Northen Surveying Services Ltd

What Northen Surveying Services Ltd does

Northen Surveying Services Ltd is a UK Chartered Quantity Surveying Practice founded in 2009 and headquartered in a converted-barn office in Latteridge, North Bristol. The firm is regulated by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and operates with a small team of approximately 5 employees led by Managing Director Alan Northen FRICS, who is the lead author of the RICS New Rules of Measurement Volume 2 (NRM2) 2nd Edition and a member of the RICS Whole Life Carbon Assessment Practice Standard Working Group. Ownership is concentrated with the Northen family; the business is bootstrapped with no external funding rounds and no parent company.

The firm delivers professional services rather than software, organised into Client Services (cost management, contract management, construction management) and Contractor Support (Bills of Quantities production, dispute avoidance, variation and final account support), plus an expert witness service in construction quantum disputes led by Alan Northen. Underlying methodology uses SMM7, NRM2, CESMM4, and BIM for measurement and cost planning. A differentiating fixed-fee package for Bills of Quantities bundles addenda, site visits, handover meetings, and Director-level QA into one price. A sister company, Northen Quantum (founded 2020), productises training in measurement skills and NRM2.

Northen Surveying Services serves construction clients across London and the South West of England, with stated work spanning residential (social, private, retirement, student, heritage), education, commercial (offices, retail parks), healthcare, civil engineering, and industrial (warehouses, distribution centres, data hubs). Pricing is quote-based or fixed-fee per engagement; revenue is not publicly disclosed. The firm has completed 419 projects over the past 5 years and reports a high repeat-business ratio. Distribution is direct, relationship-led consulting with marketing support through the firm website, LinkedIn, Twitter, Eventbrite, industry podcasts, and RICS speaking engagements. Certifications include RICS chartered practice status, ISO 9001 (quality), ISO 45001 (H&S, 2026), and Investors in People (since 2014).

Name

Northen Surveying Services Ltd

Legal name

Northen Surveying Services Ltd

Website

https://northenqs.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Northen Surveying Services is a RICS-regulated Chartered Quantity Surveying Practice in Bristol delivering cost management, contract management, construction management, Bills of Quantities, dispute avoidance, and expert witness services to construction clients across London and the South West of England.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Quantity Surveying

NAICS

Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services (54137)

akta.pro primary industry

Civil & Structural Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Construction Progress & Draw Inspection Valuation (BPAJAKAM)

Keywords

• Quantity surveying services
• Construction cost management
• Bills of quantities
• Contract administration
• Expert witness surveying

Headquarters

HQ city

Bristol

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Bills of Quantities Production: Fixed fee package pricing for Bills of Quantities production services for contractors. The company produces Bills from Builder's Quantities to full NRM2 Bills, with all deliverables included in the fixed price.
2. Cost Management Services: Professional consulting services including measurement and costing, value management, procurement support, contract preparation and administration, and risk management from inception to completion.
3. Expert Witness Services: Expert witness services providing written reports for court or tribunals, and dispute resolution including adjudication or mediation, specialising in quantification, measurement and valuation of construction work.
4. Training Services (Northen Quantum): Training courses for surveyors in Measurement skills through sister company Northen Quantum, including Introduction to Measurement in Construction workshops and NRM2 training seminars.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Northen Surveying Services Ltd is a Bristol-based chartered quantity surveying practice that provides cost management, contract management, and construction management services across the UK construction sector. Its core deliverables include preparing bills of quantities (NRM2), administering JCT and NEC contracts, supporting dispute avoidance and resolution, and acting as an expert witness in construction disputes. Training for construction professionals is delivered through its sister company, Northen Quantum.

Product overview

Northen Surveying Services is a Chartered Quantity Surveying Practice offering a unified suite of professional services rather than a software product. The core offerings include Client Services (Cost Management, Contract Management, Construction Management) and Contractor Support services (Bills of Quantities Production, Dispute Avoidance, Variation and Final Account Support). The company also provides Expert Witness services for construction quantum disputes. The sister company Northen Quantum offers training programs on measurement skills and NRM2 standards. All services are delivered from the contractor's perspective to help manage and mitigate risk.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bills of Quantities Preparation of Bills of Quantities for construction projects using NRM2 measurement standards. Aimed at UK contractors, developers, and project owners needing a structured, standards-compliant cost documentation package for tendering and pricing.
• Contract Administration Administration of JCT and NEC construction contracts on behalf of clients, including interim valuations, variations, and final account management. Targeted at construction sector clients needing independent chartered oversight of contractual processes.
• Cost Management Cost consultancy spanning feasibility, cost planning, and cost control through the lifecycle of construction projects. Provided to UK construction sector clients requiring chartered cost advice.
• Construction Management Support Surveying input into construction management processes across building and infrastructure projects. Aimed at construction sector clients needing chartered QS support during the delivery phase.
• Dispute Avoidance and Resolution Advisory and intervention services designed to avoid or resolve construction disputes, including supporting negotiation and settlement processes. Aimed at construction sector clients facing contractual disagreements or claims.
• Expert Witness Services Provision of chartered expert witness evidence in construction disputes. Aimed at parties to adjudication, arbitration, or litigation requiring independent quantity surveying expert input.
• Training (via Northen Quantum) Structured training and CPD for construction industry professionals, delivered through the firm's sister company, Northen Quantum. Aimed at surveyors, contractors, and construction professionals seeking quantity surveying-related training.

