OCCUPATIONAL

PROFILE

Quantity surveyor

Job Description
A quantity surveyor manages all costs relating to building projects, from the initial calculations to the final figures.
Surveyors seek to minimise the costs of a project and enhance value for money, while still achieving the required
standards and quality. Many of these are specified by statutory building regulations, which the surveyor needs to
understand and adhere to.

A quantity surveyor may work for either the client or the contractor, working in an office or on site. The title of the job may
also be referred to as a construction cost consultant or commercial manager.

Typical Work Activities

Typical tasks may include:

• managing costs on a wide variety of new building projects and structures, such as residential developments, sports
stadiums, roads and bridges, schools, hospitals, offices and factories;
• undertaking costs analysis for repair and maintenance project work;
• assisting in establishing a client’s requirements and undertaking feasibility studies;
• performing risk and value management and cost control;
• advising on procurement strategy;
• preparing tender and contract documents, including bills of quantities;
• identifying, analysing and developing responses to commercial risks;
• preparing and analysing costings for tenders;
• allocating work to subcontractors;
• providing advice on contractual claims;
• analysing outcomes and writing detailed progress reports;
• valuing completed work and arranging payments;
• maintaining awareness of the different building contracts in current use;
• understanding the implications of health and safety regulations.

Areas requiring more specialised knowledge include:

• offering advice on property taxation;

• providing post-occupancy advice, facilities management services and life cycle costing advice;
• assisting clients in locating and accessing additional and alternative sources of funds;
• enabling clients to initiate construction projects;
• advising on the maintenance costs of specific buildings.

Work Conditions
• Range of typical starting salaries: £17,000 - £25,000 (salary data collected May 08). Obtaining chartered status
increases both your job and salary options.
• Range of typical salaries at senior level may be £25,000 - £50,000+ (salary data collected May 08). Principal
partners in private practice may earn substantially more.
• Contractors pay at a slightly higher rate and £20,000 is not an uncommon starting salary. Shift and site allowances
are often paid on top of the basic salary. Company packages may include a car, pension and healthcare.
• Salary increases reflect the gaining of qualifications and responsibilities undertaken.
• Local government salaries are comparable and may include final salary pension schemes. A company car is not
usually offered but car mileage for site visits may be available.
• Working hours vary. A contractor on site may work 7.30am - 6:00pm, while in private practice (PQS) or in a local
government department, hours are usually 8.30am - 5.30pm. Occasional weekend work may be required.
• The work is generally office-based, although offices are often on construction sites, If not, day-long site visits may
involve early starts and late finishes or an overnight stay. Secondment to sites for longer periods of time is also
possible.
• Quantity surveying is a male-dominated profession, but the number of female recruits is significant and growing in
both private practice and the public sector.
• Self-employment/freelance work is frequently possible. Companies are increasingly making use of freelance or
agency workers to compete for contracts and offer faster turn-around times for completion.
• Opportunities for overseas posts and for occasional overseas work or travel are available. This varies according to
the type of employer and the location of the site and the client.

This Occupational Profile forms part of Prospects Planner www.prospects.ac.uk/links/occupations Page 1 of 4

Quantity surveyor

Entry Requirements
Although this area of work is open to all graduates, a degree in quantity surveying improves your chances. Other relevant
courses are accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) (www.rics.org) and the Chartered Institute
of Building (CIOB) (www.ciob.org.uk). Alternatively, a degree with some numerical or technical content would be an
advantage.

Relevant HND subjects include:

• building/construction;
• urban and land studies;
• civil/structural engineering.

HND/HNC Diplomates may register as ‘technical surveyors’ but many opt to top-up their qualification. This may be done
by following an RICS-recognised distance-learning course or part-time/day-release route towards a degree.

Entry without a degree or HND is sometimes possible by working your way up through the industry. Some employers
may be willing to fund part-time degree top-up courses, while others may prefer graduates. Those with non-relevant
degrees need to take an RICS-recognised postgraduate conversion course. See the Prospects Postgraduate Directory
(www.prospects.ac.uk/links/Pgdbase) for details of courses.

