Free Quantity Surveying Software

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Aquantity surveyor (QS) is a construction industry professional with expert knowledge on construction costs and contracts. Qualified professional quantity surveyors are known as Chartered Surveyors (Members and Fellows of RICS) in the UK and Certified Quantity Surveyors (a designation of the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors) in Australia and other countries. In some countries such as Canada, South Africa, Kenya and Mauritius, qualified quantity surveyors are known as Professional Quantity Surveyors, a title protected by law.[1][2][3]

Quantity surveyors are responsible for managing all aspects of the contractual and financial side of construction projects. They help to ensure that the construction project is completed within its projected budget. Quantity surveyors are also hired by contractors to help with the valuation of construction work for the contractor, help with bidding and project budgeting, and the submission of bills to the client.

A university degree or diploma alone does not allow one to register as a Quantity Surveyor. Usually, anyone looking to qualify as a Chartered Quantity Surveyor, Certified Quantity Surveyor or Professional Quantity Surveyor must hold appropriate educational qualifications and work experience, and must pass a professional competence assessment.

The RICS requires an RICS approved degree, several years of practical experience, and passing the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) to qualify as a Chartered Quantity Surveyor. Some candidates may be entitled to qualify through extensive experience and reciprocity agreements.[4]

As construction projects become increasingly complex, the demand for skilled quantity surveyors continues to grow. The future of quantity surveying lies in embracing digitalization, automation, and sustainable practices. Quantity surveyors will play a pivotal role in managing costs, optimizing resources, and ensuring the financial success of construction projects.[5]

There are several routes to becoming a quantity surveyor. You can gain the qualifications you need by doing a university course or an apprenticeship. If you already have relevant experience you may be able to apply directly to an employer or train on the job. You should explore the options to find out which is the right one for you.

If you already hold an unrelated first degree you could complete a postgraduate conversion course. This should be accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB).

You could gain a postgraduate surveying qualification via a graduate trainee scheme with a construction or surveying company. The University College of Estate Management offers postgraduate distance learning courses.

An apprenticeship with a construction firm is a good way into the industry. Apprenticeships are open to anyone over the age of 16. As an apprentice, you will be fully employed by your company and expected to work a minimum of 30 hours a week. Your time will be split between on-the-job experience and a college or training provider.

Work experience is essential to gaining employment within the construction industry. You could gain this at school, or by working weekends and holidays with a company or relative who works as a quantity surveyor. Potential employers will always be pleased to see work experience listed on your CV.

As a quantity surveyor you will be responsible for helping to estimate costs, quantities, and project timelines and providing this information to clients. You will be liasing with a variety of other teams and helping to keep a project on track.

With time, you could become a senior quantity surveyor, project manager, contracts or commercial manager. Many surveyors specialise in one area such as planning, contracts, mechanical or electrical projects, or risk assessments.

This scheme equipped me with in-depth industry experience, Associate membership with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and a RICS-accredited degree with London South Bank University, enabling me to pursue chartered membership with the RICS. These were excellent stepping stones towards securing my current role.There are lots of other routes into quantity surveying too. You can join the profession without A-Levels as a Level 3 apprentice with GCSE's or as a graduate (QS or non-related).

In a consultancy where people in particular are an asset, being personable, enthusiastic and having great interpersonal skills are as vital as having the technical skills to influence projects from inception to completion. For a Cost Manager, five of these necessary skills include:

I aspire to become a Chartered Quantity Surveyor as a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS) and further my academic studies by undertaking an MSc specialising in Construction Law.

Gaining MRICS status is dependent on route of entry to the RICS (full time degree / part time degree / experienced route). As an indicator, the average UK salary of a MRICS chartered surveyor is quoted as being in the region of 60,000*

Gaining practical industry experience alongside your studies can greatly increase your employment prospects. Some quantity surveying degrees include a year-long work placement which can lead to job offers once you've graduated. Employers may also consider sponsoring you for the remainder of your degree, giving you a part-time job while you complete your studies.

You can make speculative applications to smaller companies that you're interested in who may not advertise their opportunities. Use the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Find a Surveyor facility for company contact details.

You could also look into becoming a RICS student member, which gives you access to industry news and journals as well as networking opportunities. It will also indicate to employers that you have a real enthusiasm and interest in the field.

There are also opportunities to work in commercial and operations management or in a project management role with a wide range of companies. You could also move into finance, risk and logistics work with a variety of employers.

Studying quantity surveying provides you with specialist knowledge in cost planning, procurement processes, technical aspects, risk management and the management of construction projects. You'll also gain an understanding of health and safety, legal, financial, political and economic issues and how these impact on construction processes, as well as ethical practices and sustainability.

On completion of a RICS-accredited quantity surveying degree, you can start to work towards achieving chartered surveyor status in your job. To become chartered and a professional member of RICS, you'll need to complete the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC).

There are also opportunities to undertake postgraduate study in various areas depending on the direction you'd like your career to take. These include quantity surveying, commercial management, construction project management, strategic project management, and construction law and dispute resolution.

The vast majority of quantity surveying graduates (83%) in employment in the UK are working as architects, chartered architectural technologists, planning officers, surveyors and construction professionals 15 months after graduation.

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Although all of the above require rectifying I think its generally agreed the most pressing issue of our generation is the ever-impending shadow of climate change; that after 40 years of warnings is finally coming home to roost.

Sustainable Materials and Technologies: Quantity surveyors will need to prioritise the use of sustainable materials and technologies that have lower carbon footprints. This may involve assessing the embodied carbon of materials, evaluating their life cycle impacts, and considering alternatives that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Energy Efficiency Analysis: Quantity surveyors will play a crucial role in assessing and incorporating energy-efficient measures into construction projects. This may include analysing energy consumption patterns, estimating energy-saving potentials, and evaluating the cost-effectiveness of energy-efficient technologies. Life Cycle Costing: Traditional quantity surveying focuses on upfront costs, but in the context of climate change, life cycle costing becomes essential. Quantity surveyors will need to consider the long-term costs and benefits associated with sustainable design choices, energy efficiency measures, and maintenance requirements over the lifespan of a building or infrastructure. Carbon Accounting and Offsetting: Quantity surveyors may be involved in carbon accounting, measuring and reporting the carbon emissions associated with construction projects. They may also need to explore carbon offsetting options to mitigate the carbon footprint of projects by investing in renewable energy projects or other carbon reduction initiatives. Resilience and Adaptation: Climate change brings risks such as extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and changing climatic conditions. Quantity surveyors will need to assess and incorporate resilience and adaptation measures into their cost planning and risk management processes to ensure that projects can withstand and adapt to these challenges. Regulatory Compliance: Quantity surveyors will need to stay up-to-date with evolving environmental regulations and building codes related to climate change. This includes understanding energy performance standards, emissions targets, and sustainable design requirements to ensure compliance during cost estimation and tendering processes. Stakeholder Engagement: Quantity surveyors will increasingly need to collaborate with various stakeholders, including architects, engineers, sustainability consultants, and clients, to integrate climate change considerations into the project development process. Effective communication and collaboration will be vital in achieving sustainable and climate-resilient outcomes.

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