Quantifiable outcome

• 419 projects completed over the last 5 years
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Trevor Drury (12 Old Square Chambers / Construction Consultants Morecraft Drury)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 October 2023Guest speaker at NSS-hosted Whole Lifecycle Carbon Seminar. Trevor is a barrister, chartered construction manager, chartered quantity surveyor, accredited mediator, and panel adjudicator with 40 years in the construction industry. Specialises in construction law and practices at 12 Old Square Chambers in London.
• Northen QuantumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Sister company founded by NSS directors in 2020 with the purpose of training surveyors in Measurement skills. Aimed at any person working in the construction industry needing to know how to obtain accurate quantities and provide accurate descriptors. Vision is to support development of measurement standards meeting user and planet needs. Mission is to train professionals on practical use of Measurement rules.
• GympanzeescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSS supports Gympanzees on their property board as they develop a project to open and run the country's first fully inclusive leisure centre in the Bristol area to cater for the play, exercise and social needs of 58,000 children and young people (0-25 years) with disabilities. NSS provides pro-bono work as part of its Social Impact commitment.
• Lighthouse ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction charity that NSS has a history of fundraising and pro-bono work for as part of its Social Impact and CSR commitment.
• LandAidminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction charity that NSS has a history of fundraising and pro-bono work for as part of its Social Impact and CSR commitment.
• Inclusive Change At WorkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity Interest Company co-founded by NSS Director Tara Northen based on research from a 2019 University of Bristol project that NSS sponsored. The CIC establishes a supported work experience program for Autistic and other Neurodiverse young people (15-25 years) to access work experience. Project funded by National Lottery Community Fund and Quartet Foundation.
• RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSS is a Chartered Practice regulated by RICS. MD Alan Northen is lead author of NRM2 2nd Edition and member of RICS Whole Lifecycle Carbon Assessment Practice Standard Working Group. Alan is a trainer on the RICS Certificate in Whole Life Carbon Assessment Training Programme.
• South West Apprenticeship Ambassador Network (SWAAN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional network of employers supporting best practice apprenticeship delivery. NSS joined SWAAN and works with like-minded regional businesses to deliver best practice apprenticeship programs. Network has 85+ members in the South West.
• University College of Estate Management (UCEM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSS partners with UCEM for degree apprenticeship programmes. MD Alan Northen delivered knowledge webinars to UCEM students in November 2021 to help the next generation of QS understand RICS NRM2. Apprentices study BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying programmes accredited by RICS, CIOB, CABE and ICES.
• University of the West of England (UWE Bristol)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerApprentices study towards BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying at UWE Bristol. Connor Davies graduated with 2:1 BSc (Hons) in Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management from UWE Bristol after 5-year apprenticeship at NSS.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Arcadis: Global design and consultancy firm (parent of formerly independent Cyril Sweett). Competes with NSS in UK cost management and is increasingly active in carbon advisory — relevant as a competitor in NSS's emerging WLCA space.
• AECOM: Global infrastructure consulting firm with significant UK cost management capability. Broad incumbent competing for the same enterprise cost management and whole life carbon mandates as NSS.
• Turner & Townsend: Global cost and project management consultancy. Overlaps with NSS across cost management and contract administration but operates at vastly larger scale with broader advisory and programme management services.
• Mace Group: Global consultancy and construction firm with a cost consultancy arm. Comparable in cost management services and construction management delivery, though with much broader scale and integrated contracting capabilities.

Direct peers

• Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB): International independent construction consultancy with deep UK quantity surveying heritage. Directly comparable in cost management and contract services, with similar client segments in residential, education, and healthcare.
• Baily Garner: Independent UK cost consultancy and building surveying practice. Comparable size and service offering in cost management, employer's agent, and quantity surveying across residential, healthcare, and education sectors.
• Gleeds: Global independent construction consultancy with strong UK cost management / quantity surveying practice. Closest mid-sized direct peer to NSS, offering cost management, contract administration, and dispute services across similar sectors.
• Currie & Brown: UK-headquartered cost management and project services consultancy. Direct peer in quantity surveying and cost advisory with comparable client mix in real estate, infrastructure, and education.
• WT Partnership: International quantity surveying and cost consultancy with strong UK presence. Directly comparable in core QS services, cost planning, and contract administration across similar building sectors.
• Potter Raper Partnership: Independent UK chartered quantity surveying practice offering cost management, contract administration and dispute services. Closely comparable mid-sized UK QS firm with similar client base and service mix.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/NorthenServices
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/northen-surveying-services
• TikToktiktok.com/@northensurveyors

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Northen Surveying Services Ltd