In 2017 I graduated from Sheffield Hallam’s MSc Building Surveying conversion degree, where over a 12-month period I completed a wide range of assignments, all of which were designed to prepare students for working towards their RICS chartership.  During the summer of the degree programme students were to carry out an independent Dissertation and Applied Research Methods module. It was during this time my time at Batty France began, where I was accepted onto a summer internship to further prepare myself for ‘the real world’ and life as a qualified surveyor. Over the summer of 2017 I performed a number of tasks under the supervision and guidance of Ashley, whilst writing my dissertation in my spare time. In September 2017 I began full-time employment at Batty France Consultancy following the submission of my Dissertation and completion of my degree. My work involves project management; qualitative and quantitative assessments; ascertainment and valuation of works as between Contractor / Employer, Sub-contractor / Contractor; Domestic / Industrial, Boundary and Commercial Disputes.  Extension of time and loss and expense claims as between contractor/employer, subcontractor/contractor.  I have held appointments in various other roles in addition to Project Manager as part of a project team including; Employers Agent, Contract Administrator and Quantity Surveyor. In these roles I have gained a range of experience of both Commercial and Residential schemes, ensuring they are delivered on time and on budget. I regularly undertake a range of Surveys, both Commercial and Residential, covering Pre/Post-Lease, Dilapidations and Schedules of Condition. I have covered Level I and Level II Homebuyers Reports for a wide range of properties during my employment. I have extensive experience in Party Wall related matters being appointed as Building Owner / Adjoining Owner Surveyor and Joint Surveyor. In January 2019 I joined the networking group BNI, our local chapter turns over in excess of £5,000,000.00 annually, which provides a valuable work stream into the business as well as numerous opportunities for professional and personal development through the training courses made available. Inspiration During my previous studies I undertook a number of independent and voluntary work placements during my spare time in the holidays. It was these placements that awakened my keen interest into the built environment, as growing up I had always had an interest in the legal and physical world, I found surveying manages to incorporate both of these interests!This is a job role I’ve found …

1986 > Ashley started his career path in construction by studying for a Quantity Surveying Degree at Leeds Metropolitan University [nee Polytechnic], which encompassed a 15 month industry appointment with Rider Hunt & Partners in Leeds.  This initial appointment provided a sound basic knowledge of quantity surveying and construction techniques and in addition he undertook extensive research into early spreadsheet use and provided a spreadsheet programme for the partners to calculate fee submission prices for all the RICS scales of charges. 1990 > Ashley was awarded an 2:1 honours degree and was nationally nominated for the top exam mark, in under-graduate Quantity Surveying degrees;  he re-joined Rider Hunt & Partners for a short while after graduating and then moved to mtl in Leeds later in 1990. 1990 > 1992 Appointed as project “Clients” QS on 2 large Civil Engineering waste-water treatment works in Leeds with a combined value of £25 million.  Duties performed were post-contract related, interface between clients on-site representatives and contractor; site and desk-top re-measurement; final account negotiations; cost-plus exercises; estimating and re-rating; 1992 > 1994 Seconded from mtl to Yorkshire Cable, initially in sole control of a £40 million civils expenditure, and later in charge of the “Clients” QS team.  Duties performed ranged between civils cost estimates; contract document preparation; pre & post-contract negotiation with contractors; final accounts; claims for loss & / or expense; 1996 Ashley was invited to provide a short programme of lecturing on a part-time basis.  Delivering a module in Property Management to Degree students studying Hospitality Management. Y B A Consultancy 1998 > Ashley was made a partner of Y B A Consultancy t/a Batty France Consultancy and is responsible for obtaining work and maintaining and developing client relationships which necessarily involved agreeing fees and overseeing invoicing and income collection for clients.  His work involves project management; qualitative and quantitative assessments; ascertainment and valuation of works as between Contractor/Employer, Sub-contractor/contractor; Domestic/industrial, Boundary and Commercial Disputes, litigation, arbitration & adjudication referrals including legally aided work and forensic surveying.  Extension of time and loss and expense claims as between contractor/employer, subcontractor/contractor.  He has particular expertise in computer applications, spreadsheets / word processing / project management software. 2001 > Ashley is increasingly appointed as Party Experts and Single Joint Experts on construction related disputes to provide opinion reports and provide expert evidence in the Courts.  His studies for the MSc in Construction Law & Arbitration …