Tiana studied law at the University of Kent and her original career plan was to work as a solicitor. Once qualified, she looked for work while she saved up her for Legal Practice Course and was sent to BECK for a temporary administrative role on-site in London, doing Document Control. This gave her an overview of what is involved in bringing a project to fruition.
After two years, she reached a crossroads in her journey. She hugely enjoyed her work in construction and was reluctant to leave the industry but could not see how to factor in her law qualification. At meetings with two of the company board directors, the role of Quantity Surveyor was suggested. For the first time, she was able to see how her two passions could be merged.
Tiana worked as an Assistant Quantity Surveyor for just under two years while she completed her Masters in Quantity Surveying. She has now been a Quantity Surveyor for almost three years.
Her role is incredibly varied and includes looking at the programme, design and construction elements of a project. She manages subcontractor accounts, assists in reporting cash flow, prices variations and more.
Tiana says: “As a Quantity Surveyor you are the melting pot of every dept. It’s one of the few roles which is across an entire project. You need to be detail-oriented, have a calm head and enjoy change, as it’s a dynamic environment. You are often dealing with people with different end goals, such as Project Managers, Architects, Design Managers and the client team. A lot of construction law is applicable to my role, so my experience in the law really helps. My law degree and Masters have gone hand in hand. When I rang that site doorbell on my first day at BECK, I never thought I would be embarking on this journey.”