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Abstract

This article explores the advantages of newly qualified quantity surveyors advancing their careers within medium to large firms, rather than starting their own small businesses. It highlights the challenges faced by small firms in investing in research and development due to financial constraints and the negative impact of competitive pricing on human capital and resource upskilling. The article advocates for consolidating efforts within established firms to drive innovation, enhance skills, and secure the future of the quantity surveying profession through strategic growth and collaborative development.

Introduction

As the construction industry continues to evolve, we are witnessing a growing number of newly qualified quantity surveyors choosing to either join established firms or venture out to start their own practices. While entrepreneurship in any profession is commendable, I believe there are significant advantages to encouraging these talented professionals to advance their careers within medium to large quantity surveying (QS) firms, rather than everyone starting their own small businesses. In this article, I will explore why this approach can benefit not only the individual professionals but also the QS profession as a whole, particularly in the context of research and development, resource upskilling, and sustainable growth.

The Pitfalls of Starting Small Firms: Challenges in Research and Development

One of the primary challenges faced by small QS firms is the lack of resources and time to invest in research and development (R&D). When professionals start their own practices, the pressure to make ends meet often takes precedence over innovation. This focus on survival and generating immediate income can limit the ability to explore new technologies, methodologies, and approaches that are critical to keeping pace with an ever-changing industry.

In medium to large QS firms, there is a structured framework and dedicated resources to drive R&D initiatives. These firms have the capacity to invest in new ideas, explore innovative solutions, and adopt best practices that will ultimately benefit not just the firm but the industry at large. Encouraging more professionals to grow within these environments will lead to greater contributions to the field of quantity surveying, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement.

The Reality of Negative Competition

Another concern in the profession is the increasing trend of competition being used as a positive tool, which, in reality, can be detrimental when not approached strategically. Small firms often resort to offering high discounts to win clients, creating a race to the bottom that undervalues the profession. While this approach may seem like a quick win to attract projects, it often undermines the ability to invest in human capital and the upskilling of resources.

Medium to large firms, on the other hand, have the capacity to maintain competitive pricing while still investing in the professional development of their teams. These firms can afford to offer training programs, mentorship opportunities, and career advancement paths that enhance the skills of their workforce. In doing so, they not only create a more competent and capable workforce but also elevate the overall standards of the profession.

The Case for Consolidation and Collaboration

To secure the future of the quantity surveying profession, there is a strong case for consolidating resources within medium to large firms rather than fragmenting the profession through numerous small enterprises. By encouraging new professionals to join and advance their careers in these larger firms, we enable the consolidation of knowledge, experience, and innovation within the industry. This consolidation is essential to driving research and development initiatives that address the evolving needs of the built environment.

Medium to large firms have the advantage of economies of scale, which allows them to pool resources and invest in technologies that small firms cannot afford. With a focus on R&D led by these firms, the QS profession can find innovative ways to serve the broader construction and built industry more effectively. It is through these efforts that we can develop new cost management techniques, sustainability measures, and risk mitigation strategies that will have a lasting impact on the industry.

Advancing the Quantity Surveying Profession Through Strategic Growth

For the QS profession to sustain itself in the future, we must prioritize growth and innovation within existing firms rather than dispersing our talents across multiple small enterprises. The focus should be on creating an environment where registered professionals can thrive, collaborate, and contribute to the collective knowledge of the profession. We need to embrace a model that values continuous learning, investment in skills development, and the nurturing of a culture that prioritizes research and development.

In conclusion, while entrepreneurship is a valuable aspect of the quantity surveying profession, the current trend of each professional starting their own small firm can lead to unintended consequences that may hinder the growth and innovation of the industry. By encouraging newly qualified registered professionals to advance their careers in medium to large firms, we can create a more sustainable future for the profession, driven by research, development, and a commitment to excellence. Let us work together to consolidate our efforts, grow existing firms, and make strategic investments in the future of the quantity surveying industry.

The path to a thriving profession lies in collaboration, innovation, and a shared vision for the future. Let us build on the strong foundations of our medium to large firms, nurturing the next generation of quantity surveyors to become leaders who will take our industry to new heights.

Together, we can create a legacy that not only sustains but also redefines the QS profession for generations to come.

Dear Colleagues

There is nothing more rewarding than taking on an assignment that , when completed , yields a positive acknowledgement and sentiment both to oneself and those that have assisted to shape its success. Today, we must recognise an old idiom which when recited reminds us that “understanding talent in the workplace and blending human and business skills , when combined, often deliver s extraordinary increases in talent performance ”. In support of this ethos, I can certainly profess and further emphasize that coupled with a personal willingness to achieve what is import ant in one’s career path , driven by a grounded inquisiti on to better what is learned and reshape future prospects, achieves a phenomenal preposition to one ’s path.

