Construction & Infrastructure

A Quantity Surveyor manages the financial and contractual aspects of construction and infrastructure projects, ensuring that works are delivered on budget and that costs are accurately forecast, measured, and controlled throughout the project lifecycle. Day-to-day work involves preparing bills of quantities and cost estimates at the design stage, procuring subcontractors and materials, managing interim payment applications and valuations, assessing variations and change orders, handling contractual claims, and producing cost reports for clients and project managers. The role spans the full construction lifecycle from feasibility through to final account, and sits at the boundary between technical construction knowledge, commercial negotiation, and financial management. Quantity Surveyors work in two main contexts: as client-side (employer's) QS roles overseeing costs on behalf of the organisation funding a project, and as contractor-side QS roles managing costs and income for the company building it. Both require the same core skills but involve different commercial objectives. The profession is large and broad — construction, civil engineering, housing, rail, utilities, and facilities management all employ QS professionals. The UK construction sector faces significant demand for QS skills, driven by housebuilding programmes, infrastructure investment through projects like HS2 and the Lower Thames Crossing, and the ongoing need for schools, hospitals, and commercial development.