Paige Gough
Paige is an assistant quantity surveyor at Barratt Homes - she shares insight into her role as a QS and how her degree helped her career.
Job title:Assistant Quantity Surveyor
Employer:Barratt Homes (BDW Southampton)
Studied:BSc (Hons) Construction Project Management
Tell us a bit about your role and what a typical day looks like for you
No two days are ever the same in my role; however, a typical day would be managing the commercial aspect of sub-contractors who are currently on live projects that I am responsible for. This might include payments, variation agreements, price increases/decreases, or evaluating their workmanship/labour. On projects which are at the tender stage, I would either be requesting tender quotations or comparing the ones I have received to ensure fair and competitive tendering, and then awarding packages to the chosen sub-contractors.
What do you enjoy most about your role, and what are the biggest challenges?
Negotiation of pricing with sub-contractors is one of the things I enjoy most, and also the fact that I get to speak to such a variety of people day to day. One of the biggest challenges is the mitigation of impact from price increases/inflation/market fluctuations so the project is still being delivered within the project margins desired/targeted.
Quantity surveying is for you if you enjoy working with numbers, have an analytical brain, and enjoy building relationships with a diverse collection of people.
How do you feel your studies at Solent helped prepare you for your career?
I gained valuable experience and skills throughout the course which I can apply to my current work, as well as learning discipline, how to meet target deadlines, and also a strong work ethic to ensure I'm achieving the most I possibly can.
What advice would you give to those wanting to follow in your footsteps?
If you want to work within a profession that is complex and diverse then construction is for you – every day there is something different to manage and something new to learn!
Start making your own waves
Course studied
BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying
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Construction Quantity Surveying Technician Apprenticeship
Through this apprenticeship course you’ll gain a detailed understanding of how to manage costs on a construction project. This apprenticeship is focused on meeting the needs of main and sub contractors.
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BA (Hons) Architectural Design and Technology
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