Technical Surveyor
What is the work like?
Technical surveyors, also known as surveying technicians, carry out a wide range of tasks to support chartered surveyors, architects and engineers. Technical surveyors work across all branches of surveying, including building, land, planning, quantity, general practice and minerals.
As a technical surveyor your exact duties would vary according to your branch but could include:
- draughting plans, using computer-aided design (CAD) software
- estimating and drawing up project costs
- gathering and analysing data as the basis for plans and reports
- assisting with environmental impact assessments
- surveying buildings or mapping land use, using precision measuring instruments
- valuing land, property and machinery for purchase, sale, taxation and insurance purposes
- organising the sale of assets by auction
- supervising construction operatives on site
- scheduling workloads and monitoring the progress of projects.
Some of your work would involve administrative duties, for instance writing reports for managers and clients, and helping to put together contracts, tenders and bids.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
You may be able to become a technical surveyor by starting as an apprentice with a surveying practice or construction firm. The range of Apprenticeships available in your area will depend on the local jobs market and the types of skills employers need from their workers. For more information on Apprenticeships, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk.
The Chartered Surveyors Training Trust (CSTT) has been running the Advanced Surveying Apprenticeship scheme in London and the south-east from September 2007. This is a new pilot scheme to help you qualify as a technical surveyor and achieve Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (TechRICS) status. See the CSTT site for details.
As an alternative, you could take college courses, which would teach you some of the skills needed for this job. Courses include the Edexcel (BTEC) National Certificate/Diploma in Construction and National Certificate/Diploma in Civil Engineering.
You could also take BTEC HNCs/HNDs in Construction, and foundation degrees in surveying, construction or civil engineering, which you could use to get into this job.
To search for colleges and universities offering foundation degrees, HNDs and degrees see Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
See the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors for details about surveying as a career.
What further training and development can I do?
Once you are working, you could take further training to improve your career prospects. Several NVQs are available, relating to the different surveying branches and include:
- Surveying, Property and Maintenance Level 3
- Construction Contracting Operations levels 3 and 4
- Quantity Surveying Practice Level 4
- Spatial Data Management levels 3 and 4
- Built Environment Development and Control levels 3 and 4.
If you are working in surveying and have a minimum of HNC/HND or equivalent qualification, you may be eligible to register for the Assessment of Technical Competence (ATC) scheme operated by RICS. The scheme normally takes at least two years, with an interim assessment at 12 months, and leads to Technical Surveyor (TechRICS) status. Contact RICS for details.
The College of Estate Management (CEM) offers a range of surveying qualifications at various levels through distance learning. Some of these may require that you have a relevant work placement. Check with the CEM for details.
Where can I go for more information?
Surveyor CourtWestwood Way
Coventry
CV4 8JE
Tel: 0870 333 1600
35 New Broad Street
London
EC2M 1NH
Tel: 020 7194 7952
Reading
Berkshire
RG6 6AW
Tel: 0800 019 9697
If you would like to discuss your career options with a learning adviser, call 0800 100 900 or use our online enquiry form
Alternatively, you can visit our website at: www.direct.gov.uk/careersadvice
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What salary and other benefits can I expect?
- Starting salaries for technical surveyors are between £14,500 and £16,500 a year.
- Experienced staff can earn between £17,000 and £25,000.
- Technical surveyors with proven experience can earn up to £30,000 a year.
What are the hours and working conditions?
Your normal working hours as a surveying technician would be 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. However, earlier starts, late finishes and weekend work may be needed, depending on the project.
Your time would be split between the office and sitework.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
- good problem-solving skills
- an aptitude for maths, and good IT skills, especially for CAD work
- a methodical approach to work
- the ability to organise your workload
- an understanding of Building Regulations and other relevant legal guidelines
- good communication and negotiating skills
- good technical ability for using sophisticated measuring equipment.
What opportunities are there?
Your opportunities as a qualified technical surveyor are very good, as there is currently a shortage of skilled staff. You can find work across the UK but there is a concentration of jobs in the south-east, London and the east of England. This is partly driven by large-scale construction projects in these areas.
You can find work with central and local government, construction firms and surveying companies. Financial institutions, auction houses, and antique and art dealerships also employ technical surveyors.
Your options for progression could include working independently as a self-employed consultant, or going into partnership with a chartered surveyor. With the right experience, you could progress to managerial jobs. Related professions like town planning may also provide possible career routes.
You may find the following links useful for job vacancies and general reading: (links open in a new window)
RICS Recruit
Hays Recruitment
LGjobs
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