Building on people’s perceptions

Like many chartered building and quantity surveyors, Claire Leaver came across the profession by chance. “My degree was in classics and classical architecture and since I didn’t really know what to do with it, I sent off 120 applications to various sectors to see what happened. I received eight good offers, but it was the one in quantity surveying that stood out because it led to a solid qualification. If I want to take time out to, say, have a family, I felt someone would always employ me,” says Leaver, 26, who works as a quantity surveyor for property and construction consultancy Ridge.

The fact that an employer was willing to fund her conversion course also helped, she admits. “The training scheme was well structured, as well as innovative,” she adds. “For instance, they used mock actors so that you could practice how you would be in front a client,” she says.

Now that she’s in the profession, Leaver says there are other rewards. “It’s such a varied career.

I’ve worked on projects ranging from industrial plants to supermarkets. I also like the fact that you’re not stuck in an office. You’re also out and about seeing buildings grow as a result of your work. It’s a very social career too.” Phe Yianni, 29, a quantity surveyor at the same firm, also discovered her profession inadvertently. “I did a degree in biology and genetics and started working at Lloyds TSB as a temp. When I’d worked my way up to a project support role, I found myself doing a lot of work with quantity surveyors, a job I’d never even heard of before but one which I found really interesting.” She was also supported to do the conversion course and now loves the day-to-day challenges of the job, alongside the opportunity to improve communities by working on projects ranging from refurbishments of schools to operating theatres of hospitals.

The problem is that the shortfall of quantity and building surveyors means the industry can no longer afford to leave such career choices to chance. “People seem to consider accountancy, law or IT above surveying – often because they don’t know what surveying involves,” says Graham Smith, spokesperson for the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). “It doesn’t help that the image of surveying can be dull. Whilst property is seen as an increasingly ‘cool’ world, I think constructionstillsuffersfromtheimage of day glo jackets and hard hats.” The reality is anything but dull. Quantity surveyors manage all costs relating to building projects. From the initial calculations to the final figures, they seek to min-imise the costs of a project and enhance value for money, whilst still achieving the required standards and quality. “The role involves a lot of communication due to the amount of liasing you have to do,” adds Smith.

Meanwhile, building surveyors provide professional advice on all aspects of property and construction. They work on site with new buildings, as well as getting involved in the aftercare and performance of existing buildings. The nature of the work ranges from the design of large, multimillion-pound structures to modest adaptations and repairs, and can sometimes include working with buildings of architectural or historic importance. Today’s building surveyors are very IT and technology driven, says Smith. “For instance, instead of using tape measures, they fire lasers across rooms to measure distance.”

There are three main entry routes into each profession – via a cognate degree, via a non-cognate degree plus a conversion course or via the undergraduate route. “You don’t necessary need to be an academic to work your way up,” says George Marsh, chairman of Chase Norton Construction. “The construction industry is much more focused on attitude.” Gordon Headley, group HR director at David Wilson Homes, says the undergraduate route is becoming more common. “We support them through an ONC, an HNC and some go on to do a BSC. It’s a longer route, but there’s no student debt at the end.”

Surveying suffers from the largest number of vacancies in David Wilson Homes, a situation that Headley describes as critical “because surveyors have such a massive effect on the business”. Among the company’s attempts to get people in is through competitive salaries and good health benefits and car allowances. “We also point out that a lot of key management positions, including our chief executive, are filled by ex-surveyors,” he says.

Dominic Fussell, managing director of Hurstwood Construction, is also a surveyor by training. “This is an industry that recognises hard work and surveyors are treated as increasingly professional,” he says. Other work being done at a grass roots level to attract people into surveying is building stronger links between employers and careers guidance. Chris Morley, man-aging partner of Ridge, says, “We’ve sent posters to universities for their careers board. Sometimes it’s the simple things that work well because many people don’t know what surveying is.” Ridge is also involved in sponsoring places at educational institutions and is in the process of formalising its summer and sandwich-year work placements. “We’re also thinking of sponsoring a prize or two, where the best student in a subject gets a prize, such as a work placement.” Robert Elegba, 26, points out that some of the most exciting opportunities in surveying at the moment are related to the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. “I have got to work on some fantastic projects such as the Olympic & Legacy Developments, which has definitely been the highlight of my career so far,” he says.

‘It was a steep learning curve but the challenge was rewarding’

Silas Lees, 27, is a building surveyor for Tuffin Ferraby Taylor.

---------- When I was an estate agent, I decided I wanted a qualification to further my career path, as well as a career that had broader scope. Building surveying fit the bill perfectly.

The training was a steep learning curve, but the challenge has been rewarding. Now that I’m qualified, the world is my oyster. There are openings in places like Dubai, if you want them. I love the fact that every day is different, that I’m not stuck in an office and that I get to travel up and down the country working with various different kinds of buildings. I enjoy the client side too.

Some of the projects I’ve been involved in recently are dilapidation surveys on restaurants and industrial units, as well as a refurbishment of an office block in Birmingham.

I think you need to be get on well with people to do this job, as well as have a forward thinking and problem solving approach.

---------- ‘The experience I got alongside my studies is invaluable’ Sue Nutt, 27, is a quantity surveyor for construction and property consultancy RLF. ----------

I was going to study history at university, but I decided to go for a subject that would lead directly to a career. I also liked the idea of studying at university, alongside training on the job.

It took me five years to train part-time, plus two years to get my chartered status. But the experience I got alongside my studies in my day-to-day job is invaluable. I’ve been involved with projects for a bank, for the education sector and for the health sector.

Now that I’m qualified, I could divert into project management, which I might consider in the future. For now, my aim is to become a rounded surveyor with experience in bigger and bigger multi-million pound projects.

A lot of people think you have to be really numerate to do this job, but I didn’t do A-level maths. I think it’s mo re important to be able to think logically and have good negotiating skills – and even those can be learned over time.

Source: The Independent


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