“Where are they now?” The third part of our series featuring former graduates of The Survey School
After studying at university, I decided that I would like to pursue a career that involved my love of the outdoors, properties and potentially even travelling. I just knew I didn’t want to sit in an office all day. I had never heard of land surveying until I saw a job advert and the description appealed to me with the added benefit of training. I had no idea what I was getting myself into and a career in land surveying has delivered much more than I ever expected!
Being in it together with my peers! We had a really good class and we all tackled the assignments alongside each other, so we felt part of a team. Hearing all about the various surveying services I hadn’t yet been exposed to, how other companies worked and the amazing projects the other surveyors had been part of.
The course was relevant to my day-to-day activities at work and thoroughly embedded my understanding and fundamental knowledge of the technical survey elements behind the technology I had been using.
I learned about the variety of skills a land surveyor has to have to enable them to be an all-round excellent surveyor. The most valuable lesson was understanding that the correct amount of checks is enough to ensure the accuracy required on a survey, and the skill is in getting the checks right to get the job done on time.
Leading a company is a very different role from being a full-time land surveyor. I have attended courses and read many business books to help me pivot from Surveyor to Managing Director.
Business strategy and helping others be the best version of themselves are my favourite parts of my role.
Varied, challenging, evolving.
At Spatial Dimensions, I encourage our business to get involved with students in the early years of education because I believe if they leave school not knowing the profession of surveying even exists, we’ve failed from the start. We have previously sponsored ‘Get Kids Into Survey’ and have distributed their posters into many primary schools around Kent.
Spatial Dimensions attends three to four local careers fairs per year, some of which have more than one school attending. Here, we demonstrate our surveying services, technology and prospects to teenagers.
I have spoken at various education events at comprehensive, grammar and private schools, from the angle of construction, surveying and business.
We offer work experience places each year and have had students from several schools. We also work with local colleges, providing on-going work placements and mentoring with careers advice.
In my role as TSA President, one of our key values is to ensure that ‘Every young person should know about land surveying as a career.’ The TSA works relentlessly to tackle the skills shortage of surveyors, getting as many people on board to help as possible and coming at it from various angles into the education system.
Believe in yourself, stay open minded and pursue something that has an element of your passions and realise that your interests can remain as hobbies. You don’t have to be the best at something, to have an amazing career and learning doesn’t end in the classroom.
Unfortunately our high profile projects often have Non Disclosure Agreements. We have worked on several incredible projects over the last few months that we aren’t allowed to publicly mention yet but I’m sure we can share some of these soon, so keep an eye on our website!
We are just finalising the large topographical survey and Revit models of the Cambridge Civic Quarter and Guildhall. Cambridge City Council have pledged fresh proposals for investment in a renewed Civic Quarter in central Cambridge and we are working with the Architect. It has been delightful to work on this project with all its fascinating history, the oldest building in the Guildhall dates back to 1224!
I think I would have to say the refurbishment of the Lancaster West Estate stands out in my memory. For those that don’t know, the Lancaster West Estate is the wider estate of the home of the Grenfell Tower. After the horrific tragedy, Spatial Dimensions were appointed to work with three Architect practices to aid the refurbishment of the Estate. To be appointed on such a high-profile project was a lot of pressure due to the sensitivities surrounding it and working for 3 sets of Architects, each with differing wants and needs from the survey, all at the same time. Throughout this project, we were trusted to survey in excess of 700 homes and all of the surrounding land which was around 27 acres. We often reminded ourselves that this project was going to positively change the lives of so many people that had been terribly affected. We were proud to do our part to help. As delivery deadlines loomed, the UK went into its first national lockdown! Definitely one to remember.
Spatial Dimensions are land, measured building and utility surveyors. We have three offices in London, Kent and Nottingham, and currently employ 23 people.
Our focus is primarily on the early stages of redesign and redevelopment, the early RIBA stages, and we work with our clients to create accurate survey drawings and 3D models. Our intention is to empower our clients with the data they require to redesign and redevelop.
We help our clients create amazing spaces, and have worked on plenty of phenomenal projects!
I think the next 10 years are going to see such major changes, that we are going to have to adapt quickly. I believe the advances of AI will have positive inputs on business, helping us streamline processes.
We’ve come a long way since our inception in 2012, something I could barely dream of back then with two small babies, hardly any sleep and a goal to just carry on earning a living in a job I enjoyed and somehow manage childcare.
I’d like to think the next twelve years will see us continue to grow and develop our offerings for our clients.
On a personal level, my proudest career moment was being elected President of The Survey Association. This very much felt like a completed journey, from being a student at The Survey School 20 years ago, which gave me the foundation and knowledge to become a good surveyor, to starting up my own company, then being elected as President, was an honour.
Spatial Dimensions has had many successes but being appointed to survey parts of Battersea Power Station in the early years of business, definitely made me proud. I grew up in South London so I knew this iconic building from my childhood. I remember standing in the middle of the huge turbine hall thinking, ‘I would have never predicted I would be doing a job like this, never mind running my own company that’s been commissioned to do it!’
By pure chance! After the engineering company I was doing an apprenticeship with went into liquidation, I saw an advert in the local newspaper about a Trainee Land Surveyor position. The idea of working outdoors was what appealed to me initially and then, when I started, I enjoyed the variation of the work and being able to travel and see so many different places.
Learning the principles of Tacheometry and plotting points of detail by hand. Also enjoying social events with like-minded people that I am still in contact with today.
The mathematics that makes sense of the observations.
Directing innovation at MK Surveys, travelling to different places and meeting different people, as well as overseeing training and the development of our amazing staff.
Interesting, technical, rewarding.
Visiting young people in education settings, having a presence at job and career fairs and overseeing work experience placements.
Network as much as possible, visit trade shows, maintain an awareness of various application areas and relevant technology trends.
We have just completed a 3D survey of a Royal Palace.
Completing a high accuracy survey of a race circuit in India. It was extremely challenging for many reasons and quite an adventure!
We proudly support our clients via a wide range of in-house, industry leading geospatial services. Our main focus is our staff, investing in their training and development to be able to deliver an exemplary service.
We aim to be the leading geospatial service provider in the UK, providing our clients with innovative and adaptable services resulting in high quality, comprehensive and robust deliverables to support them in their roles and critical decision making, whilst always considering time and cost efficiencies.
Achieving a first class honours degree in Civil Engineering Surveying whilst studying part-time at UEL.