The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Trainee Quantity Surveyor
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Build your commercial skills on high-profile estate projects and deliver lasting value for local residents.
As a Trainee Quantity Surveyor, you will play a crucial role in managing commercial processes across the Lancaster West Estate. It is a chance to develop your career in client-side quantity surveying, making sure every pound spent delivers quality, transparency and genuine benefits for our community.
Working Style
You’ll be based in the Borough for three days a week, playing a key role in serving the local community. Whether you are reviewing accounts in the office or inspecting works on site, you’ll be part of a dedicated team making a real difference to residents’ lives.
What you’ll be doing
Your main focus will be providing essential commercial support to keep estate projects running smoothly, efficiently and within budget. You will monitor project costs, carry out financial reporting and help make sure the council gets true value for money at every stage.
A typical week will blend office analysis with hands-on site work. You will inspect progress on site, value variations, evaluate claims and review requests for extensions of time. Working closely with consultants, contractors and internal teams, you will help prepare contract documentation, evaluate tender submissions and thoroughly check contractor accounts.
You will also play an active part in quantity checks and value engineering initiatives, ensuring all commercial activities comply with contractual standards while driving high-quality outcomes for our estate projects.
For further details, please review the Job Description and Person Specification [https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/pdf/jds/Trainee%20Quantity%20Surveyor%20-%20LWE%20Sep%2026.pdf]
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What you’ll bring
You’ll hold an HNC or HND qualification in a construction-related discipline or bring equivalent hands-on experience in a similar field. You have a practical grasp of building technology, cost planning and financial management, ideally gained within housing or the wider public sector.
Organised and detail-oriented, you know how to handle multiple projects demands while maintaining a sharp commercial focus. You are comfortable analysing data, writing clear reports and using digital tools to manage financial processes effectively.
Most importantly, you are a strong communicator and team player who builds positive working relationships. You approach your work with integrity, respect and a clear commitment to delivering high standards for our local residents.
Why join us
At RBKC, we’re all in – investing in our people, our communities and our future.
This is a fantastic opportunity to step into client-side quantity surveying with excellent backing from experienced colleagues. You will benefit from ongoing training, dedicated mentoring and clear pathways for career progression as you build your professional expertise.
We offer a competitive salary alongside flexible working arrangements to support your work-life balance. You will also have access to comprehensive health and wellbeing support, working within a collaborative team that genuinely values your contribution.
About us
Kensington and Chelsea is home to diverse communities, thriving businesses and unique local places. Everything we do is focused on supporting our residents, strengthening our approach and creating a fairer borough.
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As a competent and caring Council, we take pride in our work every day, ensuring our services are delivered with care and competence. We listen to our residents, act with integrity and work together to build a borough that is greener, safer and fairer for all.
In this role, the "we’re all in" mindset means getting stuck in from day one. Navigating complex construction schemes and commercial challenges means it won’t always be plain sailing, but your efforts in managing resources carefully and transparently will bring real, lasting improvements to our estate communities.
Interview Details
Interviews will be held virtually week commencing 5th October.
Ready to join us?
We’re all in – are you? If you share our values and have the skills to contribute, we’d love to hear from you.
Please apply online explaining how you meet the requirements set out in the person specification and job description.
We reserve the right to extend or close this vacancy early without warning subject to the volume of suitable applicants.
We are committed to promoting equality and respecting diversity and welcome applications from all sections of the community.
We are a Disability Confident Employer – committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible.
We are committed to fair, transparent, and consistent pay practices. New hires will start at the minimum of the advertised salary range.
Employees receive annual salary increases until they reach the top of the pay scale. In addition, employees will receive any agreed cost of living pay rises.
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