Graduate Quantity Surveyor

United Utilities; Warrington; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 35,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Joining bonus £2,000

25 days annual leave

Pension contribution up to 14%

Career development and mentoring

Job summary

United Utilities in Warrington is inviting applications for a Graduate Quantity Surveyor. The three-year scheme offers a starting salary of at least £32,250 with a £2,000 joining bonus, plus progression through pre/post-contract commercial work and professional membership toward chartered status.

You will learn to manage procurement, contracts and life-cycle processes while collaborating with teams and stakeholders across UU. A driving licence is required to commence the scheme.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2:1 accredited Bachelor’s degree in Quantity Surveying or Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management.
• Knowledge of standard construction contracts (prefer NEC suite).
• Knowledge of QS processes and life-cycle methodologies.
• Ability to communicate with internal/external stakeholders.
• Teamwork and effective time/workload management.
• Flexible across tasks to deadlines and prioritisation.
• Excellent computer skills particularly in Microsoft Office and Excel.
• Full UK Driving Licence by scheme start

Responsibilities

• Develop knowledge of construction contracts, NEC suite.
• Commercially manage contracts to meet terms and protect UU interests.
• Assist in negotiating and resolving contract claims/disputes.
• Support procurement, tendering, cost forecasting, payments, final accounts.
• Maintain quality commercial data for IAP and concept phases.
• Collaborate across the directorate, guiding contractors and teams.
• Attend progress meetings and site visits for commercial support.

Skills

Contract management knowledge

Communication skills

Time management

Teamwork

Microsoft Excel

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Quantity Surveying

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Office

Job description

Graduate Quantity Surveyor

• Salary: at least £32,250 per annum with an annual pay review & £2000 joining bonus
• Location: Lingley Mere, Warrington
• Hours: 37 hours per week

Every day, we deliver one of life's most essential services to millions of people across the North West. From providing safe, high-quality drinking water to protecting the environment and supporting thriving communities, the work we do matters. We're now in the second year of our £16.5 billion investment programme, one of the largest transformation programmes in our history. It's an exciting time to join us as we improve our services, enhance environmental performance, embrace innovation and create a more sustainable future for generations to come.

There's more to us than just great water. We are where purpose flows.

What you can expect being a graduate

In this three year graduate quantity surveyor scheme, you will be supported in working towards Chartered Membership of a relevant institution (e.g. Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors or equivalent). You will be working in a team and business area that is crucial in the successful delivery of United Utilities’ business needs by providing a professional quantity surveying service. As you grow in experience and expertise across both pre and post-contract roles, you will take on more responsibility and play a key role in the commercial support throughout project lifecycles.

What you’ll be getting stuck into day to day:

• Develop a working knowledge of various forms of construction contract (particularly the NEC suite of contracts), becoming a contract subject matter expert.
• Grow in understanding of how to commercially manage construction contracts to ensure that they are delivered in accordance with the contracted terms and conditions and that all issues are mitigated and managed to protect UU commercial interests.
• Supporting the negotiation and resolution of contract claims/disputes and supporting senior managers in the resolution of any escalated issues.
• Supporting the management of pre or post-contract commercial processes and procedures to deliver key commercial requirements on projects. These will include Procurement, Tendering, Contract Formulation, Early Warning and Change Management; Cost Forecasting; Payments; Cost Auditing and agreement of Final Accounts.
• Supporting the production and maintenance of quality commercial / contractual data, providing the commercial function in IAP and concept phases
• Working collaboratively across the commercial directorate and providing commercial expertise and guidance, learning how to communicate and influence contractors, suppliers as well as a wider variety of teams across the company internally.
• Attend progress meetings and site visits providing commercial support to the project team.

What you’ll bring to the team:

Candidates require a minimum 2:1 accredited Bachelor’s degree in Quantity Surveying or Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management.

• Knowledge and some experience in the use of a broad range of standard forms of construction contract (preferably including NEC suite of contracts)
• Knowledge of key quantity surveying processes, tools and methodologies used across the whole project life-cycle.
• Ability to effectively communicate with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to work as part of a team and ability to manage time and workload to get things done.
• Be able to be comfortable working flexibly across a range of tasks and activities to deadlines as well as being able to prioritise your time.
• Have excellent computer skills particularly in Microsoft Office and Microsoft Excel.
• A full UK Driving Licence by the time the scheme commences

Why join United Utilities as a Graduate?

By joining us on our 3-year graduate scheme, you'll not only get first-class training and support, but we'll also provide you with an in-depth understanding of your business area, ultimately giving you the confidence, skills and knowledge required to become one of our future operational, technical or people leaders, driving meaningful change.

What's in it for you?

We know that delivering a great service starts with supporting you, our people. That's why we offer a range of benefits designed to help you thrive both at work and outside of it.

• Starting salary of at least £32,250 + £2,000 welcome bonus
• Annual pay increase and bonus (subject to performance)
• 26 days annual leave, increasing to 30 days after 4 years + bank holidays
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave policies
• Up to 14% employer pension contribution
• Access to colleague wellbeing programmes and dedicated mentors who will support you whilst on scheme
• We’ll contribute up to £500 towards driving lessons and tests to help to get you on the road

Want to learn more about life at United Utilities and explore our full benefits package? Take a look at our Flexa profile here: United Utilities | Verified Employers | Flexa Careers

Our commitment to opportunity for all

We're committed to creating a workplace where you feel you can belong and can succeed. Our colleague networks play an important role in this, these are;

• GeneQ – supporting gender equality, parents and carers
• Multi-Cultural & Faith
• LGBTQ+
• Armed Forces
• Ability – supporting colleagues with disabilities and long-term health conditions

We recommend that you are open and honest with us throughout the process and make us aware of any reasonable adjustments you may require.

Additional Information

Our recruitment process requires you to complete:

• An Online application form
• Online tests
• An in-person interview and presentation

Please note that you must be available to attend an in-person recruitment stage during the period 17th November – 11th December

Application deadline: 21st October 2026 – please apply early as deadlines are subject to change

Based on current immigration guidelines this role is not eligible for visa sponsorship .