Salary

Newly qualified quantity surveyors should expect to earn between £18,000 and £20,000 a year. With chartered status and significant experience, this can rise to £45,000 with senior surveyors earning as much as £80,000.

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Responsibilities

The responsibilities of a surveyor vary from day to day but most projects include the following stages:

• carrying out initial ‘feasibility’ studies, in order to assess costs and materials and estimate the amount of time a project will take
• ensuring that materials to be used during construction match up to environmental guidelines
• negotiating costs and working with vendors to draw up bids for contracts
• monitoring the construction of a building project to ensure costs and materials are in line with the initial assessment
• updating the client on the progress of the project, with particular reference to financial matters
• advising the client on any legal or contractual issues that arise during the project
• representing the client if and when disputes arise
• staying up-to-date on new standards in construction, property and surveying
• preparing and maintaining financial records
• preparing schedules
• writing reports
• monitoring maintenance, demolition and renovation costs of a building once it is up and running

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Qualifications

Quantity surveyors are usually expected to have a degree or an equivalent qualification in a relevant subject such as civil or structural engineering, construction or surveying. To be classed as a qualified surveyor, degrees and other qualifications must be accredited by the RICS (Royal Institution for Chartered Surveyors) or the CIOB (Chartered Institute of Building) so graduates with a non-accredited degree are required to undertake a further postgraduate course in surveying. Many employees offer graduate training schemes, which allow trainees to acquire the necessary accredited qualifications whilst working. For graduates with a degree in construction or engineering there are also distance learning courses available, run by the College of Estate Management, which act as a conversion course to surveying from a relevant field. For those without a degree but with a BTEC, HND or other foundation qualification, it is often possible to start work as a surveying technician which enables employees to learn on the job and take the necessary qualifications to become an accredited surveyor whilst working.

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Skills

Being a successful quantity surveyor requires a certain level of expertise. Quantity surveyors must keep updated with developments in regulations relating to property construction and must be aware of the appropriate legal guidelines when negotiating with clients and vendors. Additionally they should have:

• An excellent understanding of construction methods and materials
• The ability to manage finances
• A high level of IT competency
• Excellent maths skills
• Good attention to detail
• A creative approach to problem solving
• An organised and methodical approach to tasks
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Excellent negotiation abilities
• The ability to work effectively as part of a team
• The ability to write reports and manage databases
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• A willingness and ability to relate to lots of different people
• The ability to stay calm as deadlines approach
• A commitment to the job and a willingness to work long hours

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Working Conditions

Quantity surveyors typically work normal office hours (9 – 5.30) from Monday to Friday but the job can require some weekend and evening work, particularly when unforeseen problems arise with a building project. The job is office-based but requires regular visits to building sites to meet with vendors and monitor progress.

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Experience

Practical surveying experience is crucial for getting work as a quantity surveyor. Most foundation and degree courses have a placement aspect to the course as do professional qualifications and graduate traineeships, which allow students the chance to apply their theoretical knowledge in a working environment. It may still be useful to get further work experience with a qualified surveyor, (especially if there is a certain firm prospective surveyors wish to work for), as a way of making contacts and demonstrating a high level of commitment to the job.

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Employers

There is currently a high demand for quantity surveyors in the UK so there are plenty of job opportunities for newly qualified surveyors. Alternatively there are good opportunities for quantity surveyors to use their skills overseas, particularly in Middle Eastern countries. The best job prospects for quantity surveyors are with independent surveying firms, building contractors, property businesses, civil engineers and with local authority and government departments. It is also common for surveyors to undertake consultancy work or to run their own business, although it is recommended that surveyors gain significant experience working for someone else before setting up alone, in order to develop contacts and gain insight into running a business.

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Career Progression

Once qualified, quantity surveyors have plenty of opportunities for career development. Primarily they can work towards chartered status with the (RICS) Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors or with the (CIOB) Chartered Institute of Building’s Faculty for Architecture and Surveying. The RICS requires surveyors to complete what is known as an Assessment of Professional Competence which can only be completed once surveyors have undertaken at least two years of professional experience and passed an interview with a panel of registered assessors. Similarly chartered status with the CIOB also requires at least two years' work experience alongside an accredited honours degree in a relevant subject. Both the RICS and CIOB also offer various training opportunities to help surveyors stay abreast of changes in regulations associated with building construction and surveying.

Once surveyors have gained chartered status they are able to take on more responsibility in a company. This may include project management or working as a partner in an independent firm, which involves managing staff and making business decisions as well as the usual tasks involved in surveying.

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