After almost eight years working as a Quantity Surveyor across a range of sectors within Construction for Main Contractors, moving to consultancy made sense as the next step in my career.
I’m getting to work much closer with brilliant Architects than I have previously, which has been a real learning curve.
Working alongside them is already helping me to understand at a much deeper level the considerations taken when designing a project.
Working in this new sector, it’s good to see that cost isn’t considered in isolation, and that functionality and quality are equally important.
A Different Perspective
In my career, the project clients I’ve worked for include the NHS, social housing, retail giants, educational facilities, local authorities, car dealers including Ford and Kia and many, many more.
Projects have ranged anywhere from 4 to 150 weeks, to £25,000 to £12,000,000.
Working on such a variety of projects, not only in terms of value, but design and specifications and duration, has allowed me to learn and hone my practice in Subcontract procurement, project cost management, variation analysis, monthly valuations, final accounts, as well as the occasional (dreaded) programme sequencing.
Now, working as a Contract Administrator, I get to work with many of the same processes, but from the other side.
The questions become slightly different. The first question is no longer; “what margin will this make”.
Instead, I’m asking…
Is the cost fair and reasonable?
How does this impact the client?
What does this mean for the rest of the design?
And does the proposed solution ultimately deliver what the client needs?
I find myself asking this question during every piece of work I’m carrying out at PLG.
What Contractor-Side Experience Brings
During my time working for Main Contractors, I’ve had the privilege of working very closely with Contract Managers, Site Managers and Senior QS’s and Subcontractors, all of whom have had different approaches when it comes to looking at the finances and details of a construction project, each of which have formed part of the approach I take when looking at a job.
Having been lucky enough to run projects from pre-construction through to defects period, I’m able to look at a project not just from the information included on the contract documents, but from a logistics and buildability perspective; the hidden costs.
Costs which may not be apparent to construction professionals not working for Main Contractors.
Working on Subcontract procurement on a daily basis for the last 8 years means I’ve spent a lot of time on the phone with Subcontractors of all different trades and backgrounds.
I’ve been able to develop my communication and collaborative working skills, as well as dispute resolution and peace keeping, which has been handy both inside and outside of the workplace!
For me, good project management isn’t about making a project as cheap as possible.
It’s about understanding the scope, identifying risks and making sure the client has a realistic picture of cost, time and quality.
A Different Kind of Project
One of the things I’ve found particularly interesting about working at PLG is that the person at the centre of the project is the client.
This isn’t simply a construction project with a finished building at the end of it. We’re helping to create someone’s home.
And for many of our clients, that home needs to support them for many years to come.
It needs to work around their individual circumstances, support their independence and provide the right environment for their future.
Alongside meeting the relevant standards, regulations and technical requirements, the design needs to be a place that makes the client comfortable and happy.
A home they can truly enjoy.
That means cost is important, but it can’t be considered in isolation.
A particular layout, adaptation or design detail might have a relatively small impact on construction and cost but make a significant difference to the client’s everyday life.
Seeing the Bigger Picture
I’ve enjoyed how collaborative the projects are.
The wider supply chain and list of consultants is something that I’ve not experienced previously.
Occupational Therapists, Property Finders, Pool designers, specialist equipment contractors and other professionals all bring different expertise to the process.
As a Quantity Surveyor, my focus naturally starts with cost, while other professions are looking at how the property will be used, how it can support rehabilitation and whether it is suitable for the individual client in the first place.
Looking at and understanding how all the different stakeholders and consultants bring together their requirements to form the end design will be really interesting and is something I’m really looking forward to being a part of.
Looking Ahead
I’m already finding that I’m looking at projects more broadly.
The numbers still matter.
The programme still matters.
Buildability still matters.
But they’re all part of a much bigger picture.
Ultimately, the goal isn’t simply to deliver a construction project as cheaply as possible.
It’s to help create a forever home that is right for the client, both now and for the future.
A legacy.
I’m very much enjoying my time at PLG, and I look forward to working on more projects, with more Architects, more consultants and more clients.
