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A field journal for UK quantity surveyors

Building your path to success in quantity surveying.

Honest, well-researched writing on careers, contracts and craft — for the surveyors construction left to figure things out alone.

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A quantity surveyor working from a home office setup, representing the transition to running an independent construction consultancy.

How to Start a Construction Consulting Business (Step-by-Step)

Thinking about going independent? Here's exactly how to start a construction consulting business in the UK, from choosing a legal structure and registering with Companies House through to insurance, pricing and landing your first clients.

Date26 Sept 2026CategoryCareer Development
A quantity surveyor measuring quantities on a construction drawing using Bluebeam Revu on a laptop screen. Alt text: Bluebeam quantity takeoff software used by a quantity surveyor.

Bluebeam for Quantity Surveyors: A Practical Guide

Bluebeam Revu is the PDF and takeoff tool most QSs open every day. This guide covers its count, length, area and volume measurement tools, Studio Sessions collaboration, how it stacks up against CostX and PlanSwift for takeoff, current pricing tiers, and where to learn it properly.

Date25 Sept 2026CategoryTools & Software
A quantity surveyor reviewing drawings on a UK construction site next to a site office

Should You Work for a Contractor or Consultant as a QS?

Contractor or consultant? This guide compares both sides of quantity surveying head to head - pay, site vs office life, career mobility and which route fits your personality and goals.

Date24 Sept 2026CategoryCareer Development
A quantity surveyor reviewing a cost report and budget spreadsheet on a UK construction site

Construction Cost Control: Techniques Every QS Should Use

Cost control is what separates a project that finishes on budget from one that quietly bleeds margin from month one. This guide brings together the baseline, monitoring, change control, value engineering and technology techniques every QS should be using, with links to deeper guides on each.

Date23 Sept 2026CategorySkills & Practice
A quantity surveyor comparing JCT and NEC contract documents while pricing a variation order

How to Price a Variation Order: JCT and NEC Methods Explained

Pricing a variation order means something different depending on your form of contract. This guide sets JCT's rates-based valuation hierarchy against NEC's forward-looking compensation event quotation, with a worked example comparing both.

Date22 Sept 2026CategoryContracts & Law
A commercial manager reviewing subcontractor tender returns and package schedules at a site office desk

Subcontractor Procurement: A Commercial Manager's Complete Guide

How commercial managers procure subcontract packages in UK construction: splitting the works, building an approved list, running tenders, checking financial standing, and placing orders that transfer risk properly.

Date21 Sept 2026CategorySkills & Practice

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