Back in 2003, the Building Services Research and Information Association (BSRIA) organised a conference called ?Think 2010???. A total of 45 delegates, coming from all aspects of the M&E sector, were asked what they thought their clients? requirements might be in 2010 and beyond. While the answers of these delegates reflected the demands of their time, it is necessary to review them now, near the end of the first decade of the 21st century. The issues involved should be particularly worthy of note for those who currently hold or are aspiring for quantity surveying jobs.

The delegates were asked to consider what the building services industry should do to meet their clients? needs, under key headings such as industry rationalisation, skills and competencies, technical challenges and project pre-planning. The most prominent among their answers were ?best value, lowest price???, ?certainty of price and performance???, and ?warranted running costs???. These are goals that those with quantity surveying jobs could help their clients achieve by providing professional advice on using efficient products, equipment and services in construction projects.

Other answers included ?quality guaranteed???, ?best use of technical advances??? and ?plant that guarantees low taxation on energy???. By working with architects, engineers and building services providers from early stages of a construction project, those with quantity surveying jobs could ensure that most, if not all, of the products, equipment and services used in the project are of the highest quality, technically advanced and energy-efficient.

Needless to say, those with quantity surveying jobs need to constantly update themselves with the latest technologies and regulations within the construction industry. Their abilities to appoint ?contractors who can give integrated solutions???, promote ?proper testing and commissioning???, provide ?sound advice enabling good decisions??? and ensure ?projects [are] planned and completed on time??? cannot be neglected.

Finally, those with quantity surveying jobs are commonly seen as the main source of information on which to based intelligent decisions. Precisely because their job is to close the gap between the financial and technical aspects of construction projects, quantity surveyors play an important role in generating ?confidence in the building services industry???.