Ian started his career in quantity surveying in 1995. He joined a small traditional PQS practice based in Birmingham as part of his placement year for his BSc (Hons) degree in May 1997. He then went on to secure a position as an assistant surveyor with a medium-sized PQS practice based in Leamington Spa, where he assisted the senior surveyor in delivering a multi-million pound retail development for a large national retailer. Ian successfully completed his degree in 2000.
From 2004, Ian focused on the retail sector, after which he secured a new position as a project surveyor. He worked for a PQS practice in Coventry, where his work predominantly concerned the public sector, which helped him gain further knowledge and experience. In November 2003, he qualified for chartered membership and became a member of The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
From 2004 to 2010, Ian worked for two large multi-national PQS and project management organisations and secured the position of an associate director. His experience included working in many sectors including commercial, health, education and defence. He also took up the position of UK Defence Sector Champion from 2008 to 2010.