Currie & Brown

Pros: As a Project Quantity Surveyor, I've had some decent work from home options. The London office has solid tech for hybrid work, which is a plus. You can usually adjust your hours if you need to, which helps with personal appointments.
Cons: True work flexibility isn't always there, especially for onsite construction projects. Sometimes it feels like senior management expects you in the office more than necessary. It's tough to get approval for fully remote working in this construction consultancy field.
Advice to Management: Managers should trust their teams more with remote work options. Not every Project Quantity Surveyor needs to be onsite constantly. More transparent policies on hybrid or remote working for construction consultancy roles would be good.

Pros: I've gained solid experience as a Quantity Surveyor in the London office. The projects are big, which is good for your CV in the construction consultancy space. Some of the older colleagues are genuinely helpful mentors, especially with complex cost management challenges.
Cons: The company culture feels pretty corporate and sometimes a bit cliquey. There's not much flexibility, and it's tough to build strong social connections outside your immediate team. Work-life balance for project management roles can be challenging during peak times.
Advice to Management: Focus on building a more inclusive and less hierarchical environment. Encourage more cross-team interaction and consider modernizing work arrangements to improve overall employee morale and retention in the UK market.

Pros: You get hands-on experience in cost management right away. It's solid for learning the ropes if you're new to construction consultancy. Working in the London office gave me exposure to some interesting UK-based projects.
Cons: Career progression can feel pretty slow, especially for Quantity Surveyor roles beyond junior levels. There's not much formal mentorship or structured training for moving up. It's a pretty corporate environment too, which might not be for everyone.
Advice to Management: Create clearer promotion pathways and invest more in career development programs for mid-level staff. It would really help with retention.

Pros: I've definitely learned a ton about construction cost management. The team in the London office is really supportive, and you get to work on some interesting construction projects. There's some flexibility with hybrid work too, which helps.
Cons: The work-life balance here just isn't consistently good for this industry. For Cost Consultant roles, you're constantly up against tight project deadlines. Overtime is pretty common, especially when trying to hit those crucial milestones.
Advice to Management: Management should really try to better manage project scopes to prevent burnout, especially for junior Cost Consultant roles. Consistent staffing for construction projects would make a big difference.