Under Construction: A QS in Progress

Written by Thomas Davies

When asked to write this blog, I jumped at the opportunity, for here was a rare chance to simultaneously flex my creative muscles and somehow convey my gratitude for having been hired. Now, as I attempt to accurately summarise my first few months with the Costplan Group, it’s difficult knowing where to start. I find myself in the enviable position of being in a role and at a company that has been, quite frankly, the most promising and pleasant start to a new role I’ve had in my working life (20 years and counting). From the people I work with and under whose tutelage I find myself, to the detailed tasks I’ve been set (complemented by some entertaining social events) – this truly has been the best launch into a career one could ask for.

A first paragraph full of such praise must have you thinking – what is this wonderous new role he’s landed? It is that of an Assistant Quantity Surveyor – queue the gasps of surprise, I know (or looks of confusion if you’re my family) – but for me, this job is providing a perfect fit for my professional and personal traits. In the lead up to my interview(s), I had learnt that Costplan is a relatively young company with their roots in Australia – starting in 2006 – and expansion to the UK in 2014. This, I have surmised and can see evidenced, is thanks largely to the expertise and charisma of their Global Operations Director – Aaron Tomsett. Since then, Costplan has grown into a formidable presence within the construction sphere – their core values and business acumen clearly resonating with clients, consultants and contractors alike. This is an achievement that Aaron and his team should carry with pride and, after speaking to many of my new colleagues, it is obvious that everyone is extremely keen to continue and improve along this path.

So, where do I fit into all this as an Assistant Quantity Surveyor? I have been taken under the collective wings, a flock if you will, of the Quantity Surveying team – a group of highly professional, clever, funny and experienced individuals – whose knowledge I will be leaning upon heavily as I begin my journey. A key thing I’ve found in these fledgling first months (apparently sticking with the bird theme here), is that the best way of learning is by assuming the role of “office sponge” – absorbing everything I see, hear and read – and applying it to the tasks set for me. My logical thinking and eye-for-detail have been called upon on numerous occasions, and I’ve quickly realised that these are crucial skills if I’m to be successful in this trade. Fortunately, it would seem, my natural inclination is to work in this manner, and I’ve swiftly adapted to rhythm of this workplace – slotting into the office like a prefabricated section of façade.

Let me dive into some specifics now – what tasks have I actually carried out, where have I been, who have I met and what are my key takeaways thus far? (And no, I’m not counting a Domino’s pizza we had during an after-work board game event).

I’ll begin with what I suspect will become my favourite element of the job – Order of Cost Estimates (OCEs) and cost planning. Using a pleasingly intuitive software package called CostX, an OCE is where you compile a cost estimate to construct a building using measurements taken from architectural or structural drawings (though the detail of these can sometimes leave a lot to be desired). Using simple drawing tools to overlay the drawing beneath, CostX allows you to mark out various dimension groups – such as internal walls or floor areas. These groups are linked to an excel workbook within CostX (which requires setting up beforehand – ideally), where the costs associated with the many components that make up a building can be calculated using the measurements drawn. The software allows you to dive into the minutia and details of a project’s cost – this is especially pleasing to someone of my character as I love nothing more than the nitty gritty details (and numbers generally). This combination allows you to generate a fairly accurate construction cost for that building, though – as I’ve learnt – the degree of accuracy can change depending on the early design stage up to the commencement of building, and it is important to make clients aware of this.

This brings me neatly onto meetings – of which there are many – and which are extremely necessary in this business. These have proven to not only be critical in my awareness of ongoing projects and the parties involved, but also a primary source of knowledge gathering as, inevitably, I come away with more questions to ask my colleagues and mentors. I’ve been asked on a few occasions to write minutes, this has allowed me to combine productivity (producing a document which is needed) with continued learning. A useful technique I’ve found is to highlight any queries I have as the meeting progresses; this allows focussed debriefing and discussion once the meeting ends. I’ve found this has aided in my retention of information and, after these 3 months, I find myself asking fewer“basic” questions. That’s not to say I have no questions, or feel I’m competent enough to understand everything, but that they’ve become more technical and lead onto deeper discussions where I can apply my basic understanding to specific situations.

The vocabulary used in the world of construction and quantity surveying has been like learning a new language, words which are now part of my day-to-day conversations were once alien to me, and it’s been a joyful experience adapting my discourse to align with that of my colleagues. Words like “soffit”, “balustrade”, “gable” and “reveal” – I’d heard of – but had no context in my previous employments (or personal life) with which to apply them. Now, I can confidently use them, both when talking and in my writings.

