Alan Bates 

Background

Alan is an experienced Consultant with over 40 years of commercial experience working across different sectors and project values. Most of his experience has been in Quantity Surveying working within the Public sector and particularly in Education.

Alan began his career in a traditional QS environment and is well established in the fundamental principles of building, measurement and pricing. In recent years, he has made the transition to partnered frameworks and now offers a skill base grounded in the basics but in an Open Book environment.

With very strong, none adversarial inter-personal skills, Alan is able to work with commercial people regardless of age or background and is particularly good at resolving difficult accounts.

Recent career history

May 2009 – to date
echelon consultancy – Commercial Consultant

2003-2009
Collaborative Working Centre UK Ltd – Senior Building Cost Consultant

1969-2003
Shropshire County Council – Quantity Surveyor

Skills

Alan has all of the key skills of an experienced a Quantity Surveyor which include all aspects of pre Contract cost planning and post contract cost management. He has added to his skill base the knowledge of working in an Open Book environment having been involved in audit work, setting up a cost database for planned maintenance and responsive repair works and assisting Management Consultants with a variety of commercial reports.

Role

Alan’s primary role is to build relationships and offer commercial support on long-term partnerships predominantly in the Midlands to ensure the smooth working between Clients and Contractors. This will involve ensuring cost management principles are adhered to by all parties and that costs are managed collaboratively.

Outside echelon

Alan is still very involved in sporting activities with his two sons, even though they have left home, mainly in a coaching role at both football and cricket. He also loves supporting Spurs and enjoys cycling.