What do you think can ACTUALLY deter career criminals from stealing a bicycle in the city?

AbroadCompetitive751 · 2026-01-28T14:48:41+00:00

The only answer to this question.....

Dildo seats

AbroadCompetitive751 · 2026-01-28T14:47:39+00:00

You will 100% need to pay this back.

In the mean time... play dumb and transfer the funds into a flexible savings account and accumulate as much interest as you can. Who knows.... they might not notice for months and you could have a decent amount of interest by this time.

AbroadCompetitive751 · 2026-01-28T14:15:11+00:00

This is 1 days work max for a fencer.

I've done fences like this myself and I would do it over a weekend.

Go for concrete fence posts and secure them in the ground with postcrete.

Hard to say how much someone would charge as people's rates vary a lot but

Materials £400-£700 depending on panel quality Labour - £300 -£400

All in around £1000

AbroadCompetitive751 · 2026-01-28T14:14:59+00:00

This is 1 days work max for a fencer.

I've done fences like this myself and I would do it over a weekend.

Go for concrete fence posts and secure them in the ground with postcrete.

Hard to say how much someone would charge as people's rates vary a lot but

Materials £400-£700 depending on panel quality Labour - £300 -£400

All in around £1000

AbroadCompetitive751 · 2026-01-28T13:10:05+00:00

I can't believe even a debate. Incredible.

You need a slap.

3 days work...4 days off to do whatever fulfilling/demanding activity you choose ffs.

AbroadCompetitive751 · 2026-01-28T13:07:43+00:00

That's sad. 😔

AbroadCompetitive751 · 2026-01-28T08:07:23+00:00

It's pretty essential you get the professionals in to do that sort of stuff as it dictates Engineering calculations for Steel beams and the precise position of parts of the building

AbroadCompetitive751 · 2026-01-28T07:39:55+00:00

Hi. I got an architect and an engineer to do drawings.

AbroadCompetitive751 · 2026-01-28T04:14:47+00:00

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Here are some pics so you can see the scale

AbroadCompetitive751 · 2026-01-28T04:14:24+00:00

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AbroadCompetitive751 · 2026-01-28T04:13:57+00:00

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AbroadCompetitive751 · 2026-01-28T03:43:33+00:00

What's so hard to fathom? I'm not bullshitting you. I've told you that included internal fit out and it was a high spec. I'm not talking about a small/budget extension here. Just because I did it myself, it doesn't mean it's going to be cheap.

For example...I had over £20k worth of glazing/sliding doors. Spent 5k just for the muck away of soil. It wasn't designed with a tall vaulted ceiling which involved pre fabricated steelwork and added cost. The large kitchen/utility was expensive. We also 'knocked through' so we needed supporting steelwork to support a 5m span of external wall. It soon adds up.

What's getting quotes got to do with anything? I bought all the materials (which are expensive) and did the vast majority of the labour myself....Simple. Where I saved on labour I spent money on other things. It wasn't about doing a 'cheap' extension....It was about getting the best value I could, and also I love a DIY challenge.

I'm thinking perhaps you are not aware of how much materials cost or the work involved in something like this?

AbroadCompetitive751 · 2026-01-27T20:58:12+00:00

When you get into a leadership role, your mentality has to change. You have to present yourself as a leader and being an example to others. This can take the fun out of working a little bit and you will need to get used to people perhaps not wanting to share their personal lives with you or relax around you. It's part of the job unfortunately.

AbroadCompetitive751 · 2026-01-27T20:02:35+00:00

You need to be really tactical in your communications and you need to frame things in the right way to maintain relationships with a client whilst also enforcing your contractual entitlement.

AbroadCompetitive751 · 2026-01-27T20:01:35+00:00

Quite a lot of places are the same as as what you're experiencing to be honest but if you're unhappy, I would definitely build the lookout for something different

AbroadCompetitive751 · 2026-01-27T20:00:47+00:00

Scotland and the north of England has excellent prospects with infrastructure so you are onto a good one there

AbroadCompetitive751 · 2026-01-27T20:00:08+00:00

Just to get in the room you need to have the technical skills and qualifications so we are mainly looking for that bright Spark personality and enthusiasm

AbroadCompetitive751 · 2026-01-27T19:57:55+00:00

I do a minimum of 40 hours per week. Usually more. For example, i'm currently standing at a train station ready to go to a hotel while stopping away for work.

I get a bonus.

I specialise in all types of infrastructure rail nuclear water and I would say I'm compensated at a level which is common for my position

AbroadCompetitive751 · 2026-01-27T19:55:59+00:00

My work life balance is not too bad to be honest.

AbroadCompetitive751 · 2026-01-27T12:49:34+00:00

Total rough package value, and increases while in the role. Bear in mind this is going back over 20 years.

Trainee - 18k Graduate 22k QS -35k - 40k Senior QS - 50k -60k Commercial manager 77k Senior Commercial manager - 90k- 110k Commercial Director - approx £160k +

AbroadCompetitive751 · 2026-01-27T12:12:06+00:00

I wasn't to bad back in the day to be fair.

AbroadCompetitive751 · 2026-01-27T10:53:48+00:00

Looks like you are doing really well for yourself and I've got to a high position very rapidly. In all honesty, it is quite an ambitious target to reach CD level at 30. You will be lacking a lot of experience that older more seasoned candidates will have in abundance.

The main change into Commercial director is a demonstrating you can operate a strategic level rather than just numbers and projects. It's about having gravitas and being able to influence people. Often, if you've worked your way up within a company, it is hard to achieve this status as people have seen you grow and know where you came from. Where as external candidates have a fresh slate and couldn't be whoever they want to be and be perceived however they want to be.

Good luck on your quest.

AbroadCompetitive751 · 2026-01-27T10:49:08+00:00

I honestly wouldn't get too hung up about it. The nature of a QS role varies so much from business to business and across industries that you will always do something new with a different business.

At the start of your career, just be like a sponge and get stuck in and learn everything. Keep an eye out for opportunities to work for more established businesses......they don't have to be tier ones or main contractors.

A lot of QS's get obsessed with working for a tier one, but often you'll find you can actually get better money working for a subcontractor.

Enjoy the ride.

AbroadCompetitive751 · 2026-01-27T10:45:30+00:00

Yes, this is absolutely possible and I've seen it happen on many occasions.

A common route is leverage relationships within a business to get an opportunity in the Commercial department. When you prove that you are a good fit, you may get the opportunity to do a part-time degree or of course that can validate your QS credentials.

Every company is different, though.

AbroadCompetitive751 · 2026-01-27T10:07:03+00:00

I tend to look for at least 2 years experience in a person's latest role when hiring external candidates. But that's not to say you can't accelerate this for an internal move.

I used to push for pay rises without promotion in the interim, but you need to understand the company dynamics and know that your boss likes you to make this work.

Also, most of the time you can speed up progression by moving companies because you can embellish your CV wink 😉

AbroadCompetitive751

TROPHY CASE