Careers

Hertfordshire Building Control Ltd is a private company wholly owned by eight Local Authorities (LA) within Hertfordshire. We have combined the skills and talents from these Authority’s Building Control Teams. The result is a dynamic, forward-thinking organisation that whilst still retaining the LA ethos of public service and transparent values, can act in a customer-focused way to deliver first-class services in a fast, flexible and professional manner servicing our many commercial and private clients.

We are always interested in hearing from qualified surveyors looking to join our busy teams.

Our building control surveyors carry out the full range of building control duties and can expect to look after small domestic developments to large-scale commercial and industrial projects. You’ll have a clearly developed career pathway with transparent routes to progress within the company.

We pride ourselves on our comprehensive training regime and in-house CPD programme and are leading the way in training up the next generation of surveyors. You will be assisting in this programme by being involved in the mentoring and supervising of our trainees.

The Role

You will be able to work flexibly and unsupervised and maintain a good work-life balance. We have a high standard of values that are clear and we are looking for people who believe in and share those values.

Our Building Control Surveyors manage a range of interesting projects from small domestic extensions to major commercial developments liaising with clients, design teams, architects and builders. You will provide professional support to them acting as the compliance lead whilst ensuring that value is added, for our customers, at each stage of the build process. This includes:

• Working with client and design teams to provide pre-emptive advice;
• Checking plans submitted for Building Regulation approval;
• Carrying out on-site technical assessments;
• Offering guidance to builders as well as undertaking forensic investigations;
• Supporting our undergraduate surveyors as they embark on their careers.

The Person

As a Chartered professional (MRICS, MCABE, MCIOB), you should bring solid construction industry experience, knowledge of Building Regulations, and be able to make pragmatic decisions. You will have a customer-focused approach, possessing excellent communication skills both written and verbal, recognising the commercial benefits of adding value to our clients whilst ensuring legislation is complied with. You should be able to work unsupervised, in line with established policies and procedures, but with the experience to know when to seek expert help.

This is a great opportunity to make your mark in a vibrant, progressive, and financially stable organisation that offers the opportunity to develop as far as your ambition and talent allow.

In return, you can expect the following:

A highly competitive starting salary
Performance bonus
Professional fees paid
Flexible working arrangements & remote working options
Minimum of 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
Additional long service leave
Class-leading CPD and continuous training opportunities
Pension scheme with an employer contribution of 6% of salary
Private healthcare
Member of the Mindful Employer initiative

You’ll notice that we haven’t placed a deadline here! That’s because we are always interested in hearing from qualified surveyors wherever you are in your career.

To express your interest please email your CV to recruitment@hertfordshirebc.co.uk  and for an informal chat please contact Simon Heywood at simon.heywood@hertfordshirebc.co.uk

We are a dynamic, forward-thinking organisation retaining the ethos of public service and transparent values. We’re customer-focused delivering first-class building control services with safety and compliance at the forefront of what we do.

Overview
Hertfordshire Building Control leads the building compliance process on domestic homes and commercial building projects. We provide direction and advice from the very beginning of a building project through to its completion. Ensuring the building is compliant with the Building Regulations, is structurally sound, is safe to use and is energy efficient. We do this through our service of consultations, plans assessments and site inspections.

We have a reputation for outstanding customer service which is achieved because we are lucky enough to employ talented and committed people. In return we aim to be a top-rated employer and offer an excellent benefits package and a professional but relaxed working environment, where our people are given exceptional development and advancement opportunities.

Aligned to this we have developed a career pathway which gives clarity as to how individuals can progress within Hertfordshire Building Control and the rewards they can expect as they do so.

Whereas knowledge and experience are important we place a great deal of emphasis on values believing that people who share our values and have a passion for looking after our customers can learn the more technical aspects of the role.

You will enjoy the support of a multi-disciplined professional team but be given the autonomy and responsibility to make your mark in a growing and successful company.

Apprenticeship and Graduate Programmes
Our Apprentice Building Control Surveyors will undertake an intensive training programme which is partly based in the office and partly on site. You will be working and learning alongside experienced surveyors and also undertaking a degree in building control surveying at the University of Westminster.

Keep an eye on our vacancies both here on our website and on the Hertfordshire Opportunities Portal.

James Cooper
Graduate Trainee Building Control Surveyor

What are you studying and where?
I am currently studying an MSc at the University College of Estate Management.

How long have you worked at HBC?
Since February 2019

Why is Hertfordshire Building Control a great career choice?
HBC is a great career choice due to my friendly, enthusiastic and supportive colleagues.

What do you most enjoy about your current role?
I enjoy the dynamic and challenging day to day environment and training opportunities we are provided.

