With the Quantity Surveyor market busier than ever it’s only natural that even the most content professionals are curious to know what the market is paying. So, if you are a Quantity Surveyor and wondering how you could increase your salary, you have come to the right place.

 

On average how much money can you expect to earn in London compared to other areas of the UK?

Candidates looking at working in London, or the surrounding counties, can typically expect up to a 20% – 30% rise in salary to compensate them for the increased cost of living in the capital. A quantity surveyor in Northern Ireland is set to earn the least with the salary being on average 27.5% less than the average national salary for QS jobs, however the cost of living is lower in Northern Ireland.

What experience range is most in demand?

Despite Brexit, the UK construction industry is set to grow from strength to strength. The skills shortage in relation to Quantity Surveying falls more within the junior to intermediate level.

If you are a Quantity Surveyor with anywhere between 2 through to 10 years good experience, you will be sought after. Surveyors within this bracket of experience will tend to be Assistant through to Senior level.

What sector provides the highest salary?

The nuclear sector remains the place to be if you are looking for the highest salaries.

Nuclear – £50,000

Construction – £45,000

Rail / Civil / Structural – £43,000

Water – £42,000

What can I do to increase my chance of getting a higher salary offer?

The more skills you have on your CV and can demonstrate, the more valuable of an asset you are to an employer due to your versatility within the business.

Here are a list of skills and points employers look out for on your CV;

• Continued commitment to further education
• Leadership skills
• Project management skills
• Strong contractual knowledge
• Experience on major projects
• Working on projects from start to completion

Will you get a higher salary working on the client side or the contracting side of the construction industry?

In general, salaries for a Quantity Surveyor are typically higher working for a main contractor than those working for a Consultancy or a Client.

That being said, the difference is minimal and can vary on what industry within Quantity Surveying you are working in.

Will I work more hours working within a consultancy or as a contractor?

If you worked out your salary on a ‘per hour’ basis, you would probably see that you earn more per hour working for a Consultancy. However, this again would be a minimal difference.

Typical hours worked:

• Consultancy / Client: On average 37.5 – 40 hours per week, Monday – Friday
• Contractor – On average 40 – 45 hours per week, Monday – Friday

If you are looking for your next role, or would like an informal chat with one of our expert consultants then get in touch today on 01489 774 010.

The ongoing skills shortage within the construction industry is driving up wages and has the potential to hold back vital infrastructure projects, including efforts to build more homes to end country’s housing crisis.

The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) said construction wages rose by 6% in 2015, well ahead of the 2% UK average, because there are not enough workers.

While any shortage is affected by current market conditions, RICS has predicted that the skills shortage could impact 27,000 construction projects each year until 2019. According to the RICS UK Construction Market Survey, Bricklayers and Quantity Surveyors were the most sought over workers. It is reported that 66% of surveying firms have already been forced to turn down work due to a lack of staff.

A shortage of housing has driven up rent and house prices over recent years, most noticeably in London and the South East. Housebuilding is running at around half the level needed to meet demand, but housing starts fell in England.

“The construction skills crisis is slowing growth in a sector that is vital to UK plc,” said Sally Speed, skills and Talent Director at RICS. “Unless government looks to address the problem urgently, some of its key housing and infrastructure programmes could soon face crippling delays and spiraling costs. To tackle the problem, government must deliver a new skills strategy that will enable industry, unions, and educators to work together and deliver real solutions.

So what can be done to help with the current skills shortage?

To improve the skills shortage in the long term, the construction industry needs to change the younger generation’s perception of the engineering industry. That is why the STEM community are already working hard to introduce new initiatives aimed at improving children’s engagement with science and engineering.

The government has already invested over £1 billion in training and apprenticeship schemes. However, it is now down to the industry itself to play its part in attracting new workers and incentivising young people.

We would love to know what you think. Have you noticed a shortage of workers on site? What do you think the construction industry can do to help reduce the growing skills shortage?

Over the next few years we will see a number of football stadiums getting a revamp and even completely new looks. These will become the stadiums of the future and as expectations of football stadiums increase, builds are becoming longer and more complex. As a result of the increase in workload the demand for skilled construction workers is rising.

Some stadiums are already making smooth progress and are buzzing building sites, others are in the pipe line and will be beginning over the next few seasons. Either way, they bring excitement of what the future may hold. Here we take a look at some of the stadiums on the list and how they are progressing.