I can’t talk about this new language without mentioning the madness that is acronyms! Having held previous positions in army recruitment and at two different police forces, I thought I’d already encountered the pinnacles of acronym lunacy. Little did I know that it was really the construction industry that can claim the top spot. I have had to create an “acronym buster” to help guide me, and to which I refer to on a daily basis, for definitions. At the time of writing this blog I have accumulated 286 different acronyms – some of these, it’s worth noting, can have alternative meanings or mean different things entirely depending on the context and who in the office you talk to. Despite having to learn a new vocabulary, I will say that after this short time within the role I already feel somewhat comfortable dropping the odd acronym into a sentence and can just about understand what someone is saying to me (if I can get away with a casual glance at my “buster” then I will). Doing so has helped build my confidence and makes the lives of those teaching me a bit easier – they can see I’m “getting it” – and that’s a nice feeling.

Learning this language, much like any other – though not quite as exotic as say, Greek – will get easier with time and my exposure to it only increases when visiting construction sites. On which point, I’ve been fortunate to have already visited a hotel project in London (Great Eastern Street near Shoreditch to be exact) on two occasions, and – as a newbie to this world – it has been an awe-inspiring day out (at times overwhelming – though in the best ways). Standing atop an 8-storey shell of a development looking out across the London vista is not somewhere I’d think I’d ever be (if you’d told me so 6 months ago anyway). I’ve been fascinated by the machinery used by the workmen – from the tower crane to the concrete pumping equipment. And the people themselves, for there is a multitude of roles on site that I wasn’t aware even existed just last year. The learning curve has been steep, but there has been genuine joy taking it all in – and being able to apply things learnt in the office to the real-world (correctly identifying formwork under the floor level – ready for the concrete pour – was a rewarding moment).

In addition to these London visits, since the beginning of March I’ve been tasked with carrying out expansive snagging reports for a housing development of over 200 properties – just south of Ashford. This is alongside my colleague David, who is the lead on this project, and an extremely active 78-year-old building control consultant (who puts my fitness levels to shame). We visit site on a regular basis and use a clever auditing app to capture any issues across these new builds (some of which have sat empty for almost 2 years…). This process, whilst it can be monotonous, has proven to be an invaluable learning tool for me as I’ve been able to lean on the expert advice offered to me. It has also impressed upon me the need for a project to have effective building control, stringent quality standards and for clear communication across all teams (as the developer has not been very forthcoming in their plan to remedy any snags found).

This leads me nicely onto writing about those I’ve had the absolute pleasure of getting to know and work with over the start of 2026 – all of whom, I hasten to mention, have been very welcoming. A special thanks must first go to James and Emma, who were gracious enough to have seen something in me during my interview back in November. For them to have taken a chance on a candidate who had no prior experience in the construction world must have been a big call to make and I’m extremely grateful to them for having done so – I am determined not to fail them in their decision. Becky (who was my first contact at Costplan) and Karen, our two conscientious and dedicated office/HR colleagues, are two of the kindest souls I’ve had the pleasure of meeting. I’m certain that without their organisation and care for the team, the Ashford office would run out of vital supplies (biscuits and tea), we’d have no social events to look forward to and the building would be an altogether dimmer place (and not just because the utility bill would go unpaid).

To all of my fellow QSs, who have been so generous with their time and patience as I bumble my way through the haze of a new profession – thank you! The information I’ve gleaned from you has been very useful and each of you have contributed vital pieces of the puzzle that is Quantity Surveying. Michael and Richard – who drew the short straw and interviewed me around my personality before getting the job – a big shout out to you both for seeing in me a kindred spirit with whom you could impart your wisdom and have a laugh with. And lastly to David, who has already become a good friend outside of work, thank you for restoring my belief that work is not just a grind, but can be a fun and enjoyable experience where one’s input is valued and learning is rewarding.

I end with this – Costplan; with the belief and trust they have in their employees, their critically analytical yet ethical approach to projects, the support all the staff provide one another and the possibilities of personal growth and development are not achievements that many companies can boast (they claim to but after 20 years in employment, I know the majority don’t). Yet Costplan achieves all of these. Sure, I’ve only held the position for three months, but this honeymoon period doesn’t appear to be ending any time soon and – if you speak to anyone here – it seems I’m not alone in sharing this opinion. Costplan has restored my faith in employers, provided me with a clear purpose and, in more ways than they’ll ever know, saved me. I will forever be grateful for this opportunity and plan to repay that faith with detailed works, dedication to my studies, eventual chartership and by taking the lead on projects.

Though I don’t have the time to get into this now (for it would provide enough material for an entirely different blog); previous mental health issues had led me to believe that such an opportunity as this would never come my way. But the belief that Costplan has shown in me, has proven that one should never give up – the grass can be greener and chances do come along. It’s strange to be ending the blog on such a melodramatic tone, but it is as close to the truth as I dare put to paper.

My career is under construction, the facilitating works are complete and foundations laid, now onto the more interesting stages. I can’t wait to see what the next few months and years have in store for me.