Why UK Construction Claims and Dispute Jobs Are in High Demand
Posted by Steve Thomas , Construction Recruitment Director, UK & Canada on Wednesday, November 11, 2026
If you are a quantity surveyor or cost manager, there is a good chance a claims consultancy or expert witness consultancy would like to hear from you.
UK construction disputes are high . Every dispute needs someone to value it, build the case and defend it. That someone is often a QS. Here is why construction claims jobs are so busy, and how to make the move.
Disputes are at a record high
UK adjudications hit 2,264 referrals in the year to April 2024. That is the highest on record, according to a King's College London report with the Adjudication Society.
The courts are busy too. The Technology and Construction Court in London took on 450 new claims in its latest annual report, up from 432.
Four reasons demand keeps growing
1. Building safety
The Building Safety Act 2022 opened new routes to recover the cost of fixing defects. For older buildings, some claims can now be brought up to 30 years after completion. In the Vista Tower case, 76 parties were ordered to pay over £13.2 million towards cladding remediation. Every claim like that needs quantum work.
2. Insolvencies
There were 3,973 construction insolvencies in England and Wales in the year to October 2025, 23% more than in 2019. Each failure leaves unpaid accounts and disputed final accounts behind.
3. Bigger disputes
On European projects with disputes, contested costs have risen to 38.1% of the budget, according to HKA's October 2026 CRUX report. On data centre projects, the sums in dispute have tripled. Bigger cases need more experienced people for longer.
4. Poor Contract Administration
Half the people surveyed for the King's College report named poor contract administration as a main cause of disputes. Missed notices and unvalued variations become tomorrow's claims.
Why QSs are first in line
The most common adjudications are about unpaid applications, final accounts, and loss and expense from delay. That is QS work. You already value change, read the contract and argue your final account. Claims work asks you to prove every point to an adjudicator, an arbitrator or a judge in the case of large arbitration or litigation dispute work.
The usual routes in:
- Quantity Surveyor or Cost Manager to Consultant (Quantum)
- Senior Quantity Surveyor or Senior Cost Manager to Senior Consultant (Quantum)
What employers want
- Contractor or consultancy experience on large, complex projects
- Working knowledge of NEC, JCT or FIDIC
- A track record on variations, notices and extensions of time
- Clear, accurate report writing
- MRICS, or a clear route to it
An MSc in Construction Law helps, and some employers will fund it. For more detail, read my guide to moving from QS to claims consultant.
Know the trade-offs
Pay can dip at first while you learn disputes work. You will spend more time at a desk than on site. The earlier you move, the smaller that step back. For current pay rates, request our 2026 claims and disputes salary guide.
Summary
Record adjudications, building safety claims, insolvencies and bigger disputes in the UK and internaitonally all point the same way. Claims, adjudication, arbtration and expert witness employers need people who can value and argue a final account, and undertake all the related contractual duties - and QSs already can do much of this. If you have been thinking about the move, now is a good time.
Looking for your next construction claims job?
Maxim Recruitment has recruited for construction claims and disputes roles for over 20 years, from Consultant to Director level. Browse our UK quantum, delay, claims and disputes vacancies, or send us your CV and we will be in touch as roles come up.
Steve is responsible for Maxim Recruitment in the UK and Canada. He is based in the Maxim head office in Leicester, UK and the Toronto office in Canada. He regularly travels to meet employers and job seekers and attend construction industry networking events in the UK, Canada and worldwide. Steve has over 25 years of experience in construction and property recruitment and enjoys working with many repeat clients. He manages dedicated search and headhunting assignments for a range of premium UK, Canadian and international clients.