Markets · Highways
Quantity Surveyors in highways.
A highways QS works on the road network: the motorways and major roads run by the national agencies, and the local roads maintained by councils. Major schemes build and widen. Maintenance keeps everything else open.
The work.
Major schemes: junction improvements, widening, bypasses and structures. Renewals and maintenance: resurfacing, drainage, barriers, lighting and bridges, much of it at night under traffic management.
Most maintenance is a term contract, not a project. Hundreds of orders a year are raised against rates, and each one is measured and paid.
The contracts.
NEC across most of it. Major schemes use target cost and early contractor involvement. Maintenance uses term service contracts and schedules of rates. Traffic management and night working are where the cost moves.
The clients.
National Highways, for motorways and major A roads in England. Transport Scotland and the Welsh Government, for their networks. Local highway authorities for everything else, often through long partnerships. Beneath them sit the tier one contractors, surfacing firms and a large maintenance supply chain.
What a good highways QS has usually done.
Worked on a live network under traffic management. Run a term maintenance contract and reconciled it. Handled compensation events on a major scheme. Knows how night working, lane closures and weather move the account.
How careers move.
In. From civils, utilities or rail. Anyone who has run measured term work will recognise the maintenance side.
Through. From scheme QS to framework and area commercial roles.
Out. Client side with a highway authority, or across to rail and other public infrastructure.
Freelance QS work in highways.
Final accounts on major schemes and reconciliations on maintenance contracts are defined pieces of work, which suits a freelance QS. That is Delivery work.
Assistant Quantity Surveyor to Commercial Director, Permanent and Contract, UK wide
Hiring in highways? 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 highways Quantity Surveyor jobs?
Yes, Permanent and Contract, with contractors, maintenance providers and client side. A Career Insight Call is where to start.
What is the difference between major schemes and maintenance for a QS?
A major scheme is a project, with a target and an end. Maintenance is a term contract, with thousands of orders and no end date. Different rhythm, same contract family.
Do I need NEC experience for highways?
Almost always. Most highway work runs on NEC.
Is local authority highways work different?
Yes. Smaller orders, tighter budgets and long partnerships with a single council. The relationship matters as much as the rates.
Can I move from highways into rail?
Yes. Both are public infrastructure on NEC. The railway's access rules take a year to learn.