How do you see your career progressing?
I am looking forward to being given more responsibility, having my own area and diversifying my training.

What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about joining the HBC graduate programme?
Be responsible, use your initiative and set clear goals.

Suzanna Jenkin
Graduate Trainee Building Control Surveyor

What are you studying and where?
I finished a Masters Degree in Building Surveying in Feb 2019 from the University College of Estate Management
in Reading.

How long have you worked at HBC?
Since February 2019

Why is Hertfordshire Building Control a great career choice?
Having retrained after a career break I have found there is excellent support from the senior surveyors who mentor me out on the construction site and also when checking architect plans in the office – both require different skills.  As a full-time working mum, I am also given the chance to manage my time flexibly which is so valuable.

What do you most enjoy about your current role?
Being outside most days, meeting lots of different people and getting a challenging variety of work.

How do you see your career progressing?
I’d like to manage my own area for inspections once I achieve my RICS chartership in a couple of years, which HBC are supporting me through.

What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about joining the HBC graduate programme?
Be ready to work hard, show initiative and stand in muddy puddles in the rain in November!

Max Hewitt
Apprentice Building Control Surveyor

What are you studying and where?
I am currently in my first year studying BSc (Hons) Building Control Surveyor (Degree Apprenticeship), at
Wolverhampton University.

How long have you worked at HBC?
I have worked at HBC for 11 months.

Why is Hertfordshire Building Control a great career choice?
Hertfordshire Building Control provides plenty of opportunities for each individual no matter what your level. The training is fantastic, and the company is a friendly and rewarding place to work.

What do you most enjoy about your current role?
Carrying out site inspection with surveyors and going through plan checks with my manager. I also enjoy attending training days and CPD events.

How do you see your career progressing?
I see my career progressing in a positive direction. I see myself completing my level 4 part of my degree programme and ultimately becoming a charted building control surveyor for HBC.

What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about joining the HBC graduate programme?
Go for it! , try and get out on-site as much as possible and get stuck in with the plan checks and the training provided.

Godfrey Mandibaya
Graduate Trainee Building Control Surveyor

What did you study and where?
I completed a BSc in Construction Project Management and MSc in Sustainable Planning and Environmental Management.

How long have you worked at HBC?
I have worked at HBC for 11 months now.

Why is Hertfordshire Building Control a great career choice?
HBC is a great career choice because it offers first-class training second to none, to its graduates and trainees.

What do you most enjoy about your current role?
I enjoy coming across different and challenging jobs each day.

How do you see your career progressing?
 I see myself being chartered by the end of my second year working with HBC.

What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about joining the HBC graduate programme?
Do not hesitate to follow your dreams. HBC is a fast-growing company that is training the future generation of surveyors.

To view vacancies at Hertfordshire Building Control please click here  and follow our page on LinkedIn  and Twitter

Keeping Well at Work

Everybody responds differently to the stresses and strains of modern life. We all need and, to a degree, thrive on pressure: it gives us energy, helps with performance, and inspires confidence. But excessive pressure can lead to stress. Stress may become a problem when someone feels they don’t have the resources to cope with the demands placed upon them. Harmful levels of stress can lead to a mental health condition such as anxiety or depression. 1 in 4 people experience mental ill-health at some point in their life.

Employers have an important role in improving work-life balance and it is generally recognised that work is good for health and wellbeing. But for many, ‘work’ means overcoming obstacles, excessive expectations, and challenging colleagues. For others, though, the causes of stress, anxiety or depression may not be work-related: with difficulties such as bereavement, finance, relationship breakdown, family issues, etc causing problems. Indeed, non-work-related stress, anxiety, and depression cause more sickness absence than work-related difficulties. At such times, work may be the ‘safe place’: the place where there is support and fulfilment.

HBC’s Commitment as an Employer

The Mindful Employer initiative aims to help empower employers to take a lead in supporting the mental wellbeing of their staff. By signing the ‘Charter for Employer Positive About Mental Health’, we have made a public statement of our desire to support the mental health of our staff across the HBC organisation.

As an employer, we recognise that in the UK, people experiencing mental ill-health continue to report stigma and discrimination at work. Having signed the ‘Charter for Employers Positive about Mental Health’ with Mindful Employer we are committed to creating a supportive and open culture, where colleagues feel able to talk about mental health confidently, and aspire to appropriately support the mental wellbeing of all staff.

As an employer, we have made an ongoing commitment to:

• Provide non-judgemental and proactive support to staff experiencing mental ill-health
• Not make assumptions about a person with a mental health condition and their ability to work
• Be positive and enabling towards all employees and job applicants with a mental health condition
• Support line managers in managing mental health in the workplace
• Ensure we are fair in the recruitment of new staff in accordance with the Equality Act (2010)