Career Profiles

Tim Shelton BA (Hons) MSc (Dist) MRICS Project Surveyor

I joined Gardiner & Theobald in 2002 after graduating from the University of Southampton with a degree in Geography. My “non-cognate” status to the profession subsequently required me to undertake an affiliated MSc conversion course in Construction Cost Management at Reading University to enable me to qualify as a Chartered Surveyor at the same time as the other “cognate” degree holders.

The Masters course was structured over 2 years on a part time basis. During this time I had the full support of the firm in which an appropriate environment was established to enable me to practise as a trainee Quantity Surveyor whilst studying simultaneously.

In September 2004 I completed the course gaining a pass with distinction. 2 months later I then gained my chartership with the RICS as a product of Gardiner & Theobald’s structured APC training scheme which I had also been progressing whilst studying for my masters.

I have been involved in a number of projects since beginning my career at Gardiner & Theobald. These have included a new sports centre for a Private Girls School in High Wycombe, and a refurbishment of a mixed use building in Old Bond Street, London. These were both projects in which I was delegated a level of responsibility with my own defined role and presented an opportunity for me to demonstrate my potential as a Cost Consultant.

I am currently involved in a major mixed use development scheme in Knightsbridge, London and again has proved to be a project in which I have had my own defined Cost Consultancy role.

Whilst my introduction to the Construction Industry as a non cognate graduate would not normally be viewed as “conventional”; the structured training programme I followed, the experience gained through the projects I have worked on and the support of the team in which I was integral, can all be attributed to my success since beginning with G&T. These factors have indeed been an invaluable component of my career to date.

As my career progresses, I hope to be given further levels of responsibility in managing projects and become an active member of the Construction Industry which will enable me to introduce new work to the firm. I also hope to embark on further study to enable me become a rounded surveyor with a holistic approach towards the industry and thus progress my career through to management at G&T.