AI Magazine Issue 11 2018

40 Acquisition International - Issue 11 2018 Geo-Environmental Services Limited offers a comprehensive range of services for a range of developments. Following their success in AI’s Leading Adviser Awards 2018 where they were awarded the accolade Leading Geotechnical and Environmental Consultancy of the Year, UK, we caught up with Glyn Evans, Managing Director, who provided us with a detailed insight into the innovative company. eo-Environmental are consulting engineers providing a variety of services, varying from desk studies, through to on-site intrusive investigations, which are used to provide ground models for contaminated land assessments, foundation and pavement, road and drainage designs. In addition, the firm undertake slope stability analysis and design, basement impact assessments, building damage assessments, contamination remediation strategies and validation reports, together with earthworks specifications and material management plans. To date, the firm has undertaken investigations for a wide range of projects including; investigations of former gas works, petrol stations, landfills, chemical works, government sites, airports and railways, as well as schools, hospitals and green field sites. Glyn tells us what differentiates the firm from its competitors, demonstrating a strong understanding of what is needed to succeed in the construction sector. “At a time when the industry was still very traditional, it was our belief that ITwould start to play an increasingly important part in our business. Subsequently, we commenced a programme of upgrading and expanding the capability of our IT hardware and scoured the market for software packages that would improve our analytical capabilities, the presentation of our reports, our interconnectivity with other systems and the productivity of our work. “Essentially, we underpinned this by employing an IT managed service company to manage and maintain our systems, which reduced the amount of time lost from IT issues and allowed us to concentrate on our core business. As a result of these improvements, when challenges such as BIM came along, we already had a system in place that could meet them. Company: Geo-Environmental Services Ltd Contact: Glyn Evans, Managing Director Address: Unit 7 Danworth Farm, Cuckfield Rd, Hurstpierpoint, West Sussex, BN6 9GL, UK Phone: 01273 832972 Website: www.gesl.net Growing fromStrength to Strength G 1809AI27 In parallel with this, we have invested heavily in ensuring that as an organisation we have all of the accreditations that we need to trade. We are therefore ISO9001, ISO14001 and OHSAS18001 accredited, and are also accredited on Achilles RISQS and UVDB, CHAS, Construction Line, SMAS and CQMS.” What separates the company from the rest, is its understanding that staff are key to the sucess of the company. They encourage and support all staff in working towards achieving chartership the same goal of being a chartered service, improving their qualifications and gaining new skills. As such, Glyn goes on to tell us what he would consider to be his most successful project to date, and what was the most important thing that he and the company has learnt from this. “Geo-Environmental undertook a comprehensive ground and structural investigation for a new bridge and viaduct structure, which forms part of the £5.5bn Thameslink Programme. The site works included intrusive investigations in busy public spaces, including Borough Market, Southwark Street and Railway Approach (leading to London Bridge Station). “One of the key difficulties encountered on the site, was how to take core samples in areas with a high density of utilities. Other complications of working in the area included a major carriageway, a subway, utilities, the need to work in a confined environment with a risk of elevated gas levels and the need to minimise disruption to local trade within an allotted two-week window.” Moving towards the future, there are interesting times ahead for the industry. There will also be many challenges to which the firm will have to adapt in order to succeed, with Glyn registering his concern about future skills shortage within the sector. He talks about the firm venturing into new areas and encouraging others to get involved in the work of the company. “Regarding the future, we anticipate greater levels of development to meet the shortages in housing, and to facilitate improvement to key infrastructure. However, we also anticipate a greater future emphasis on development of brownfield land, greater investment in environmental protection and in renewable energy. There is a lot of uncertainty in the market at the moment and I think that in the short term, and perhaps extending to the medium term, we could see peaks and troughs in demand. However, this is a scenario that has not yet come to pass and if anything, demand is increasing.” “...we anticipate greater levels of development to meet the shortages in housing, and to facilitate improvement to key infrastructure. However, we also anticipate a greater future emphasis on development of brownfield land, greater investment in environmental protection and in renewable energy.”