On the starting blocks

What a busy month – it’s been all change since my last blog. So there’s a bit of catching up to do.

First, the results for my course are out. I came home last Friday and there they were waiting unexpectedly for me on the door mat and with slightly sweaty and shaky hands I ripped open the envelope. So at this point my weekend could have been totally ruined or I would have had the perfect excuse to go out for some drinks. Luckily it was the latter! I passed all the units and fell back to earth with the verdict: ‘Proceed to Dissertation’. So it’s actually time to start this long talked about dissertation. I’m still in the starting blocks at the minute, I blame the weather – it’s impossible to contemplate going to the library with this brilliant sunshine and heat outside!

So I have finally lost the ‘trainee’ status and am a fully fledged assistant quantity surveyor. I know I probably say it a lot but the two years have flown by since I started at Mowlem with the prospect of a gruelling Masters course in front of me. Although the course certainly was hard work, the people I met and the friends I have made have more than made up for it.

I am also now working on a new site. I am based in St Paul’s working on a new build retail and office development on Cheapside. The area is a real hive of construction activity, especially along Cheapside itself. This is the first time I have worked in the City and it is like a different world! There is such an array of buildings and small parks tucked away. And more importantly some lovely wine bars to have a Pimms or two after work on a Friday.

At the minute I am working in the buying department and will transfer back to surveying in September. So I am busy sending out tender enquiries, having post-tender meetings and placing orders. The idea is that the packages I put together I will then manage as a surveyor. So I will literally live and die by my decisions. I know that QSs doing the buying is the norm for other companies and I can definitely see the advantages. Normally I would just pick up the subcontract order and start from there with no real knowledge of the history of the package and agreements with the subcontractor. Here, I am getting to know the subcontractor beforehand and building up a good relationship which should make the later valuations and agreements simpler and more amicable. Although, as I am currently placing the scaffolding order I’m not so sure about it being a simple account – think I drew the short straw there.