Job Title:
Commercial Manager
Start Date:
November 2021
Claire started at Taylor and Fraser as a fully qualified Quantity Surveyor, and since joining four years ago, she has progressed to become a Managing Quantity Surveyor, overseeing multiple projects. We caught up with Claire to get an insight into her role and her experiences of working at Taylor and Fraser.
What was your starting role at Taylor and Fraser?
I started in the role of Quantity Surveyor, and after just over 3 years, I was promoted to Managing Quantity Surveyor.
Can you give us a brief description of your current role?
My daily duties are varied because I work on various projects, all of which are at different stages. Generally, my job entails conducting a handover from the Estimators, exploring how the contract was originally priced, dealing with any procurement and application requirements of the contract, investigating pricing variations, and working through to the final account.
What aspects of your role do you particularly like?
Variety is probably the main thing; we work on multiple projects. Right now, I have around 4-5 live projects and a couple at the final account stage. These projects vary in size, sector, and stage in their lifecycle, so I perform different tasks for each of them daily. I particularly like the negotiation process when we have price variations.
It’s also particularly satisfying to see a project progress through its various stages to completion. There’s something rewarding about looking at a building when the project has run well and knowing that you were part of the team responsible for its delivery.
Do you find the company supportive in terms of personal development?
Yes, especially since the introduction of Cornerstone, Suir Engineering’s learning App; it makes personal development much more accessible to everyone in the company. I’ve been looking at a couple of things that I’d like to pursue in the future. We’ve also had a couple of people so far who have completed LEAP applications and been accepted to degree studies at universities. So, yes, I’d certainly say Taylor and Fraser and the Parent company, Suir Engineering, are committed to personal development; they don’t just support it, they actively encourage it.
What do you like about working with Taylor and Fraser?
I joined Taylor and Fraser when it was a family business; that was one of the appealing factors because I had previously worked in a similar family business environment. However, we now have the best of both worlds: Suir Engineering offers many more opportunities and the chance to work on an even wider range of significant projects, while maintaining the family business culture. The business is founded on traditional values, which I appreciate.
What do you do outside of work?
When I’m not working, I am a taxi driver for an 8-year-old and a 5-year-old! I spend my time outside work ferrying kids to all manner of activities, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I enjoy concerts and shows, so when I have the time, I take the opportunity to indulge in a good gig. This year has been good. I managed to get to Murrayfield to see Oasis, and I also saw Stereophonics, so while I’m ‘Mother Uber’ a lot of the time, I do get to take in some great events.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
I’m really excited for the future. The Suir Engineering acquisition has opened up many opportunities to work on significant projects, and it also offers me the chance to develop my skills and experience.
