Are Quantity Surveyors Needed In Construction?

About this episode

The episode discusses the role of quantity surveyors in construction, exploring their necessity and the dynamics between engineers and QSs.

In this episode, Jason and Carlos are joined by Thomas Schultz and special guest Peter Fitzpatrick, Project Commercial Director, to explore a role that's either fundamental to how construction projects work or potentially unnecessary, depending on where you stand. The conversation examines how quantity surveyors and commercial teams operate on major projects, unpacking the significant differences between markets like the UK and Australia. The team debates specialised roles versus the generalist engineer approach, discussing what gets lost and gained when responsibilities shift between team members. he discussion moves into the relationship dynamics between engineers and QSs, bridging technical knowledge with commercial reality, and how contract structures like NEC shape collaboration on major infrastructure projects. Peter shares insights on disputes, contract administration, and whether the burden of process actually prevents bigger problems down the line. The episode wraps with each guest proposing one change they'd make to contract structures or delivery models to drive better outcomes. Timestamps: 04:46 - How the QS role differs between the UK and Australia 22:25 - Do…

People in this episode

Hosts: Carlos Carvalho, Jason Lancini

Guests: Thomas Schultz, Peter Fitzpatrick

Topics covered

• quantity surveyors
• construction projects
• contract structures
• collaboration
• disputes
• commercial teams

Keywords

• quantity surveyors
• construction
• contract administration
• disputes
• collaboration
• UK
• Australia

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: NEC

Places: UK, Australia

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