Tottenham Hotspur – New Stadium

The yet unnamed stadium, is currently under construction right next door to Tottenham’s current home at White Hart Lane. The stadium is set to open in 2018 and will become the largest capacity football club ground in the capital city, seating 61,000 fans. The new stadium is expected to cost £750m, but will create around 3,500 jobs in the local area when it is finished, according to the club.

Wanda Metropolitano

Wanda Metropolitano is soon to become the new home to Atletico de Madrid. This football stadium is the largest stadium currently under construction within Europe, and is designed to meet the highest standards of comfort, security and visibility. The costs of the project are estimated to be 200million euros.

Stoke City

The club have commenced with the ‘filling in’ of the South East corner of the ber365 Stadium, with 1,800 covered seats. This work is scheduled to be complete before the start of the 2017/2018 season. This will result in the capacity of the stadium being increased to just over 30,000

Eurostadium

Although still in the planning phase and facing some controversy, the Dutch Eurostadium is set to dramatically increase demand when the build begins. The construction of the new national stadium has caused some stir with some concerns being raised. However, as the 2019 deadline is fast approaching for the UEFA deadlines for the Euro 2020 championship, it is likely that we will see a high demand for skilled construction professionals to ensure the work gets completed in time.

Brentford

The club have commenced with the building of the new stadium, with a 20,000 capacity. The construction of this football club will also see the construction of 910 flats and a hotel, which will no doubt call for an increase of workers within the area.

Scunthorpe United

Not as glamorous as the likes of Tottenham Hotspurs and Wanda Metropolitano, the new Scunthorpe United stadium is on track to be built in the near future. The League One side are expected to construct a 12,000 capacity stadium. An initial deal with the Lucent Group is said to have been reached to build it as part of one of their larger construction projects.

With new stadiums in the pipeline, it is not just an exciting time for the football industry but for construction professionals as well.

If you are currently looking for your next role, view our latest jobs here, alternatively give one of our expert consultants a call on 01489 774 010.

 

The start of 2017 has seen an exciting time for UK infrastructure, with the Government backing several major projects and talks of an even bigger pipeline that would completely transform the future of the infrastructure industry.

It is believed that within the construction and engineering industry alone, the UK needs at least 400,000 new staff by 2020. However, the skills shortage has reached its highest in 20 years and questions are being asked around whether the UK has access to the right skills and capacity to fill the thousands of jobs that will be created.

With projects such as, Hinkley Point C and HS2 creating 25,000 construction jobs each, this will put an even bigger strain on workers within the industry.

It is clear that the construction industry faces a significant challenge over the coming years – the number of workers joining the sector is not reflecting on the demand, which is leading to a real danger that we won’t have the workers to get the projects built.

Capitalising on transferable skills will be essential for the infrastructure industry. This will help to deal with peaks and troughs during infrastructure projects, as well as identifying ways to upskill other talent pools, allowing workers to transfer their skills to a new industry.

Another way to meet the rising demand of skilled workers in the UK is to increase the number of engineering apprenticeships and graduates; more effort is needed to encourage young people into STEM related subjects.

If you are interested in finding out more about the opportunities available or the additional skills needed to make the move, contact us today on 01489 774 010.

HS2 has launched the tender process for the design and development of four railway stations on the high speed rail project.

Contract opportunities have now been announced and the search has started for architects, designers and developers to deliver four new stations worth up to £220m.

The winning bidders will begin work with HS2 on three brand new stations located at Birmingham Curzon Street, Birmingham Interchange and London’s Old Oak Common. As well as these three stations, a spate procurement process will take place for a master development partner for the expansion of London Euston.

Transport Minister Andrew Jones said: “The search for design teams to produce plans for new stations and world-class amenities for London Euston, Old Oak Common, Birmingham Interchange and Birmingham Curzon Street stations is a major step towards making HS2 a catalyst for growth across the country.”

HS2 commercial director Beth West explained: “We’re looking for the brightest and the best from across the industry to help us deliver one of the most tangible legacies of the HS2 project – three brand stations and a major expansion of London Euston.

“All four present unique challenges and opportunities for the winning bidders. Together we will deliver world-class designs that help unlock wider local regeneration opportunities and provide unparalleled levels of accessibility, ease and convenience for the travelling public.”

