#737373" font-family="Inter,system-ui">Resource</text><text x="296" y="136" text-anchor="middle" font-size="9" fill="#737373" font-family="Inter,system-ui">Commercial</text><text x="456" y="136" text-anchor="middle" font-size="9" fill="#22c55e" font-family="Inter,system-ui" font-weight="600">Total</text></svg></div><p class="ge-anim">Costain also pioneered BIM-Gather integration, overlaying labour hours and costs onto the 3D model for real-time cost tracking. This first-of-its-kind integration gave the team granular visibility over resource utilisation — essential for delivering a £150 million project on budget.</p><div class="ge-takeaways ge-anim"><div class="ge-takeaways-head">Key takeaways</div><div class="ge-takeaway-item"><div class="ge-tick"><svg width="10" height="8" viewBox="0 0 10 8" fill="none"><path d="M1 4L3.5 6.5L9 1" stroke="#22c55e" stroke-width="1.8" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round"/></svg></div><div class="ge-takeaway-text"><strong>35+ hours saved per week</strong> across resource allocation and commercial reporting</div></div><div class="ge-takeaway-item"><div class="ge-tick"><svg width="10" height="8" viewBox="0 0 10 8" fill="none"><path d="M1 4L3.5 6.5L9 1" stroke="#22c55e" stroke-width="1.8" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round"/></svg></div><div class="ge-takeaway-text"><strong>70+ users onboarded</strong> in less than four weeks, including subcontractors</div></div><div class="ge-takeaway-item"><div class="ge-tick"><svg width="10" height="8" viewBox="0 0 10 8" fill="none"><path d="M1 4L3.5 6.5L9 1" stroke="#22c55e" stroke-width="1.8" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round"/></svg></div><div class="ge-takeaway-text"><strong>£150m project delivered</strong> on time and on budget with complete digital records</div></div><div class="ge-takeaway-item"><div class="ge-tick"><svg width="10" height="8" viewBox="0 0 10 8" fill="none"><path d="M1 4L3.5 6.5L9 1" stroke="#22c55e" stroke-width="1.8" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round"/></svg></div><div class="ge-takeaway-text"><strong>BIM integration pioneered</strong> — labour costs overlaid on 3D model for real-time tracking</div></div><div class="ge-takeaway-item"><div class="ge-tick"><svg width="10" height="8" viewBox="0 0 10 8" fill="none"><path d="M1 4L3.5 6.5L9 1" stroke="#22c55e" stroke-width="1.8" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round"/></svg></div><div class="ge-takeaway-text"><strong>Supply chain transparency</strong> — subcontractor performance evaluated with structured data</div></div></div><div class="ge-closing ge-anim"><p>The success at Gatwick Airport station led to Costain extending Gather across other large-scale projects, including the A12 upgrades — demonstrating that proven digital workflows compound their value across a portfolio.</p></div></div></div>

<section class="ge-cta-banner"><div class="ge-cta-inner"><p class="ge-cta-label">Get results like these</p><h2 class="ge-cta-title">Could Gather do this on your programme?</h2><p class="ge-cta-text">Costain saved 35+ hours per week and delivered a £150m project on time by eliminating paper from day one. See how Gather could transform your next major project.</p><p class="ge-cta-stat"><svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2"><path d="M22 11.08V12a10 10 0 1 1-5.93-9.14"></path><polyline points="22 4 12 14.01 9 11.01"></polyline></svg> 70+ users onboarded in just four weeks at Gatwick Airport station </p><div><a href="/en/book-a-demo" class="ge-btn-demo"> Book a demo <svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2"><line x1="5" y1="12" x2="19" y2="12"></line><polyline points="12 5 19 12 12 19"></polyline></svg></a></div></div></section>

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Project Profile

Client

Costain

Industry

Rail

Value

£150 million project

Rollout

Project

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