We are very encouraged with what Sean Heydenrych and Shikhar Soni have done in lifting t heir specialist skills set and casting their names on the infamous “ MW&S Wall of Fame ” by making a positive contribution , firstly to their colleagues in Durban , and more so to the rest of the firm , particularly those who are still busy with their APC s. Testimony to this , I’m reminded of an unknown scholar who maintains that you are not qualified as a n expert in your field of study until you specialize .
This is the same premise that engulfs a quantity surveyor to advance his or her APC to be recognised as a Professional in his or her way of specialist knowledge.

As the year draws to its final close and with a huge dent to our patience , particularly on those projects that have been drastically delayed in implementation, I believe there’s a lot of more exciting things yet to grace our appetite in the next com ing months which will put to test all these qualifications attained by our very own this year.

For this moment calls for celebratory remarks to both Sean and Shikhar for passing their APC s, writing their own names to the wall of fame in MWS career development . A contest set up by two ladies earlier this year that has seen them finish the year with a bang !

Exciting news to share!

Tonight one of our own, namely Qinisani Mbatha (Q), will be participating as one of the distinguished guests in this year’s CEO SleepOut™ event taking place at Johannesburg’s Liliesleaf Farm. This event also marks what would have been Madiba’s 100th birthday celebration.

The CEO SleepOut™ Trust’s goal is to receive donations from third parties in relation to The CEO SleepOut™ Events, to provide funding and support services, and to ensure the funds are disseminated to the appointed Primary Beneficiaries with absolute transparency and accountability.

It will be Q’s first CEO SleepOut™ event and he’s bracing himself for the freezing cold highveld weather. Despite the cold though, Q is looking forward to enjoying a spirit of ubuntu with fellow business people. This experience will allow them all to have greater empathy when it comes to homelessness in South Africa.

Let’s give our support to Q while he and others #RiseToTheChallenge!

Bosses of companies join CEO SleepOut event to celebrate Mandela’s 100 years at Liliesleaf:

Pic from The Star dated 13 July 2018 of L-R:
Qinisani Mbatha (MW&S)
Tollo Nkosi (Umso Construction)
Max Boqwana (Thabo Mbeki Foundation)
Monty Ditibane (DBI Consulting Engineers)
Richard Ndlele (Viewtag)

Mbatha Walters and Simpson received the PMR.Africa 2018 Diamond Arrow Award in the category of medium-sized quantity surveying companies after a national survey was conducted on quantity surveyors in South Africa.

This is the 17th consecutive year for MW&S to receive a prestigious PMR.Africa award for Excellence, voted as one of the top quantity surveying companies in the measured category, with emphasis on the Diamond Arrow which we have been awarded 7 times over the years.

This achievement is a clear reflection of the hard work and dedication offered by our team of professionals and support staff.

We would like to thank everyone who has played a significant role in our continued successful journey, from our dedicated team through to each client, consultant and contractor who has supported us throughout our years of tailored service.

Dear Colleagues

Allow me to share with you very exciting news that occurred during
the month of May 2018. We have in our midst, in fact, for the first
time, two admirable Quantity Surveyors who have done this
company very proud by meritoriously cracking yet another career
milestone within our walls.

These individuals heeded our call to run a course that defines
excellence, severity and dedication in becoming a fully-fledged
professional within this exciting knowledge management industry
that we serve. They have reclassed the interpretation that defines
the art of career growth and foremost the understanding that
there is no secret to success other than preparation, hard work and learning from failure, and this was very well done.

A lot of us would like to think that this is pure luck, but I beg to differ and rather share my belief which embodies that luck is a factor of thinking and we become lucky only when we give our best as they both clearly did.

To those that are still in pursuit of their APC – let this be a beacon of light and encouragement to always remember that the key to success in anything you do is to “study while others sleep, work while others loaf around, prepare while others are playing and dream while others just wish”.

With those kind words, please join me in congratulating our “Rising Stars”, Ms Lebo Masera and Ms Esther Rwelamila, who passed their APC during the month of May 2018.

“A sigh of relief to you both, you have finally done it and most of all 
Congratulations on your great achievement! You have made MW&S very proud!!!”

Qinisani Mbatha
Managing Director

It is with much delight that I should introduce to you and welcome Frans van der Walt to our organisation:

Frans joined the Johannesburg office as the Office Manager effective from 1 May 2018.

