Quantity Surveyors work within the construction, land management and property industries.  They are part of a team of professionals and skilled tradespeople who help to ensure that new build or refurbishment projects are delivered on time and on budget.  The QS is focused particularly on a project’s costs to ensure it doesn’t overspend.

A QS can be involved right from the outset of a project, working through estimates and helping to establish if a project is financially feasible, perhaps working from an architect’s drawing to work up outline costs and a schedule of work. They will look at the materials specified, for example, to help ensure that they are both fit for purpose but also cost-efficient.  As such, a QS could have an important say in purchasing decisions, including promoting sustainable or carbon-free materials.  

As a project moves towards the build phase, the QS will work in more detail to quantify, schedule and order final materials and tasks.  They will then stay on top of the budget through the build to make sure that the actual costs are what was forecast.  Sometimes this means the QS has to respond quickly to changes, if a project hits a problem, a change in material specification is required or simply if material prices have risen, perhaps finding savings or solutions elsewhere. 

Day to day, a QS is just as likely to be in the office as they are to be out on a construction site.  In the office, they will prepare tender documents to win new projects, prepare contracts for jobs, write reports on current projects and probably be in meetings with colleagues and potential clients.  On site, they’ll be assessing progress and meeting with construction teams to keep a handle on the finances.  No two projects are ever quite the same so it can certainly be a varied and interesting role.

How to become a QS

You will need a degree-level qualification in a subject accredited by RICS, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, but there are several routes to achieve that.  You could go straight for an accredited degree, which will be called something like ‘Quantity Surveying’ or ‘Construction and Surveying’.  You could choose another degree subject (something relevant to construction is preferable, like Maths, Civil Engineering or Geography) and then do the RICS Postgraduate conversion course.

You could start by working in the industry to gain experience, perhaps as a technical surveyor, and work part-time towards your RICS-approved degree.  In England, there are now two Apprenticeship routes that work this way: the Level 4 Construction Quantity Surveying Technician Apprenticeship and the Degree Level Quantity Surveyor.  It is not unusual for those who trained in hands-on construction skills, such as bricklaying, to go on to become a QS through this vocational route; their previous site experience gives them great insight into understanding projects and life on site.

Some QSs chose to become Chartered Surveyors, which means they are personally registered and professionally accredited by RICS. To do this, you will need to take further studies, demonstrate your experience and your commitment to continuing professional development.  You can find out more about this on the RICS website, www.risc.org. Whether you choose to take up professional registration or not may depend on where you work.  Some QSs work in consultancy, in which case the desire to be Chartered and a Member of RICS may be greater than for those who work in construction firms. You also have the option to become a member of the CIOB (Chartered Institute of Building).

Good to know

Quantity Surveyors need quite a diverse set of skills, from communications and teamwork to IT skills, from great numeracy to problem-solving skills.  As you would expect, the preferred subjects for entry into this role are those that can demonstrate this. At Level 2/GCSE, Maths, Physics and Design Tech would be useful; at Level 3, A Level Maths or Physics or the new T Level (in England) in Construction are desirable.  A QS needs a good working knowledge of the construction industry so any work experience you can get in this or a related area will help and demonstrate your interest in the role.

About RICS – the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors

RICS can trace its history in the UK back to 1792, when The Surveyors Club first met.  However, it was formally recognised in 1868, when The Institution of Surveyors officially agreed on professional standards that would guide their industry. The need for such a body then was driven by the rapid development and expansion of the industrialised world; as infrastructure, housing and transport links grew, so did the need for more stringent checks and balances.

Today, globally recognised and with 134,000 professional members, those same needs still apply. RICS seeks to influence policy across the world, to ensure that our physical assets are best used without spoiling the planet for future generations. Through their professional standards, qualification and development programmes, and their role in providing data and insight, RICS supports its members to pioneer better places to live and work and to be a force for positive social impact.

For more information about the RICS, visit their website, www.rics.org

The CIOB – Chartered Institute of Building

For more information about the CIOB, visit their website www.ciob.org