Senior Lecturer in Quantity Surveying, Danstan Chiponde, explains what quantity surveying is and why it plays such an important role in today’s construction industry.
What is Quantity Surveying?
Quantity surveyors are specialised construction professionals who play a key role in managing and controlling costs on a construction project from initiation to completion.
Why is it an important job?
With construction projects involving huge sums of money, the role of a quantity surveyor is key in ensuring the efficient use of resources. Equipped with construction technology, cost planning and estimating skills, among other skills, quantity surveyors assist with evaluating cost effective design, processes and building materials and elements. Additionally, they offer early cost estimation and advice during the feasibility stage of a project for the client or project team members to make informed decision.
What are the roles and responsibilities?
The main role of quantity surveyors is ensuring that the client gets value from the money spent on construction projects. To achieve that, quantity surveyors perform other roles which include cost estimation, cost planning and budgeting. During construction, quantity surveyors are involved in the procurement of materials, cost control and valuation of the works. During the post construction stage, quantity surveying roles include costing and planning maintenance work, alteration and rehabilitation, were necessary. Additionally, quantity surveyors are expected to prepare reports to review the financial performance of the project during construction and at completion. With knowledge in contract management, quantity surveyors also play a key role in dispute mitigation and resolution. Taking a whole cycle approach, quantity surveyors ensure that cost efficiency is achieved not only during construction but through the entire life of a project.
BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying
Find out more about our course
What skills do you need to become a Quantity Surveyor?
At Birmingham City University, were ensure that students develop both soft and technical skills which are essential for one to succeed as quantity surveyor. For soft skills, you will be expected to be a team player and develop problem solving skills, and have a strong attention to detail. Good communication skills are key since you will be involved with pricing and negotiating cost with different stakeholders such as suppliers, clients and subcontractors etc. Technical skills such as construction technology, cost estimation and contract management are some of the other key skills needed. With projects increasing in complexity and size, as quantity surveyor, one is expected to have excellent digital skills to apply in both cost estimation and cost control. Hence, at Birmingham Cit University, we ensure that students are introduced to digital tools and software such as Building Information Modelling (BIM) and CostX which is used in the pricing and costing construction projects.
What career opportunities are there?
Upon graduating with a degree in quantity surveyor you can work as junior or trainee quantity surveyor. There are several opportunities to progress in your career by working as an estimator, commercial manager, contracts manager or taking on mainstream senior quantity surveying roles. Both the private and public sector offer opportunities for to work as a quantity surveyor. Within the private sector, you can work as a consultant or a contractor’s quantity surveyor. In the public sector, such as local authorities, quantity surveyors are also employed to deliver the much-needed infrastructure to communities. Overall, you can work on a wide ranging projects as a quantity surveyor such as civil engineering, building and commercial which all offer career opportunities for quantity surveyors.
How much money can you earn?
Quantity surveyors pay is quite competitive. On average, fresh graduates earn circa £28,000. After two years or more the earnings range from £34,000 – £56,000 whilst those holding senior roles such as commercial managers may earn over £60,000.
How to begin a career in Quantity Surveying.
You can start your career in Quantity Surveying, by enrolling onto our BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying course at Birmingham City University. The course is accredited by both the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and Chartered Institute of Builders (CIOB). This means that the learning content on our course is aligned with the industry expectations which enhances your employability upon graduating.