Categories: Hiring

Employee turnover is a costly headache for any business. It disrupts workflows, impacts morale, and eats into your projects. Commercial teams have the added pressure of being extremely difficult to hire and therefore rock hard to replace! We speak with clients daily who feel the pressure to quickly fill gaps in the team to keep projects running smoothly.

In today's competitive job market, keeping the best QS’s is more important than ever so I have assembled some methods to cultivate a commercial team that I believe, fosters loyalty and keeps your A-team thriving:

Build a Work Environment They'll Love

• Competitive Compensation and Stellar Benefits: It all starts with a fair salary and a benefits package that addresses employee needs. Think health insurance, wellness programs, and perks that go beyond the staff room ping-pong table such as covering the cost of their chartered memberships.

• Work-Life Balance is Key: A little pressure is great, however very few thrive under constant pressure. Promote flexible work arrangements, and remote work opportunities (if possible), and encourage healthy boundaries between work and personal life. A happy, well-rested QS is a productive one!

• Communication is a Two-Way Street: Foster an open and honest communication culture. Encourage your team to share their ideas, concerns, and feedback without fear. Regular team meetings and one-on-one conversations are essential

• Recognition Makes a Difference: A simple "thank you" goes a long way. Acknowledge and reward QS’s for their hard work and accomplishments. This can motivate them to keep striving for excellence.

• Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: Encourage collaboration between QSs and other project stakeholders. This fosters a sense of community and allows them to learn from other disciplines. Inviting those who usually work from home to the office to catch up with the team helps combat feelings of isolation and supports the maintenance of team connections.

• Invest in Growth: Show your employees you're invested in their future. Offer training opportunities, charterships, conferences, and mentorship programs to help them develop their skills and advance their careers. I speak with lots of QS’s who leave roles they are otherwise happy in because they have no opportunity for professional development.

• Meaningful Work Matters: Try to avoid getting your quantity surveyors to get bogged down in mundane tasks. Assign work that's challenging to the people that need it, and delegate some of the business as usual tasks to other staff who can competently handle them. Consider allowing them to manage their workloads autonomously. This sense of ownership promotes a feeling of responsibility and increases enthusiasm.

Prioritising Their Well-being

• Mental Health Matters: Quantity Surveying can be a highly pressurised job at time. Mental health is just as important as physical health in this instance. Offer resources and signposting for employees to maintain good mental well-being.

• Work-Life Balance Initiatives: Go beyond lip service. Organise events or programs that promote work-life balance, flexible working as and when they need it, and family event days. Make them feel like the role is more than just a day job.

• Positivity is Contagious: Cultivate a positive and inclusive company culture where employees feel respected, valued, and heard. A happy work environment goes a long way in boosting morale and retention.

Keeping Your Finger on the Pulse

• Employee Satisfaction Surveys: provide anonymised surveys to understand the needs, concerns, and overall satisfaction of your commercial team. This valuable feedback allows you to identify areas for improvement and address any issues before they snowball.

• Exit Interviews: When employees leave, conduct exit interviews to learn why they're departing. This can reveal blind spots and areas where you can focus your retention efforts.

• Open Door Policy: Make yourself approachable. Maintain an open-door policy where employees feel comfortable discussing their concerns with managers directly.

• Market Insight: keep up to date with how the market is shifting and monitor trends. A specialised talent partner can keep you up to date in this area.



By following these tips, you can create a work environment that cultivates a loyal and engaged commercial team . Remember, a positive reputation is powerful! People talk, the construction industry is massive, but it’s also small in that word spreads very quickly . When people have a great experience working at your company, it will help you attract and keep hold of top talent.