13 Mar Career Story – Nikki Griffiths (Senior Quantity Surveyor)

Senior Quantity Surveyor, Nikki Griffiths, based in the WWA Plymouth office, shares her Career Story:

How did you get into Construction?

Having nearly completed my AS levels with thoughts of studying for a career in metreology, I became restless about continuing full time education and was eager to get into the ‘real world’ of work. Shortly after I had left school I was browsing the local newspaper and Ward Williams Associates were advertising for a trainee quantity surveyor position in their local office of Tavistock. I discussed this exciting opportunity with my dad in the first instance who is a reputable builder himself, who provided a general overview of the profession and the encouragement to apply for the position.

What’s the day job?

The content of the day job varies from day to day and week to week, dependent on the stage of the projects I’m working on.
I’m currently working on a number of projects, but one that is of particular interest is the Seaton Jurassic Visitor Centre which is currently under construction and due for completion in June 2015. As the Employer’s Agent on this project the working day can vary in intensity and requires a good communication network with the whole project team. This exciting build will see a café, Exhibition Halls, offices and external interpretation areas and is a significant build for the local community and taken many years to get under construction!

Why should young people go into construction?

A career in construction offers up an array of opportunities in both skilled and professional capacities and for males and females alike. The variety of employment within the construction sector itself is huge, varies from office based to site based and provides varied work on a day to day basis.

Whilst employment pathways are vast in the construction sector, the very fact that construction works are being undertaken globally, offers up opportunities in countries all over the world.

Note: The CITB website can provide further detail on employment paths.

What are your views on the Hot Topics in Construction?

The number of women in construction has increased significantly in the last 10 years and this is most definitely a positive move in what has tended to be a very male dominated industry. The development of women only forums/membership groups and industry articles I’m sure has increased publicity of women in construction and made this a more attractive industry for young women to join.

The Health and Safety Executive’s intention to implement the new CDM Regulations 2015, will see fundamental changes to the current CDM Regulations 2007. These changes in brief will see the removal of explicit competent requirement, include the domestic client, remove the CDM Co-ordinator and place their duties with the Principal Designer and see a rise in the threshold at which the HSE are notified. These changes will come into force in April this year, with a six month transitional period for existing projects which will be required to meet the new CDM Regulations 2015 by October 2015. Whilst the welcoming of these new regulations is received with some optimism, ensuring that Clients, Designers and Contractors are adequately and appropriately advised of these changes and their responsibilities to ensure that they do not fall foul of their duties is paramount.

What are your aspirations for the future?

One of my key aspirations for the future is the continuation and completion of my RICS APC, which has been a target for achievement since joining WWA.