Bidders for the station designs and the Euston Master Development Partner are expected to be shortlisted in the summer, with contracts signed early next year.

Our expert rail Principal Recruitment Consultant, Carly Fripp states that “this is a really exciting time for the rail industry and its workers. With projects like HS2 progressing rapidly over the next few years, this is the perfect time to look at jobs and progress within all specialties across the rail industry.’’

If you are looking for your next rail job take a lot at our latest jobs or get in contact on 01489 774 010

When working within the construction industry, CSCS cards are absolutely essential. Whether you are a Labourer, Apprentice, Site Manager or even a Site Visitor there are a variety of CSCS cards available for you. Having the right card can help reduce any possible risks when working on site.

CSCS cards are in place to ensure that each individual working on a construction site has the appropriate qualifications and training to perform their job. There are 12 cards with 12 different colours, each representing a different meaning or job. This ranges from general labouring all the way to experienced site workers. So, which card should you get?

Labourer – Green CSCS Card

The green CSCS card is a basics site skills card, suited for a general labourer. If you are a candidate looking to apply for this card then you must hold a construction qualification or an industry accreditation, i.e. an employer’s recommendation. This card is valid for five years.

Apprentice – Pink

An apprentice CSCS card is for candidates who are undergoing an apprenticeship scheme. To be eligible for this card you must have met your Apprenticeship Managing Agency’s health and safety requirements. This card is valid for up to four years.

Skilled Worker – Blue

To apply for a blue CSCS card you must have achieved a construction related NVQ/SVQ level 2 or have completed an employer sponsored apprenticeship which included the achievement of a City of Guilds of London Institute Craft Certificate. This card is valid for up to five years.

Supervisor – Gold

This card is for candidates who have experience or are involved in a supervisory role. To apply for this card you will have already achieved your SVQ or NVQ level 3.

Manager – Black

To become a Site Manager you will need a black CSCS card. This card is available to managerial occupations that are subject to the achievement of a construction related NVQ/SVQ levels 4 or 5. The Manager CSCS card is valid for up to five years and can be refreshed.

Visitor – Yellow

The yellow regular visitor card is for people who do visit a construction site however do not possess a specific ‘construction’ skill. All applications for this must pass the CITB Operatives Health, Safety and Environment Test.

Once you understand which CSCS card is right for you, you will be able to know what you need to achieve to reach your career goals.

If you are looking for a new role within the construction industry check out our latest vacancies, or give one of our expert consultants a call on 01489 774 010.

With 2016’s approval of Hinkley Point C, nuclear has become big on the national agenda. The Government are hailing the £18bn plant in Somerset as a “new era of UK nuclear power”.

The benefits of Hinkely can already been seen with the project creating jobs and boosting skills with currently over 1000 workers on site. It doesn’t stop there as thousands more workers will be required for the project, it is believed that some 25,000 construction jobs alone will be created.

Skills shortage

With the current skills shortage, it seems that demand may be exceeding supply in the engineering skills market, so nuclear will have to ensure they attract the best talent to support its exciting period of growth.

To keep up with the demand in this skills shortage, nuclear may also have to compete with other sectors for workers with specialist skills. Engineers with experience of working in other sectors, for example Ministry of Defence projects or within the utilities sector, possess transferable skills that would make them more than suitable for nuclear projects.

At Highfield we also believe that the promotion of STEM related subjects at schools will help tackle the skills shortage for the long term. There are many different routes into the nuclear sector such as, apprenticeships and degrees, but it is ensuring that the engineers of the future are aware of the possibilities within the industry.

Matt Hamill, Senior Recruitment Consultant at Highfield, explained, “Nuclear is a growing market, with an ever growing workforce.  As the sector grows we are going to have to be resourceful in how to attract candidates and look at bringing in more candidates from overseas.”

With 2017 bringing the start of large, exciting projects, accompanied by investment into the nuclear sector there will plenty of opportunities for engineers of all levels to take. With the sector’s predicted growth however, the industry must work together to promote the projects and career opportunities available to ensure nuclear has the skills required for the future.

World Water Day

World Water Day takes place on 22^nd March every year. It is held to take action and tackle the worlds water crisis, with a target to make sure everyone on the planet has access to safe water by 2030. This year’s World Water Day theme is ‘Why waste water?’ and is focused around reducing and reusing waste water.

