Quantity Surveyor
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Quantity surveyors oversee construction projects, managing risks and controlling costs.
- You could work in the public sector for a local authority, housing association or government department.
- You could also work in the private sector for a building contractor, property company, civil engineering or architecture firm.
Your day-to-day tasks may include:
- finding out a client’s needs and assessing if their plans are feasible;
- working out quantities and costs of materials, time and labour for tenders;
- negotiating contracts and work schedules;
- advising on legal matters, including risks and disputes;
- monitoring sub-contractors and stages of construction;
- writing regular reports on costs and preparing accounts for payment;
- keeping up to date with construction methods and materials ;
- following health and safety and building regulations.
- You’ll need a degree or professional qualification accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). This can be a quantity surveying degree or a postgraduate conversion course from any degree. Useful subjects are construction, structural or civil engineering, mathematics, geography, economics or land studies.
- You could also start work as a junior or trainee quantity surveyor, a surveying technician or surveying assistant, then study to become a quantity surveyor.
- You could also get into this job with an apprenticeship.
- You’ll need to be a member of RICS (MRICS) to become a fully qualified chartered surveyor. For this you’ll need to complete the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC).
You’ll need the following skills:
- budgeting skills;
- excellent IT and maths skills;
- organisational and planning skills;
- negotiation and leadership skills.
The following salaries are a guide only:
- Starter: £18,000 to £25,000
- Experienced: £25,000 to £50,000
- Highly Experienced: £50,000 to £80,000 (senior)
Working Conditions
- You’ll usually work Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm. You may work evenings or weekends. Hours may be longer if you work on-site as a contractor.
- You’ll spend time in an office and visiting building sites.
- You’ll usually need a full driving licence.
Further Information
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