Introduction

Every local authority has considerable investment in land, property and buildings. There is a specialist surveyor to cover each of the following property functions:

• building
• quantity
• land measurement
• valuation
• planning and development
• technical surveys to support the chartered surveyor.

Quantity surveyors deal with the financial side of construction and engineering and the post can be found in every type of authority except county councils. They are part of the Building Consultancy Service and in some authorities they may be part of the technical services section under the direction of the senior quantity surveyor.

Work Environment

Surveyors spend some time on outdoor sites and attending external meetings but quantity surveyors mostly work in an office writing reports, dealing with administration and preparing plans and costings. The hours are 37 hours per week and do not usually involve anti-social shifts. Only when site visits are required do they wear protective clothing such as hard hats.

Daily Activities

Quantity surveyors work on projects for their own property services directorate and for other client departments and agencies. They monitor and estimate costs and are involved in building projects from the planning stage through to final completion. Their training gives them a thorough grounding in building and construction techniques as well as the financial and accounting side. Each piece of work is normally put out to tender and quantity surveyors will examine the returns and advise the authority on technical aspects of the project. They also act on behalf of the council in applying for grants or subsidies that are available for certain specific improvements (from the European Fund, for example), as well provide advice on grant applications from local residents for home improvements. Their duties can be broken down into:

• preparation of feasibility estimates and cost plans
• responsibility for managing specific contracts and acting as lead consultant
• preparation of tender and contract documents
• undertaking interim valuations of project cost implications and producing interim
• certificates giving a provisional green light for construction
• dealing with any variation in contracts
• ensuring final accounts are paid and are in accordance with stipulated time limits ad other conditions
• acting as manager/supervisor of junior surveying staff on projects
• encouraging cost consciousness in everybody who is connected with construction.

Quantity surveyors are responsible to senior quantity surveyors and work in conjunction with them during the tender, contract and accounting stages of projects.

Skills & Interests

You would need the following to do the job well:

• mathematical ability
• an appreciation of general building construction
• knowledge of Standard Method of Measurement
• knowledge of JCT contract forms
• the ability to work in a team and on your own initiative
• supervisory ability
• working knowledge of computerised systems
• a knowledge of health and safety procedures
• the ability to get on with people from different backgrounds.

Entry Requirements

A degree, or equivalent, in quantity surveying is essential. Qualification as a chartered surveyor is also usually required.

A minimum of one year’s postgraduate experience is required. This should include having worked in the administration of medium sized contracts through to final account including cost plan and estimates preparation.

Estimated salary range

£19,770 – £22,971

Please note that salary information is a guide only and there may be local agreements in place. For further information about salaries for particular positions, please contact your local council directly.

Future prospects & opportunities

Surveyors are widely employed throughout local government and there are many opportunities for specialization in other branches of the work, particularly in large authorities. The next step up the ladder is Senior Quantity Surveyor that is attainable with further experience.

Professional training leads to corporate membership of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

Related Occupations

Follow this link to view a list of all related occuptions in Building Your Community.
Alternatively, follow this link to view all career profiles placed in the same job area.

Further Information & Services

Surveyor journal

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors www.rics.org.uk

Construction Skills www.citb.co.uk

You may find further information about this area of work in your local Connexions service/careers office/school careers library – under BC.

What should I do next?

Look for current local government Quantity Surveyor vacancies in the following places:

• LGjobs.com - the official recruitment website for local government.
• Weekly, bi-weekly or monthly jobs bulletins produced by local councils themselves, available from libraries, community centres, town halls/main civic buildings and central council personnel departments.
• Local council websites.
• Local newspapers
• National newspapers – The Guardian is particularly well known for its public sector job advertisements on a Wednesday.

Find out about the council and get some work experience if possible by:

• Making the most of work experience placements arranged through your school, college or university.
• Contacting councils close to your home to find out about the work experience opportunities they offer.
• Talking to someone who does the job you are interested in – ring your local council to see if someone can spare some time.
• Making an appointment to see a careers adviser for more specific information about jobs and training.