Further study is essential in order to gain professional qualifications and membership of RICS. Relevant work
experience, either on site or within an office, gives you a valuable start. Candidates also need to show evidence of the
following:

• practical and logical qualities and a methodical way of thinking;

• a creative and innovative approach to problem-solving;
• strong numeracy and financial management skills and the ability to learn sophisticated design and costing IT
packages;
• the ability to write clear and precise reports and to relate complex information simply to a diverse range of people;
• negotiating and teamworking skills and the ability to motivate and lead those on site;
• detailed knowledge of past and current building and construction technology, business and legal matters;
• awareness of current issues and who's who in the industry.

A work experience placement gives you an understanding of the construction industry as a whole and also what skills are
required in this environment.

Many large, private practice firms have an annual intake of graduates and may have closing dates in December or
January. Others, including smaller employers, may accept speculative applications.

It is illegal for employers to discriminate against candidates on the grounds of age, gender, race, disability, sexual
orientation or religious faith. Entry into the profession carries no specific age limit. Success depends more on individual
skills, experiences and commitment, yet evidence of significant numbers of mature entrants is sparse. For more
information on equality and diversity in the job market see Handling Discrimination
(www.prospects.ac.uk/links/discrimination).

Training
In order to progress, it is important to have professional qualifications. Membership of the Royal Institution of Chartered
Surveyors (RICS) (www.rics.org) is normally gained with an approved degree in quantity surveying and the completion of
the competence-based training programme, the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC), which includes a
minimum of two years' practical experience within a related field.

The APC requires the completion of a record of progress, diary and log books recording your relevant training and
experiences. A final, written, critical analysis of around 3,000 words on a project you have been involved in, along with
the log books and diaries, is submitted to the RICS. This forms the basis of an oral presentation to an assessment panel
prior to a final interview. Successful completion provides certification of overall competence to practise.

There are part-time and full-time courses for graduates with degrees in other subjects. Students also need three years'
practical experience before taking the final APC. Satisfactory completion of an approved industrial year or part-time
training may count towards the APC training. Some fast-track conversion courses, lasting up to three years, are
available.

Continuing professional development (CPD) is becoming an important aspect of maintaining professional competencies
and practice standards. RICS have established a lifelong learning programme for recording any professional
development. The process may include open learning, private study (academic papers/industry publications), attending
conferences and events, running workshops and further study or in-house training. Developing and maintaining
professional competencies throughout your career are keys to progression.

Page 2 of 4 See also AGCAS Sector Briefings for an overview of job sectors - www.prospects.ac.uk/links/sectorbs
 Quantity surveyor

Career Development
Advances in technology have allowed quantity surveyors access to techniques for managing a wider variety of projects.
As a result, they are able to market their expertise more effectively and their management skills more widely. Quantity
surveyors, in acting as negotiators on behalf of clients in their dealings with architects and contractors, have always
performed as commercial managers. This function is likely to become an area of growth.

Experienced quantity surveyors may undertake project management, effectively controlling the whole of a project on
behalf of the client from initial design stage through to completion. This development is largely due to the growth of
expertise in cost predictions and control. It has led surveyors to use their skills in wider spheres of activity, e.g. cost
engineering in the petro-chemical and engineering industries. With experience, some take on more strategic roles in
value engineering and risk assessment, while others may specialise in contractual disputes.

The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) (www.ciob.org.uk) has many members who work as quantity surveyors.
Students seeking work in the civil engineering, petro-chemical and general engineering construction industries may
consider joining the Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (ICES) (www.ices.org.uk/), approximately half of whose
members are qualified quantity surveyors. Similarly, it may be worth joining the Association of Cost Engineers (ACostE)
(www.acoste.org.uk).

There are opportunities for working abroad. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) (www.rics.org)
advertises vacancies with international employers through the jobs section of their website, RICS Recruit.

Typical Employers
The three major employers of quantity surveyors are the offices of private practice quantity surveyors (PQS), the
surveying sections of building and civil engineering contractors, and local authorities and government agencies.

Many of these employers operate as multidisciplinary teams or departments, so quantity surveyors are likely to be
working alongside other surveying professionals, such as civil engineers and architects. Quantity surveyors who work for
contractors are often likely to be based on site, working with site agents or contract managers.

