We all rely on the construction industry to provide us with shelter, erect our public buildings and maintain our transportation networks. Every day, new building projects and renovations are undertaken for the ends of improving domestic residencies or expanding sites of commerce across the country. Amidst all this action, there are a range of professions dedicated to ensuring this work runs smoothly and safely. Surveyors, architects, consultants and designers all work behind the scenes to ensure our brick and mortar structures are foolproof and long lasting. But what exactly is a construction consultant? And how do you become one? Read on to find out the answers to these questions in our comprehensive guide to the construction consultant profession.
What Is A Construction Consultant?
A construction consultant is a professional enlisted to oversee and advise on a construction project. They may be employed from the inception of the project to help streamline initial planning and design efforts, where their end goal is to ensure that construction takes place within budget and is completed in a timely manner. This role can cover a number of different facets of a construction project depending on what the client needs help with, where a consultant may consider both the technical aspects of the work at hand as well as more administrative and financial concerns.
Key Responsibilities
Although this role can vary widely from project to project, there are some common duties that tend to arise, where these include:
● Assessing if a project is feasible - this involves visiting the building site and researching the suggested construction plans to determine whether the project is both financially and structurally sound.
● Considering costs - a construction consultant may also decipher how much labour will cost to complete the project, alongside additional expenses for insurance.
● Liaising with vendors - this role will encompass discussions with vendors about the costs of building materials, where this can allow a budget to be drawn up, in addition to creating contacts for securing all the necessary resources to start the project.
● Managing regulations - another key responsibility may include determining and assessing safety risk factors on the site, in addition to advising on mandatory permits needed to carry out the project.
● Overseeing the project - construction consultants may also take on a more managerial role, acting as a project manager to oversee timelines and ensure all components of the build are running smoothly.
● Reporting to clients - this role also involves reporting back key findings to clients to keep them informed about project progress and developments, where this can include advice on spending and resource management.
Specialist Construction Consultants
These responsibilities listed above are very generalised where some construction consultants will take on a more particular role, where the focus may be on health and safety assessment or financial management.
Construction Claim Consultants
Another consultancy branch would be the construction dispute or claims consultant, where these professionals deal with various problems that may arise during a build. A claims consultant will handle a request for financial compensation or timeline alterations, whilst a dispute professional takes on such a case where a disagreement between two parties has arisen. Usually this will be between a builder or contractor and their client, where the consultant can step in to assert your claim, collect evidence and advise on the legal process.
A construction dispute consultant will be able to offer assistance with alternative dispute resolution (ADR), where these methods attempt to resolve a conflict without going to court. Popular methods include mediation, in-person meetings, arbitration and early neutral evaluation.
Cost Consultants
A further area of specialism when it comes to construction management is the role of cost consultant, where these professionals focus on the financial aspects of a project. Their role would generally consist of outlining and defining the project budget and assessing how cost effective the current build plans may be. This can also cover procurement strategy, the preparation of cash flow projections and the undertaking of risk management. Ultimately a cost consultant may also be responsible for completing the final account of the project once the build is completed.
Planning Consultants
This type of specialist consultant will focus on the preparation phase of the project, typically before any construction work or even any design work has taken place. The role typically involves working to obtain planning permission for a specific project, where they can advise on local policy and environmental regulations to ensure plans are successful. They can also provide reports to be submitted alongside your planning application which can help to get your project approved, where the consultant may also be able to participate in meetings with council members to further discuss plans.
Key Qualifications & Experience
In order to pursue a career in construction consultancy, you will need to achieve a number of key qualifications, which can then be developed through on-hand experience working in the industry. Some important steps to take may include:
Academic Qualifications
This begins with a Bachelor's degree, where this will typically be completed in architecture or civil engineering. These qualifications can provide you with a baseline knowledge of how projects are run, key design principles and an understanding of the modern construction industry.
You may also wish to undertake some advanced study such as a master’s degree in civil engineering or architecture to further your understanding of the field. This can help you to access higher paying jobs in the future in addition to expanding your knowledge about the construction industry.
Construction Experience
It is also important to gain workable experience in the construction field to boost your chances of landing a consultancy career. Any hands-on work in the construction industry can help so that your advice can come from a place of genuine understanding and interest. Working with machinery and tools or on a construction site in an administrative capacity can provide you with good experience.
Beyond this, to attain a senior position at the head of a construction project you would be required to have several years of experience working within the construction industry. In particular you will be expected to have already spent time negotiating contracts, managing projects and advising clients. Longer periods of experience would also be necessary if you wished to step out on your own as an independent consultant, where your know-how and expertise would have to be provable.
Further Certifications
In addition to this, you can also gain further certification specialist to the industry, such as becoming a Certified Professional Constructor. This is not essential but it can help employers to quickly understand your skills and experience level. Additional certifications surrounding health and safety knowledge can also be a useful way to highlight your expertise.
It is also important to note that various professionals can consult on a construction project, including site or structural engineers as well as architects and designers. This provides ample opportunities and pathways for accessing a career as a construction consultant.
Characteristics & Strengths
On top of your qualifications and experience, you will also need to demonstrate that you have the transferable skills to apply yourself to the position of construction consultant. These can be developed as you pursue the above steps, where some commonly expected personal strengths may include:
● Exceptional managerial skills with the ability to handle a busy team
● Impressive communication skills even when under pressure
● Proficient knowledge of relevant software and digital applications
● Ability to handle complex budgets and manage resources effectively
● Ability to analyse and interpret data in order to offer informed advice
● Experience at handling complex negotiations and resolving conflicts
Simon Levy: Building Surveyors & Construction Dispute Consultants
At Simon Levy, our team of expert consultants can offer unbeatable
construction dispute advice to help get your project back on track. Whether you're dealing with delays, neglect or a breach of contract, we aim to address your difficulties using a range of effective approaches to dispute resolution.
In addition to this, our professionals are equipped to deliver comprehensive building surveys, where we can also assist in insurance claims, party wall disputes and dilapidation cases.
Get in touch directly today to find out more about how we can help.
