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Quantity surveyors are responsible for managing all aspects of the contractual and financial side of construction projects.

Quantity surveyors manage the costs on a construction project. They help to ensure that the construction project is completed within its projected budget. Alternative job titles for a quantity surveyor include ‘cost consultant’, ‘commercial manager’, ‘cost manager’ and ‘cost engineer’.

The tasks quantity surveyors complete will differ according to whether they are working on the design or the construction stage of a project (and therefore whether they are working for a consultancy – which focuses on the design stage – or the contractor, who builds the project). Depending on the stage of the project and their employer, they might:

• price/forecast the cost of the different materials needed for the project

• prepare tender documents, contracts, budgets, bills of quantities and other documentation

• track changes to the design and/or construction work and adjusting budget projections accordingly

• procure or agree the services of contractors and/or subcontractors who work on the construction of the project

• measure and value the work done on site

• pay subcontractors

• liaise with the client and other construction professionals, such as site managers, project managers and site engineers

• select and/or source construction materials

• write reports

Qualifications and training required

There are routes into a career as a quantity surveyor for both university graduates and school leavers.

Key skills for chartered surveyors

• Numeracy

• A good working knowledge of MS Excel and the ability to learn how to use specialist software

• Excellent relationship-building and interpersonal skills

• Teamworking

• The ability to negotiate

• Attention to detail and a methodical approach to work

Typical employers of quantity surveyors

The main employers for quantity surveyors are:

• specialist cost management/quantity surveying consultancies working within the construction industry

• construction and engineering companies (consultants and contractors)

However, quantity surveyors may also find a few vacancies with these types of employers:

• property firms and property developers

• architectural practices

• infrastructure and utility companies, eg Network Rail and Scottish Water

• public sector organisations