A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A SURVEYOR – DANIEL SMITH
Daniel Smith gives his enlightening take on what it is to be a surveyor, what they bring to the roofing process and what it takes to join the profession.
As a surveyor, is there such a thing as a ‘typical day’? If so, what does it consist of?
In the life of a surveyor, there is no such thing as a ‘typical day’. Our days can change at a moment’s notice and we have to be flexible in order to keep up with the service we offer.
Tell us about some of the challenges you encounter on a daily basis.
I believe that the biggest challenge that faces the surveying team is working at height. Combined with the unpredictable British weather, it increases the likelihood of injury at work by a considerable amount.
What excites you about your job?
The main thing that excites me about my job is rectifying issues on site while managing existing limitations in order to get the job done. I also like that every day is different – no two surveys are the same. It keeps the job interesting.
What made you want to become a surveyor?
When I first joined Gradient about six years ago, I was a designer for the company. During my time as a designer, I was asked to attend site with the surveying team to increase my roofing knowledge. The day I spent on site made me want to build a career in surveying.
What skills and experience do you bring to the role?
Unlike many of my colleagues in the surveying team that had contracting experience, I have design experience. It means I know exactly what the design team needs to produce drawings.
What makes a good surveyor?
A good surveyor needs to have a good eye for detail to ensure that all the relevant information is collected at the time of the survey to avoid any issues when the job goes to site.
Tell us about a project that was particularly gratifying
Over the past three years I have been involved with many different projects. One that I find gratifying is Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, Wirral. It is nice to know that the building is being used to help people.
Where is your work generally based? Have you worked in any strange/unusual places?
As we work remotely, each surveyor has an area of the country that they are in charge of surveying for. My official area is the north of England and Scotland. Despite this being my official area, if we have a large survey we will pair-up and if one of us is on annual leave we will cover the area to ensure that our turnaround time for surveys does not dip.
What qualifications do you need to hold to become a surveyor?
Practical experience is more important than academic qualifications within this role. That being said, as soon as I carried out my first site visit while I was designing, I enrolled onto a building surveying degree course.
What would you say to someone contemplating a career in surveying?
That it is a great career path, you get to meet some good people and your work changes every day.
How do you visualise the future of surveying?
I believe that the future of surveying is bright, there is new equipment and technology being invented which will make our job easier and safer.
How do you think other sectors of the industry perceive surveyors and the work they do?
I think we are seen as valuable assets within the industry. What we do is specific to the flat roofing business and we are asked to attend jobs as ‘tapered insulation specialists’.
What ambitions do you have for your career and the future of construction?
I believe that the construction industry will always be strong, especially in the refurbishment sector. I hope to continue my career in the construction industry.
Could you tell us about Gradient’s customer service provision and the part surveying plays in it?
Customer service is a priority to Gradient. The surveying team try and build working relationships with clients by keeping up good service and getting to jobs as soon as possible. If an issue develops, everyone at Gradient will do their best to ensure that it is rectified in the correct way, as fast as possible.
