McBains has a Building Surveyor year out placement opportunity for the 2025/2026 academic year, based at our head office in central London. The successful candidate’s primary focus will be on Building Surveying disciplines, but they will also interact with other teams such as project management, quantity surveying and M&E.
Please note this is a one year fixed term contract / industrial placement paying £21,000 (PA) plus benefits. A successful completion of the placement year may provide the candidate with the opportunity to join the company as a graduate.
The team currently has a variety of work, working within the private and public sector. Clients include Domino’s Pizza, NHS Property Services, Department of Work and Pensions, Department for Education, London Borough Councils, Enterprise Inns, Rank Casinos, The Co-Operative and many more.
Key responsibilities
The work will typically involve:
- Assisting with and undertaking a variety of surveys including schedules of condition, measured surveys, dilapidations, specific defect surveys, snagging and de-snagging etc.
- Using AutoCAD to create and design elevations, floorplans, schematics, details, and ordinance survey maps.
- Assisting with feasibility reports, design drawings for tender issue, buildability, or planning studies at the early stage of project commencement.
- Assisting senior colleagues with Contract Administration, Independent Certifier and Employers Agent schemes.
- Taking minutes from team meetings, general admin tasks and routine site visits.
Skills, knowledge and expertise
The role will require the candidate to have:
- Confident using AutoCAD
- Time management and good communication skills
- A good understanding of building components, their defects, and the ability to identify appropriate remedial works
- Flexibility to travel across the country to undertake various surveys
- The ability to work independently and as part of a team in both an office and home environment
- Organizational skills and attention to detail
A successful completion of the placement year may provide the candidate with the opportunity to join the company as a graduate.
Values, culture & benefits
- Business as a force for good: We are a unique social enterprise, with all our profits contributing directly to environmental and social initiatives.
- Net Zero by 2050: We are committed to net zero and building a sustainable future.
- Charity Community Day: All our colleagues are encouraged to take a day off work once a year to make a meaningful impact in the community.
- Sustainability Panel: McBains employees have the option of joining our sustainability panel to be the voice for change in our sustainability initiatives.
- Give as You Earn: Empowering our team to back charities and causes they believe in.
- Electric Vehicle Scheme – We operate an EV scheme which allows you to be part of the climate change solution, one drive at a time.
- Brewgooder™ beers: Enjoy beers with a cause at our monthly team drinks – each sip helps to fund clean water projects!
- Annual Performance Development Reviews: We're as invested in your career growth and success as you are with annual reviews to reward and refocus.
- Employee Assistance Program: Anonymous on demand support for mental health, advice and coaching needs
- "The Better Way" Award & Recognition: Our monthly award to recognise the person who exemplifies our values of Integrity, Understanding and Flexibility.
- £100 Voucher for Monthly Award Winners: We celebrate your achievements, big and small!
- DEI Champion: McBains will always lead from the front in fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace.
- Team Social Events: Regular team events to foster meaningful connections with your colleagues – it’s not all about work!
- Team Sports: Teamwork makes the dream work, on and off the field.
- Employee Referral Scheme: Earn up to £5000 per referral by helping us build a team as exceptional as you are!
- Glassdoor 4.3 /5 Score: Don’t just take our word for it- hear from our team about why this is such a great place to work.
- Professional Fees Paid: We understand you’re ambitious and we want to support your continuous learning and development.
- Private Healthcare via BUPA: Our colleagues’ health and well-being are our top priorities.
- Private Dental: We care about your smile as much as you do!
- Eyecare: See the world more clearly and focus on what matters, thanks to our eyecare coverage.
- Travel Insurance: We understand your safety and security are important, wherever you are.
- Growing Company with Opportunities for Career Progression: Your potential is limitless here!
- Competitive Compensation Package: A comprehensive package that rewards your skills, experience, and dedication.
- Hybrid Work Approach: Work-life balance tailored to your lifestyle.
- Learning Management System: Never stop learning, growing, and improving thanks to our amazing LMS team.
- 25 Days Holiday Allowance: Take the time you need to recharge and rejuvenate.
- ️ Buy/Sell AL: Flexible holiday so you can balance work and life your way.
- Bike to Work Scheme: A healthier, greener way to start your day!
- Pension Contribution : Flexible options to help secure your long-term financial well-being.
- Life Assurance: Providing peace of mind for you and your loved ones.
- Interest-Free Season Ticket Loan: Making your daily commute a little easier.
- Training & Development Scheme: Begin your career journey with a team that invests in you!
About McBains
McBains is a standard-setting go-to property and construction consultancy providing a bespoke range of services to corporate clients and public bodies across the UK and Europe, and with wider global capability.
In fact, the McBains team has, does and can engage or address any property or construction concept, project, issue, opportunity, question or challenge anywhere in the world.
We have an in-touch and dynamic but considered approach. And as one of the longest-established consultancies in the UK, with a sound financial track record and confident investors, McBains provides a broad range of services to meet the unique and constantly changing requirements of a hugely diverse client portfolio.
With projects ranging from minor works to major contracts worth in excess of £200 million, we cover all major sectors, from office to residential, education to retail, health to custodial, infrastructure to transport and industrial to conservation.
Our expertise extends across all major disciplines: project monitoring, project management, quantity surveying, architecture, master planning & urban design, engineering, building surveying and sustainability.
We're known and noted for finding the better way.
