After graduating from the University of Reading in 1993, Mark’s career commenced at Gardiner & Theobald in London, where he primarily worked on prime residential projects for high-net-worth individuals. In addition, he provided very early cost advice on several large-scale mixed-use masterplans (including Paddington Basin and Broadgate). Following this, Mark then spent 15 years in Northampton and Bristol as a Partner of a mixed discipline practice, GSSArchitecture, where he specialised in the cost and contract management of projects in the education sector, including schools, colleges, and universities. Being a QS Partner in an architectural practice means he has a thorough understanding of the design process, and how early intervention by the QS can successfully manage costs.In 2013, he joined Gleeds in London, where he was a director in the residential team, delivering a diverse range of residential projects. These ranged in value from £10m to in excess of £1.1bn.He joined Ward Williams Associates in 2017 as a Partner leading the newly established Salisbury office, specialising in cost management and independent monitoring surveying for construction projects ranging in value from £100k to £150m.Having successfully built up two offices from a ‘standing start’ in both Bristol (GSS Architecture) and Salisbury (Ward Williams Associates), QSetc was launched in February 2023.Mark is an avid music buff and has an eclectic Vinyl and CD collection. whilst is also a keen reader of contemporary crime fiction, and biographies of the artists who populate his music collection.

Partner responsible for the newly established Salisbury office, I managed the workload in the office, whilst was also the lead surveyor on many different commissions across several sectors.I also was the regional lead for the provision of Independent Monitoring Surveying Services for several lenders, including Homes England.

As Director within the busy residential team, I was responsible for a team delivering a number of projects ranging from site-wide masterplanning/feasibility studies, through cost planning (and all its nuances) and procurement to cost managing works on site. Reporting directly to a wide range of clients, including mass house-builders, through to one-off developers of niche super-prime developments in addition to owner-occupiers, project values ranged from £30m to in excess of £500m.

I was at Gotch Saunders & Surridge (GSSArchitecture) since 1998 and in 2001 was invited to become a Partner. This involved not only running construction projects, but also the strategic management of a 60-strong Practice of architects and surveyors in three UK regions. Project Managing full design teams on developments ranging in value from £50,000 to in excess of £30m, I have been responsible for the successful delivery of up to 20 projects at any one time, each at varying stages of development. Through my “hands on” proactive approach to design development, working closely with the team and collaboratively developing ideas with project stakeholders, most projects have been delivered on time and within the initial budget, in many instances exceeding client expectations.My belief is that all businesses should “give something back to the community”, and I have championed pro-bono working by all professions to assist community groups, which is being supported by the RICS. This evolved due to my involvement with Business in the Community (BITC), a national Business-led charity of 850 member organisations, from my position as Chair of their Bristol ProHelp programme for a period of 3½ years which led to be being nominated for a two-year appointment as BITC’s HRH The Prince of Wales’s Business Ambassador for the South West; a post which I was delighted to be awarded as recognition of the work I have undertaken with community and voluntary organisations in Bristol. This role meant feeding back to the Prince of Wales on a regular basis on issues relating to how businesses can help community groups. I spent some time working with BITC on tackling youth unemployment and raising awareness of employment opportunities, particularly with professional Practices in schools in less affluent areas. In September 2012, the RICS named me as one of the “25 most visionary surveyors in the World” by Modus Magazine the professional journal of the institution.

Prior to joining GSS, I worked for Gardiner & Theobald in London for five years as part of their graduate training programme where I passed my APC at the first attempt. This was straight after graduating from the University of Reading in 1993, where as alumni I now act as a mentor for under and post graduates studying the subjects in the Built Environment.