Markets · Electricity
Quantity Surveyors in electricity.
An electricity QS works on the networks that move power: transmission, the high-voltage backbone, and distribution, the local networks into homes and businesses. Grid reinforcement and new connections have made it one of the busiest commercial markets in UK infrastructure.
The work.
Transmission. New overhead lines, underground cables, substations and converter stations, much of it to connect offshore wind. Large, long projects with major contractors and long-lead equipment.
Distribution. Substation upgrades, cabling, overhead line refurbishment, and connections for new housing, electric vehicle charging and heat pumps. Smaller jobs, far more of them.
Two different commercial jobs under one heading. A transmission QS lives with a handful of big contracts and big risks. A distribution QS lives with volume.
The contracts.
NEC4 across most of it, target cost on the larger schemes, with frameworks and early contractor involvement on transmission. Transformers, cable and switchgear are ordered early and often bought directly by the client. That moves risk around, and managing the interfaces it creates becomes a large part of the commercial job.
The clients.
Transmission: National Grid Electricity Transmission in England and Wales, SP Energy Networks and SSEN Transmission in Scotland. Distribution: six network operators, each with its own regions: UK Power Networks, SSEN, SP Energy Networks, National Grid Electricity Distribution, Northern Powergrid and SP Electricity North West. The regulator's RIIO price controls set the spending. Independent connection providers build a growing share of new connections.
What a good electricity QS has usually done.
Worked for a network operator or its main contractors, not only on building electrics. Handled long-lead procurement and the interfaces it creates. On transmission, managed compensation events and programme risk at scale. On distribution, run high-volume framework work. Knows that network electrical and building services electrical are different trades.
How careers move.
In. From gas or water networks, civils, or rail electrification. The step from building services electrical is bigger than it looks.
Through. From project QS to programme commercial roles, where the job becomes forecasting across a portfolio.
Out. Client side with a network operator, or across to generation and connections.
Freelance QS work in electricity.
Compensation event backlogs, final accounts on substation and cable schemes, and supply chain claims. That is Delivery work.
Assistant Quantity Surveyor to Commercial Director, Permanent and Contract, UK wide
Hiring in electricity? For commercial leaders
Sectors Water · Gas · Electricity · Telecoms · Rail · Highways · Nuclear · Energy · Data centres · Building · Fit-out · M&E
Regions London and the South East · Midlands · North West · North East and Yorkshire · Scotland and Wales
What people have said · Google reviews
Matt helped us place a freelance QS whilst we had an opening for a new full time position.
Andy Pickering · June 2026
Matt sourced the freelance position at the company I wanted to work for, and negotiated terms perfectly.
James Hughes · May 2026
They came highly recommended from a close friend. When I was ready for my next commission, I reached out.
Matthew B · August 2026
Do you have electricity network QS jobs?
Yes, Permanent and Contract, in transmission and distribution, with contractors and client side. A Career Insight Call is where to start.
What is the difference between transmission and distribution work for a QS?
Transmission is a small number of very large projects with big risks and long programmes. Distribution is a large volume of smaller jobs through frameworks. Both run mostly on NEC.
Can an M&E QS move into electricity networks?
Sometimes, not automatically. Building services electrical is a subcontract package inside a building. Network work is infrastructure for a regulated client. The contract knowledge carries over. The asset and the client take learning.
Do I need NEC experience?
For most roles, yes. Nearly all network work runs on NEC4, much of it target cost.
Is there more electricity network work coming?
The network is being reinforced to connect new generation and new demand, and the regulator has approved a large programme of work to do it. Demand for QSs who have done this work before is likely to stay strong.
