Chester

As a quantity surveyor working in Franklin + Andrews’ Chester office I have been working on various projects located on different sites in the North West of England. These range from cost engineering and planning within the nuclear and utilities sectors.

I’m working towards my Chartered status with the RICS and being a non-cognate member (a candidate with a non RICS accredited degree), I’m currently studying a part-time MSc in Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management at Liverpool John Moores University. This is a two year, day release placement which Franklin + Andrews have sponsored me to complete. I feel that the part-time placement is more beneficial than the full-time equivalent, for several reasons as I’m able to use real-life projects for my assignments, the experience at work helps me understand the lectures more easily and vice versa with information learned in lectures being applied whilst working. Finally, help and guidance for my assignments is readily available from my work colleagues.

Chester City itself is a historical and picturesque place with many facilities and activities available and tourist attractions to experience. It is a great place to shop with many trendy, yet pleasant bars scattered around the City and down by the River Dee. Chester is also ideally located close to Liverpool and Manchester, accompanied with good transport links if you feel the need to venture out.

Franklin + Andrews is the largest quantity surveying employer in Chester, with only one other medium sized practice in the city, the remainder being small companies/sole practitioners. The office is located within easy walking distance to the amenities nearby, and is surrounded by professional organisations of similar status to ourselves.

The environment within the office creates an excellent balance between work and play. We frequently work on a number of challenging high profile jobs within the UK and internationally, for leading clients such as British Nuclear Group, British Petroleum and United Utilities.

Personnel working within client sites are actively encouraged to become involved with the general ethos of the sub-division as a whole. As a result, I’m one of the FNL Chester Sports and Social representatives and am actively involved in organising the social side of life, including a variety of organised events suitable for all colleagues every month, whether it may be a few drinks after work, bowling, a day at Chester races, going to the ballet, or even go-karting! This combination of work and social life comes together to create a great office atmosphere and team spirit.

Iain Bain
University College Chester
BSc (Hons) Mathematics with Statistics
Joined in 2006
Works for F+A, Chester, UK