Shocking facts about waste water

• Today, 1.8 billion people use a source of drinking water contaminated with faeces, putting them at risk of contracting cholera, dysentery, typhoid and polio.
• Over 80% of wastewater produced is pumped back in the ecosystem without being treated or reused.
• It is believed that unsafe water and poor sanitation kills 842,000 people every year

• Water, sanitation and hygiene could prevent 9.1% of the global disease burden – and an estimated 6.3% of all deaths.
• According to the USGS, the average person uses up to 100 gallons of water per day. 95% of this goes down the drain – meaning each person wastes between 76-95 gallons every day.
• Despite most of the planet being covered by water, most of it is not available for human use. If the Earth’s water fitted into a four litre jug, just one tablespoon would be available freshwater.

One of the targets set out in the Sustainable Development goals is to “improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimising release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally”.

Because of population growth, the amount of wastewater being generated has dramatically increased, so how can you help reduce waste water?

The UN suggests taking the following steps;

• Turn off the tap while you’re brushing your teeth
• Turn off the tap while washing up or scrubbing vegetables.
• Put rubbish, oils, chemicals and food in the bin, not down the drain. The dirtier your wastewater, the more energy and money it costs to treat it.
• Collect used water from your kitchen sink or bath and use it to water your plants
• You can also collect and use this water to wash your bike or car.

Instead of wasting wastewater, we need to reduce and reuse it. In our homes, we can reuse greywater on our gardens and plots. Through these small changes we can help reduce the proportion of untreated wastewater and increase water recycling and sage reuse.

Britain is set to get a £3.5 billion mega park that has been described as the UK’s rival to Disneyland. London Paramount will be built near Dartford in Kent and will cover 872 acres of land.

The impressive theme park will be home to more than 50 rides, a 2,000 seat theatre and even its own nightclub. If there are no delays London Paramount is set to be open by 2022.

Initially London Paramount was met with opposition from companies within the industrial estate that will need to be cleared to house the tourist attraction. However, following meetings with local residents last year, construction is on track to begin in 2018.

Fenlon Dunphy, chief financial officer of the company, said to the Western Daily Express: ‘This is going to have a hugely significant impact on the economy – we will dovetail into a lot of the other attractions in the area. It will be a game changer for much of Kent.’

UK Government and local councils fully support the plans, with the former making it the first commercial venture in the UK to be awarded Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP status)  “Truly successful theme parks generate a lot of tax revenue, jobs and growth for cities around the world”, says Josh Young, owner of the website Theme Park University. “Many times, governments will kick in extra revenue to provide the infrastructure (or part of it) needed to get the park open because they feel they will get it back in taxes once the park opens.”

It is believed that the resort will create around 27,000 jobs in the area and boost tourism to other attractions on the outskirts of London. During peak construction of the park construction jobs will hit 6,300.

This is an exciting project for the construction industry and for the UK and looks like it is set to boost the economy.

Since yesterday’s announcement of the Budget 2017 there has been plenty of reaction from the construction industry and its organisations. The industry has welcomed the government’s Budget commitment to T-levels as an alternative to A-levels, to encourage technical skills.

Chancellor Phillip Hammond today pledged to spend £500m per year from 2019/20 on the technical education routes recommended by the Lord Sainsbury’s panel last summer.

Brian Berry, Chief Executive of Federation of Master Builders explained “the Chancellor clearly understands that the UK won’t address the productivity challenge unless we rethink our approach to technical and vocational education. T-levels could be the answer if the genuinely rival A-levels in the eyes of parents, teachers and young people.”

Over recent years the construction industry has been suffering from a severe skills shortage which is likely to worsen once Brexit takes full effect. Martin Vella,
Managing Director of refurb and restoration specialist Pexhurst believes that T-levels could be “one of the biggest boosts to the future of the construction industry for some time.”

Vella went on to explain that, “a shortage of skilled labour is no secret and with advances in construction methods continually developing, even the existing workforce is becoming unskilled in many areas.”

“We need to see committed, engaged and technically qualified people bringing new vigor to the construction industry, along with an ingrained understanding of new technologies and working practices; T-levels could just do that.”

The new courses will not be introduced until 2019, so it will not be a quick-fix for the industry. However, for the future of the construction industry, the introduction of T-levels can only be seen as positive.