Graduate Profiles

CM

Stuart Wignall

My route into Quantity Surveying was via a BSc (Hons) Civil Engineering Commercial Management degree course at The Nottingham Trent University, during the sandwich year I was employed by Edmund Nuttall. I was fortunate to receive sponsorship for the final year and upon graduation in June 1998 I commenced employment with Nuttalls as an Assistant Quantity Surveyor.

The degree course that I undertook was accredited by the Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (ICES), and as such I became an Associate Member upon commencing employment. The training scheme that I am currently undertaking fulfils the training/experience requirements of the Institution for progression to Corporate Membership of ICES, which I hope to achieve in the near future.

My training from Nuttalls has taken a variety of forms, essentially it involves completing a structured training diary containing set objectives in varying degrees of depth from the many aspects of the profession, be they legal, measurement, contractual, financial etc. This diary is monitored every few months by a Delegated QS (every graduate has one!) who oversees all aspects of the training.

The vast majority of training has been 'on-the-job' learning; this initially involved a very steep learning curve when I was placed on my first site, the civil engineering element of a Powerstation. This comprised of approximately 11,000m3 of structural concrete base, five large buildings, roads and all associated drainage all to be constructed in an extremely 'fast-track' time-scale. My responsibilities included the assistance in compilation of monthly cost reports and forecasts, remeasurement of the works, payments to subcontractors as well as assisting in monthly valuations and preparation of claims.

You can probably appreciate the sheer volume and variety of work can be a 'little' daunting initially, but after systems have been set-up and put in place, and you have found your feet (with the help of a DQS), then you really start to learn at an astounding rate. I feel that 'on-the-job' training certainly brings out the best in you, builds upon your further education plus any external courses and cements the foundations to your successful career. On a personal note I am now involved on a contract to widen a motorway, which is offering new and intriguing challenges on the commercial front.

Of course not all my training and development is as above, there are in-house seminars, discussion groups and day courses, as well as the occasional monthly meetings run by the various regions of ICES, these give another point-of-view on various topics. A major factor in our Industry is Safety, and mine, like most companies runs numerous daily courses throughout the year.

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Michael Boulton

I graduated from Kingston University with a BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying in July 2000 after four years of study including a year out in industry. During the sandwich year of my degree I worked for Babtie Group Technical and Management Consultants and was involved in a variety of civil engineering projects including highways, water treatment and environment enhancement schemes ranging from £100K to £130 million. I have now returned to work for Babtie Group in their Cost Consultancy department based in Croydon and anticipate working on both building and civil engineering projects. My work with Babtie offers excellent opportunities to work in Procurement Advice and Project Management. I consider involvement with the ICES to be an important factor in the progression of my career.

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GE

Alex Grounds

Why did you choose your career?
I realised after I didn't do too well in my A levels that I was much better suited to a practical job. A career which could fulfil my love of maps and LEGO when I was small would be ideal and construction immediately came to mind. I hadn't studied maths at all so I embarked on a foundation engineering course and had the opportunity to spend a year in industry as part of my course. I was working behind instruments, doing surveying tasks and running my own jobs by the end of it. I graduated with a degree in Engineering Surveying from Nottingham Trent University in 1996.

What does your job involve?
It's all about doing topographical surveys to make very detailed maps for civil engineers so that they know exactly where to place roads, road junctions, traffic signals, buildings and anything else which needs to be precisely located. Every construction project needs an engineering surveyor because we are all experts in spatial awareness and how things fit on a site.

To do this we use a lot of electronic kit, for example GIS (Geographical Information Systems) help me collect information to build up data maps, and GPS (Global Positioning Systems) allow me to position things on the ground to the nearest 5 millimetres. The OS maps we all use for walking in the countryside can be out by as much as 5 metres so they're not accurate enough!

What projects have you worked on?
I worked on a large dam recently, monitoring its movement. We discovered that in autumn, when the rain arrives, the dam actually rises and moves. We were able to forewarn the client of any sudden movements by monitoring the structure constantly throughout the year.

What about the future?
It's possible to diversify in my company and experience more of the marketing and business side, which I'd like to do whilst still being intimately involved in the construction.

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Simon Gardiner

After completing the HND in Engineering Surveying course at Nottingham Trent University I joined Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering on the Bristol Spine Road. I was responsible for general setting out and site supervision. Working on various contracts across the country, I have used many different surveying techniques and levels of technology. Recently I joined Schofield and Lothian at Welwyn Garden City, in order to set up a new division concerned with computerised construction measurement. Using the 4CE+ mapping and modelling software I am able to provide a fast and efficient method of quantifying many types of construction projects, which include highways, tidal defences and complicated interchanges. As part of this role I am responsible not only for the implementation but also the management, marketing and training aspects required. Backed by the quantity surveying expertise of Schofields, this is proving to be a great opportunity and gives excellent job satisfaction.

For more information on this exciting and challenging career, contact the membership secretary at [email protected].

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