Main Contractor QS advice
Discussion
Hi All,
After some advice and seem at a crossroads.
I’m a QS (QS degree, law postgrad and MRICS) I have 5 years experience running my own jobs as commercial lead up to £20m. I am a sub-contractor QS, I don’t want to say the specific sector as it’s one of those that everyone knows each other. I have also procured/managed sub-sub contract packages up to £4M, and worked mainly under JCT/NEC contracts.
The issue is I don’t feel that far from promotion to Senior and worried I’m already/will be shortly always be pegged as a sub-contractor QS and unable to move to a main contractor.
The potential reason to work for a main contractor is so I’m not only a specialist QS and main contracting may have more opportunities.
My question is are there any QSs that have similar experiences and moved to a main contractor/or any main contractor QSs who would see no real issue with a future move?
Thanks for any assistance
After some advice and seem at a crossroads.
I’m a QS (QS degree, law postgrad and MRICS) I have 5 years experience running my own jobs as commercial lead up to £20m. I am a sub-contractor QS, I don’t want to say the specific sector as it’s one of those that everyone knows each other. I have also procured/managed sub-sub contract packages up to £4M, and worked mainly under JCT/NEC contracts.
The issue is I don’t feel that far from promotion to Senior and worried I’m already/will be shortly always be pegged as a sub-contractor QS and unable to move to a main contractor.
The potential reason to work for a main contractor is so I’m not only a specialist QS and main contracting may have more opportunities.
My question is are there any QSs that have similar experiences and moved to a main contractor/or any main contractor QSs who would see no real issue with a future move?
Thanks for any assistance
GT03ROB said:
No issues.
Best gamekeepers are poachers.
If your skills match your qualifications you will be in demand.
I agree with this. Best gamekeepers are poachers.
If your skills match your qualifications you will be in demand.
However, if you are good at making sure you get paid it is better than making sure you don't pay.
Most MC QS's naturally assume a SC QS is inferior. Better to be the best in SC than average in MC!
If you are good then I would suggest that you have more potential in a small pool than a big pool.
My biggest problem running a small SC in civils is commercial. We're so busy doing the best job on the ground that our record keeping sometimes let's us down.
Do you have any programming skills? Asta, MP?
For me, given that prices are outputs driven, a complete QS needs to work from shovel in the ground to handover. Thus, programming skills can go hand in hand with QSing. Better to be an all rounder with multi skills than a month by month number cruncher.
With a SC you could plough a really deep furrow that may get you a share. With a MC you will be a wage slave albeit a good wage!
For reference I pay my QS £420/day. North Wales based.
He's good and I may well be offering him something in the New Year. FYI he has programming ability and understanding and decided MCIOB was worthwhile (he was correct!).
Good luck.
Thanks for all the replies, really appreciated! I’ve been digesting and reflecting on all, it’s helped me realise what I really want.
The truth is my overall package has been static for quite a while and looks to be at the next review too. As a QS I need to get the value for myself, as much as I do on my projects. I’ve been told I’m operating at a senior level, get given projects taken off senior QSs and get good reviews. To replace me, if I’m honest they’d struggle to get what I do for the salary I’m paid.
I’m going to have a look what’s out there, knowing the grass isn’t always greener but I’m currently a cheap QS.
Thanks all, again it’s all appreciated!
The truth is my overall package has been static for quite a while and looks to be at the next review too. As a QS I need to get the value for myself, as much as I do on my projects. I’ve been told I’m operating at a senior level, get given projects taken off senior QSs and get good reviews. To replace me, if I’m honest they’d struggle to get what I do for the salary I’m paid.
I’m going to have a look what’s out there, knowing the grass isn’t always greener but I’m currently a cheap QS.
Thanks all, again it’s all appreciated!
I've been a QS for the last 35 years, since I left college at 18
In the above time i've worked as Main Contract, sub-contractor and a couple of times as developer (client)
Never had a problem switching between different roles, at the moment I work for a fit-out contractor but previous employer was a specialist sub-contractor
Whereabouts are you? last couple of days i've had recruiters send me info on new positions
In the above time i've worked as Main Contract, sub-contractor and a couple of times as developer (client)
Never had a problem switching between different roles, at the moment I work for a fit-out contractor but previous employer was a specialist sub-contractor
Whereabouts are you? last couple of days i've had recruiters send me info on new positions
In my time I’ve been QS for clients, developers, main contractors, subcontractors, labour only trades & any combination between, RICS qualified for nearly 30 years. I think the skills are completely transferable from one field to another.
The trick is not to stay doing one thing too long, that way the spread of skills & knowledge remain fresh.
The trick is not to stay doing one thing too long, that way the spread of skills & knowledge remain fresh.
As above the technical skills are transferable. You'll have picked up the commerciality over the last five years.
If you jump to the PQS rather than MCQS side then you'll also pick up the wider strategic and client facing side of things to broaden your skill set.
A good QS with five years experience so can be left to their own devices whilst still being relatively cheap to employ (over somebody with 20 years) is an employer's wet dream. If you're MEP then you could pretty much write your own salary
If you went PQS for one of the bigger boys then they have offices all over the world if you wanted to travel in the future.
It's in your hands at the moment, you're ideally placed, go for it!
If you jump to the PQS rather than MCQS side then you'll also pick up the wider strategic and client facing side of things to broaden your skill set.
A good QS with five years experience so can be left to their own devices whilst still being relatively cheap to employ (over somebody with 20 years) is an employer's wet dream. If you're MEP then you could pretty much write your own salary
If you went PQS for one of the bigger boys then they have offices all over the world if you wanted to travel in the future.
It's in your hands at the moment, you're ideally placed, go for it!
Thank you all for your responses - really appreciated and given me much food for thought!
Seems there’s quite a good few jobs that have come up this week and it’s very fast moving! Got informally offered one role which the salary would have changed our household dramatically (it showed whilst I love my current role, I am well beneath market value, the take home extra would more than cover my monthly mortgage amount!). I turned it down as it would be similar as my current role in the same specific field and on much smaller jobs - I really fancy a change of area as advice above!
All the above advice and thoughts have really helped - thank you all!
Seems there’s quite a good few jobs that have come up this week and it’s very fast moving! Got informally offered one role which the salary would have changed our household dramatically (it showed whilst I love my current role, I am well beneath market value, the take home extra would more than cover my monthly mortgage amount!). I turned it down as it would be similar as my current role in the same specific field and on much smaller jobs - I really fancy a change of area as advice above!
All the above advice and thoughts have really helped - thank you all!
Jellybeans2016 said:
Thank you all for your responses - really appreciated and given me much food for thought!
Seems there’s quite a good few jobs that have come up this week and it’s very fast moving! Got informally offered one role which the salary would have changed our household dramatically (it showed whilst I love my current role, I am well beneath market value, the take home extra would more than cover my monthly mortgage amount!). I turned it down as it would be similar as my current role in the same specific field and on much smaller jobs - I really fancy a change of area as advice above!
All the above advice and thoughts have really helped - thank you all!
I'd have taken it I think Seems there’s quite a good few jobs that have come up this week and it’s very fast moving! Got informally offered one role which the salary would have changed our household dramatically (it showed whilst I love my current role, I am well beneath market value, the take home extra would more than cover my monthly mortgage amount!). I turned it down as it would be similar as my current role in the same specific field and on much smaller jobs - I really fancy a change of area as advice above!
All the above advice and thoughts have really helped - thank you all!
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