Building a Career in Building Control: Meet Jai Basra, Assistant Building Control Surveyor

Joining Harwood Building Control in May 2026, Jai Basra is based within the new Surrey and London office, working alongside Building Control Manager Jaspal Virdee-Dhanjal.

Having already spent four years in the profession, Jai has built experience across residential and commercial projects and is now focused on developing his expertise in larger, more complex schemes as he progresses through the Registered Building Inspector classifications.

We caught up with Jai to learn more about his route into building control, what attracted him to Harwood, and where he hopes his career will take him.

Tell me about your route into building control…

Originally, I was planning to study Business and Economics at university. Jaspal, who’s now my colleague again, is a family friend and suggested I spend a week shadowing her before making a final decision.

That one week completely changed everything.

I cancelled my university place, applied to study Building Surveying instead, completed my degree in Sheffield and then started my career in building control. Looking back now, it’s the right decision.

One of the things I enjoy most is that no two days are the same. You’re not sitting behind a desk all day. You’re out on site, meeting different people and seeing different projects every week.

What have been the biggest lessons you’ve learned during your career so far?

Communication has probably been the biggest one.

Every project involves architects, builders, clients, contractors and colleagues, so being able to communicate effectively with everyone is essential.

Time management has also been a huge learning curve. Coming straight from university into full-time work was a big adjustment, but planning inspections, managing plan checks and organising your workload quickly becomes second nature.

What projects have you most enjoyed working on?

Early in my career, I was fortunate to gain exposure to a broad range of projects, which helped me build confidence and adaptability in different scenarios.

In my previous role, I worked predominantly on domestic extensions and conversions, but since joining Harwood, I’ve gained valuable exposure to larger commercial projects.

That’s exactly what I was looking for.

Whether it’s hospitals, schools or other larger developments, every project brings something different, and that’s what keeps the job interesting. I’m looking forward to building enough experience to manage more of these projects myself.

What attracted you to Harwood?

After meeting the management, Ben Cheeseman, David Woodward, and the wider team, though, it became clear that this was somewhere different.

The culture stood out immediately. Building control can sometimes feel quite isolated because you’re either working from home, travelling between sites or working independently. What impressed me was how much Harwood values bringing people together, whether that’s regular meetings, sharing knowledge, or simply knowing there’s always someone willing to pick up the phone and help. This supportive environment makes me feel valued and motivated.

That close-knit environment really appealed to me.

You’ve worked with Jaspal before. How influential has she been?

Massively. She’s the person who introduced me to building control in the first place through that initial week of shadowing.

Without that opportunity, I honestly don’t think I’d be in this profession today.

It’s great to be working alongside her again because she’s always encouraged me to keep progressing and developing my qualifications.

How have your first few months at Harwood been?

Busy – in a good way! Every day has been full-on, lots to take in and learn, but I’m genuinely enjoying work again.

Being involved in different types of projects, meeting new people, and gaining exposure to larger schemes have reminded me why I came into building control in the first place.

You’re aiming to progress through the RBI classifications. What excites you most about that journey?

When the new classifications were introduced, I’d already prepared most of my application before my career stalled slightly.

Joining Harwood has given me the motivation to complete it, and I’m now waiting for my interview to acquire the 2A, B, and D classifications.

Working on larger commercial projects gives me exactly the experience I need to keep progressing, and I don’t see myself stopping at Class 2. I want to keep developing for as long as I can.

How important is it to work somewhere that supports that progression?

It’s hugely important. Harwood actively invests in training, mentorship, and diverse project opportunities, which are crucial for my development and confidence in managing larger schemes. Working on domestic only would limit that development and progression.

Harwood actively works on commercial projects across a wide range of sectors, so it gives me the experience I need while also surrounding me with people who are happy to share their knowledge.

That makes a massive difference.

What would success look like for you at Harwood?

Professionally, I’d like to continue progressing through the RBI classifications, aiming to eventually lead my own projects, showcasing my long-term growth and leadership potential.

Personally, I’d like to buy my first home.

For me, those two goals go hand in hand. The more I develop professionally, the more opportunities I’ll have personally, so it’s all part of the same journey. Harwood, from my experience so far and from speaking with the team, is a great place to pursue that.

Connect with Jai on LinkedIn.

Looking for experienced building control support across London, Surrey and the surrounding areas? Whether you’re working on a residential development, a commercial project, or a complex scheme, our team is here to provide clear support throughout the building control process. Get in touch to discuss your project.