GVE's 20th Year - Q&A with our founder

Steve Goodwin, Managing Director, GVE Commercial Solutions

1.        What does 20 years of GVE mean to you?

I am extremely grateful and proud to be part of a business that has grown from its initial three people in 2005 to the 25+ workforce that we have today. 20 years of GVE has shown that with belief, determination, vision and hard work anything is possible. Our people are at the heart of our business – GVE’s surveyor and administration team, our direct external support, our clients, the construction industry and the wider

business and local community. Some of our clients have been with us since day one and continue to use our commercial support services - we are most grateful to them. We strive to develop long-term working relationships with our clients which are built on trust, professionalism, delivery and commitment.

As one of GVE’s founders, I have seen directors and many of our team members come and go throughout our 20 years. As an employer and business leader, it’s always great to see people thriving professionally.  We’ve been able to support many aspiring quantity surveyors early on in their careers with work experience, junior and intermediate QS roles, project experiences and site visits, qualifications and professional memberships. We’ve had previous work experience students who have reconnected with us to let us know that their GVE placement inspired their career in quantity surveying. Now they are in apprenticeships, making an impact in their career and the industry. It’s all great to see! 

2.        What has been the most memorable project you have been involved in within your 20-year career at GVE?

GVE itself is a project - developing as a leader, a manager and as a business owner has led to me learning lots of new business-related skills. It has taken me on an unexpected journey with many challenges and opportunities along the way. Founding GVE has opened so many doors to new experiences and meeting new people. My role is evolving as the company grows and as the industry changes. Even with 35 years’ experience in construction, I am always learning new things - it keeps it interesting!  

I have had the opportunity and privilege to contribute to important conversations held across our industry in my role as a panel member of the CICES Commercial Management Practices Committee (CMPC). I have also had the pleasure to speak with young people at local colleges about their future careers in construction and have held construction law workshops with students to help support and encourage potential leaders of the future.

3.        What are the most remarkable changes you have seen within quantity surveying over the last 20 years?

As a civil engineering quantity surveyor, the shift from traditional measure-based quantity surveying to cost-based quantity surveying - mainly brought about by NEC cost-based mega-projects. Quantity surveyors used to ‘measure’ things - I used to measure (and I mean physically measure) road layers and concrete and drainage runs and pipes and big holes in the ground!

NEC major projects are most likely procured on NEC Option C. This is a cost-based contractual process with a pain/gain mechanism to incentivise the Contractor. This contract option has changed the role of the civil engineering quantity surveyor. They no longer need to go out on site, hour after long hour, measuring things. Managing and reporting the project costs, seeking cost efficiencies with the wider team, assisting with project risks and helping to avoid/mitigate future costs is the new quantity surveyor role.        

This, along with the Covid-19 pandemic, has led to hybrid working now being an aspect of work that clients, contractors and employers need to consider. Now, quantity surveyors work 2/3 days at the site offices and 2/3 days at home (or at a consultants’ office). Whether this is positive for the industry and the profession….time will tell.

4.        What’s next for GVE?

GVE is going through a period of growth - within our traditional civils business we are continuing to expand our team of consultants. We want to continue the growth of GVE Building, our dedicated team of quantity surveyors that operate within the built environment. We are looking forward to expanding our programming division with plans to launch GVE Programming in the future. We have taken steps towards increasing the size and range of expertise within our current internal programming team.

We are continuing our work towards sustainability by demonstrating our social value impact and implementing our carbon reduction plan. Our three areas of focus are the environment, wellbeing and community. As part of the construction industry supply-chain we all have a part to play in adapting our way of working to make a difference to the environment we operate within.

We have some very exciting news coming up soon with the introduction of our sector leads - a new initiative where GVE civils consultants can develop their skills within a smaller GVE sector team, each focussing on an area of specialism. Within their sector team, our employees will have promotional opportunities at commercial management and associate director level by demonstrating a willingness to lead, making an impact in their sector and motivating others.