Trainee Quantity Surveyor - Year In Industry - Birmingham

Launch your career with Gleeds – a global consultancy shaping the future of the built environment.

We're looking for enthusiastic Cost Management Year Out Placement students to join us for a 12-month placement as part of their university degree. If you're looking to gain hands-on experience, work on exciting construction projects, and develop your commercial and technical skills alongside industry-leading professionals, then a placement with Gleeds is the perfect opportunity.

At Gleeds, we believe in building long-term relationships with our people as well as our clients. Our placement students are valued members of our teams, given meaningful responsibilities, and supported throughout their placement to develop the skills, confidence and experience needed for a successful career in the built environment.

During your placement, you'll benefit from:

• Real project experience across a range of high-profile developments
• Mentoring and support from experienced cost managers and quantity surveyors
• Opportunities to develop your commercial, technical and client-facing skills
• Exposure to the full project lifecycle, from early design through to construction and completion
• Insight into professional pathways and future graduate opportunities with Gleeds

The Role

Ready to gain real-world cost management experience? From your first day, you'll become part of a project team, supporting Cost Managers and Quantity Surveyors to help deliver successful projects for our clients. You'll develop an understanding of how construction projects are cost planned, procured and controlled, while working alongside a range of construction professionals.

What does a Cost Manager do?

Cost Managers play a key role in managing the financial aspects of construction projects, helping clients understand, control and optimise project costs from the earliest stages of design through to completion.

• Cost planning: Estimating budgets and costs throughout the design process.
• Procurement: Advising on how to hire contractors and managing the tender process.
• Contract management: Drafting contracts, handling changes, and resolving disputes.
• Cost control: Monitoring spending, forecasting cash flow, and maximising value.
• Project close-out: Finalising accounts, ensuring payments, and reviewing performance.

• Contribute to high-quality service delivery across projects.
• Support Cost Managers in providing accurate and timely outputs.
• Assist with preparing cost estimates, cost plans, cost-in-use studies, and tender documentation.
• Help manage tender processes, including evaluations and reporting.
• Support contract administration, valuations, payments, final accounts, and client reporting.

This placement offers an excellent opportunity to gain practical experience across the full cost management and project lifecycle, while developing the commercial, analytical and professional skills required for a successful career in cost consultancy and quantity surveying.

What we're looking for

We're looking for students who are curious, motivated and eager to learn.

You'll ideally have:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail
• Confidence using Microsoft Office applications
• A proactive attitude and willingness to take on new challenges
• The ability to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams
• The right to live and work in the UK
• Be currently studying towards a degree in quantity surveying  or another built environment discipline, with a 12-month industrial placement forming part of your course

Why Gleeds?

A year out placement at Gleeds gives you the opportunity to gain meaningful experience, build your professional network, and make a real contribution to projects that shape the built environment.

Many of our placement students go on to join our graduate programme after completing their degree, making this an excellent first step towards a long-term career with Gleeds.

If this sounds like the opportunity you're looking for, we'd love to hear from you.

What benefits can you expect from Gleeds? 

At Gleeds, we know people power our success, which is why we are constantly evaluating our benefits offering to make sure everyone knows how valued they are here:

• 25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays and the option to purchase additional days. 
• Highly competitive salary and the opportunity to increase this through continuous reviews.
• Volunteering opportunities to engage with your local community or charitable organisations.
• Employee Assistance Programme to ensure your health and personal well-being comes first.
• Expand your horizons with global opportunities available to everyone.
• Agile ways of working arrangements to ensure you have a healthy work-life balance.
• A supportive and people-focused company that is a recognised Great Place To Work 2025
• Access to a health cash plan, which includes access to discounts on gym memberships, health products and experience days.

Gleeds is a global property and construction consultancy with over 150 years of expertise, operating in 28 countries worldwide. From iconic landmarks to critical infrastructure, we drive innovation, sustainability and value, delivering transformative projects that shape communities and redefine the built environment.

Gleeds is committed to an inclusive workplace where everyone feels respected and valued. We uphold the principles of Fairness, Inclusion and Respect (FIR) and embrace the diversity of our teams. As an equal opportunities employer, we provide support, flexibility and accessibility for all. If you require reasonable adjustments, please contact our Talent Team at [email protected]

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