Quantity Surveying shortages are currently at their peak in the UK. Construction projects are bouncing back now that things are slowly going back to normal and Housing Programmes from the government continue to build thousands of homes year after year. Unfortunately, the lack of quantity surveyors in the country poses a real threat to the construction sector in the UK.
Below are some ways the quantity surveyor crisis can be addressed.
Apprentices
To address the quantity surveyor crisis, the government plans to improve the profession’s attractiveness by promoting apprenticeships programs and easing immigration barriers. One of the recommendations is to include quantity surveyors in the list of occupations shortages.
Taking on apprenticeships can be a great way to attract young professionals, especially since apprenticeships for quantity surveying are quick to obtain. Those interested can choose two years of apprenticeship for Surveying or Geospatial Survey Technician. Another option is to take up to 5 years apprenticeship for Chartered Surveyor or Geospatial Mapping and Sciences. But according to the latest data, only nine people signed up for apprenticeship as Geospatial Survey Technician, so there’s still plenty of room.
Temporary Contractors
Instead of desperately recruiting quantity surveyors for permanent positions, recruiting contractors from temporary agencies like Quantity Surveyor Recruitment is one way to prevent the need to turn down projects. Although using temporary agencies can be more expensive than recruiting permanent staff members, this is a great way to relieve pressure and gain flexibility. Also, some contractors can convert into permanent positions in the future.
There are many more benefits that come with using temporary contractors to fill in the quantity surveyor position. It’s a more cost-effective way to replace employees who need to go on family leave, sabbaticals, and vacation. Depending on the role, temporary workers may demand higher compensation. But they will not usually receive company-paid benefits such as insurance and other benefits that only regular employees can avail themselves of.
Temporary workers can also help reduce the overall cost of staffing, and their presence in the company can help keep regular employees productive but not overworked. Another benefit of using temporary contractors is the ability to “try” potential future hires. Some companies will opt for “temp to hire” workers for only a short period to see if these employees have the skills and personality to carry out the role.
Use Technology
Another way to address the quantity surveyor crisis is by leveraging technology. Using technologies like the 3D modelling packages and Building Information Modelling software (BIM) to assess the overall construction price could help minimize the need to hire quantity surveyors.
While these technologies require a higher cost of investment and demand digital skills, not to mention the time required to choose, implement, and train how to use them, levering technologies is a great way to make the quantity surveying profession more attractive for the younger generations.
Sure, the quantity surveyor crisis cannot be solved overnight, but there are several other options out there that can help construction companies address this challenge.
