A field journal for UK quantity surveyors
Honest, well-researched writing on careers, contracts and craft — for the surveyors construction left to figure things out alone.
Cost Value Reconciliation, or CVR, is one of the most important commercial reports used by contractor-side quantity surveyors. This guide explains what a CVR is, how it works and why it matters.
Should you work as a QS in consultancy or on the contractor side? This guide compares UK salaries, benefits, working patterns, career progression and the route that usually pays more in 2026.
A practical UK salary guide for construction site managers in 2026, covering entry-level, experienced, senior and project manager pay, regional differences, freelance rates and how to increase your earning potential.
Assistant quantity surveyor salaries in the UK typically sit around £28,000 to £38,000 in 2026, with London and infrastructure roles often paying more. This guide explains the salary bands, regional differences, and how to move towards QS level faster.
A practical UK guide to free courses, CPD and learning resources for inexperienced quantity surveyors, assistant QSs, APC candidates, qualified QSs and RICS members.
Estimator salaries in the UK vary sharply by sector, region and seniority. Here is what estimators can realistically earn in 2026 — and how to move into the higher-paid bracket.
Free tools
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Enter your day rate and contract structure to see exactly what lands in your bank account after tax — comparing Ltd Company, Umbrella and Inside IR35 side by side using the latest 2025/26 HMRC rates.
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Promotions, pay rises, transitions, and the long arc of a surveying career. Honest writing on what the job pays, where it leads, and how to get more from it.
02 / 06
The working knowledge of quantity surveying, from fundamentals to specifics. Cost planning, measurement, valuation, variations, CVRs, final accounts — the practical craft that fills a working week.
03 / 06
CostX, Bluebeam, Causeway, BIM, Excel for QS, and the AI tools changing the workflow. Honest reviews and practical workflows, not vendor talking points.
04 / 06
Market reports, sector analysis, and interviews with senior surveyors. What the construction pipeline, regulation, and economy actually mean for the people doing the measuring.
05 / 06
For graduates, apprentices, and career-switchers. The universities, degree apprenticeships, and entry routes that actually lead to working QS roles — and what to expect in your first year.
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JCT, NEC4, FIDIC, and the clauses that show up on real projects. Plain-English guides for surveyors who need to understand a contract by Monday morning, not pass an exam.