Frans is a registered professional Quantity Surveyor (PrQS, MAQS) with well over 29 years’ experience, of which 25 had been spent in a senior management and shareholding position, and 19 years in a chief executive position, managing his own practice. He has spent 28 years in Richards Bay, a vibrant town in the northern part of KwaZulu-Natal.

Frans has gained extensive experience on various types of projects as Quantity Surveyor, and evolved into Principal Agency and Project Management role for the selected clients that he served. In recent years Frans played a significate role as Strategic Development Advisor to prospective Industrialists, pursuing the development of mega projects in the Richards Bay. He played a leading role in assisting developers to ensure successful developments, through pro-active advisory and risk-management, etc. services. Frans is a team player.

For all his previous roles and the leadership he demonstrated together with the huge repository of strategic development information on the northern KZN region, he has been recognised by various Professional and Business Representative bodies for the engagement and strategic role he played, namely:

Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone (RBIDZ)
and many others.

Frans joins the dynamic team in the Johannesburg office to assist with the maintenance of our quality standards to our existing clientele and to those whom we are pursuing in offering our tailored service/s.

Please join me in welcoming Frans who will be working with all of us in our different capacities, fulfilling yet another goal setting task ahead of making centenary a reality for Mbatha Walters and Simpson.

Qinisani Mbatha
Managing Director

Premier Ntombela has officially opened the newly built state of the art hospital and took the time to meet the first baby delivered at Busamed Bram Fischer International Airport Hospital Emmanuel was born on the 23rd of April 2018 AT 10:17AM.

Accompanied by Director General Dr Kopung Ralikontsane, MEC for Health Butana Khompela and HOD of Department of Health Mr Modau, Premier embarked on an extensive walkabout of the facility in the process engaging the staff members of the hospital. #reahlasela #wehavedelived

In line with our long term strategic objective to developing and empowering a sustainable leadership model in our national footprint and furthering the goals set in reaching our centenary with a dream team, we have now consolidated this desire in the Durban office.

The board of Mbatha Walters & Simpson (Pty) Ltd is delighted to announce the recent placement of yet another dynamic individual, Mr Ian Furter, to the position of Regional Director in our Durban office. Mr Furter will occupy this office in his new position effective from the 01st March 2018.

A Regional Director entails a great deal of responsibility which we are very confident that Mr Furter, with his sterling record in the quantity surveying profession and well-grounded leadership qualities as recently demonstrated in his previous capacity at Mbatha Walters & Simpson, will be managed with outmost diligence.

Ian’s appointment is therefore without doubt a very important turning point for MW&S and we are confident his input will have a positive impact, and assist in further expanding our reach and improve the value of our services to our clientele.

Please join me in wishing Ian a very successful fulfilling attribute in his new leadership role. Once again we are excited with this addition to our management that he shall hold the MW&S flag with pride and contribute greatly to the diverse skillset the company holds.

A progressive and ingenious attempt to further the company’s centenary vision with a dream team that is fit for purpose is nearing its set goals as once expressed during our 80th Anniversary.

This attempt has a founding desire to reach a centenary with a capable and visionary team full of zest, and who with the passage of time would have matured to heed the call in waving the company’s flag for the next generation/s.

Mbatha Walters & Simpson (Pty) Ltd is very pleased and more so inspired without any doubt that such a sterling desire has now been fulfilled. It is with such delight and confidence that we announce the appointment of Adam Webber as the Regional Director in the Cape Town Office. Adam occupies this office in his new position effective from 01st March 2018.

Through this appointment and Adam’s well-grounded record in the quantity surveying profession, the company’s tailored operational and management expertise are strengthened. We believe that Adam in his geographic reach shall discharge that responsibility with the utmost diligence, therefore adding value to our clientele.

Please join me in congratulating Adam in his new position fulfilling an exciting yet goal setting task making the centenary a reality for Mbatha Walters & Simpson (Pty) Ltd.

Qinisani Mbatha
Managing Director

Mbatha Walters and Simpson
is proud to announce that we have once again been awarded the Golden Arrow Award for Quantity Surveying Services Excellence at the annual PMR.africa Leaders and Achievers Awards in April 2015.

Background on the Survey:
PMR.africa completed its annual national survey on quantity surveyors in South Africa. The respondents rated the quantity surveyors across a range of 9 attributes, namely:

• Black Economic Empowerment (BEE)
• Budget/cost control
• Commitment to the project
• Control of assignment
• Cooperation with client
• Reliable data
• Reputation of firm (i.e. perception of the firm’s brand, integrity, CSI)
• Responsiveness
• Timeous completion

The ratings were based on the perceptions of the respondents.
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