Other types of organisations likely to employ quantity surveyors include large engineering consultancies and housing
associations. Specialist house builders seek the expertise of quantity surveyors, as do some commercial companies, or
indeed any public body with a large property portfolio.

Large international mechanical contractors and petroleum engineering companies often recruit quantity surveyors under
the alternative title of cost engineer.

Sources of Vacancies
• Estates Gazette (www.egi.co.uk);
• Building (www.building.co.uk);
• Contract Journal (www.contractjournal.com);
• RICS Business;
• Property Week (www.propertyweek.com);
• QS Week (www.qsweek.com);
• RICS Directory;
• Construction News (www.cnplus.co.uk).
• Opportunities: The Public Sector Recruitment Weekly (www.opportunities.co.uk);
• Local Government Jobs (www.lgjobs.com).

Academic departments may also be approached by employers, so it is worthwhile keeping in touch with tutors.

Recruitment consultancies, working closely with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) (www.rics.org), and
the local and national press sometimes offer temporary and permanent vacancies.

Related Occupations
• Building control surveyor
• Building services engineer
• Building surveyor
• Civil engineering surveyor
• Consulting civil engineer
• Contracting civil engineer
• Facilities manager
• Land/geomatics surveyor
• Loss adjuster, chartered
• Planning and development surveyor
• Urban general practice surveyor

Find comprehensive careers information on www.prospects.ac.uk and in your HE careers service Page 3 of 4
Quantity surveyor

Information Sources
Bibliography
AGCAS and Graduate Prospects products are available from higher education careers services.
AGCAS Publications
Construction Sector, AGCAS Sector Briefing
Engineering Sector, AGCAS Sector Briefing
Handling Discrimination, AGCAS Information Booklet
Options with Building/Construction Management, AGCAS Options Series
Graduate Prospects Publications
Prospects Postgraduate Directory
Other Publications
RICS Business, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), 10 issues p a
Building, CMP United Business Media, Weekly
Construction News, EMAP Construct, Weekly
Contract Journal, Reed Business Information, Weekly
Estates Gazette, Reed Business Information, Weekly
The GET Directory, GTI Specialist Publishers (http://www.groupgti.com), Annual
GET Engineering, Hobsons Plc (http://www.get.hobsons.co.uk), Annual
Inside Careers: Engineering & Technology (http://www.insidecareers.co.uk), Inside Careers, Annual
Opportunities: The Public Sector Recruitment Weekly, Opportunities, Weekly
Property Week, CMP Data & Information Services, Weekly
RICS Directory, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), Annual
TARGETjobs Construction & Building Services, GTI Specialist Publishers (http://www.groupgti.com), Annual
TARGETjobs Engineering, GTI Specialist Publishers (http://www.groupgti.com), Annual
TARGETjobs Quantity Surveying & Building Surveying including Commercial Management, GTI Specialist Publishers
(http://www.groupgti.com), Annual

Websites
Building4jobs, www.building4jobs.co.uk
Careers in Construction, www.careersinconstruction.com
Local Government Jobs, www.lgjobs.com
QS Week, www.qsweek.com

Addresses
Association of Cost Engineers (ACostE), Lea House, 5 Middlewich Road, Sandbach, Cheshire CW11 1XL
Tel: 01270 764798 URL: www.acoste.org.uk
Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), Englemere, Kings Ride, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7TB Tel: 01344 630 700 URL:
www.ciob.org.uk
Engineering Council UK (ECUK), 246 High Holborn, London WC1V 7EX Tel: 020 3206 0500 URL: www.engc.org.uk
Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (ICES), Dominion House, Sibson Road, Sale, Cheshire M33 7PP
Tel: 0161 972 3100 URL: www.ices.org.uk/
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), Surveyor Court, Westwood Way, Coventry CV4 8JE Tel: 0870 333 1600
URL: www.rics.org

© Content copyright of or licensed to AGCAS (www.agcas.org.uk)

Written by Ruth Livermore, The University of Birmingham, 28/05/2008

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