A jobs paradise

There are several projects taking place in Liverpool that are keeping both quantity surveyors and project managers in the area busy. These include the £750m Paradise Street and the Kings Dock projects in the city centre.

Employment opportunities are abundant, particularly for qualified and experienced quantity surveyors. This is set to continue with work in Liverpool preparing the city for its accolade of European City of Culture 2008.

Retail and leisure developments are being complemented by regeneration schemes in the centre of the city. For example, Kings Dock is a £160m leisure and music development which will host a 9,000 seat arena, apartments, hotel and conference facility. Other significant work includes the Baltic Triangle and Whiston Hospital projects, totalling around £250m. The Baltic Triangle is a historic port area close to the Paradise Street. The regeneration work will transform the area into a mixed-use quarter featuring historic warehouses, an existing business community and new developments.

As a result of this activity, we have seen demand for QSs has grow across all levels and disciplines (see box), but in particular at intermediate to senior levels.

The generous salary and employment package for the intermediate QS were due to the scarcity of suitable applicants. However, in contrast, a recent trainee role was easy to fill. We are finding there are a relatively large number of candidates for positions that require only low levels of experience, such as trainee and assistant QS. The position offered a starting salary of £16,000 and the chosen candidate possessed an HNC qualification in building. This compares to an average salary of £17,500 for graduate surveyors in the region.

Salary levels in the region have been affected by the high level of activity and the skills shortage. It has also led to a greater number of extremely high salary offers in order to secure the most qualified and experienced candidates.

For more information on Liverpool, visit www.hays.com/property