Published: 12 Nov 2025
Last week saw TSA’s eighth conference take place, this time at CLM Conference Centre in Coventry. For the second year running, our conference was combined with The Survey School’s annual celebration of students completing the TSA Surveying Course and, for the first time ever, it included three awards for Best Geospatial Apprentices too.
It was the best attended event in TSA’s history and the buzz in the room was palpable.
“It’s not the plane, it’s the pilot”
Introduced by TSA President, Claire Fenwick, our keynote speaker was the utterly inspirational Mandy Hickson, one of the UK’s first female, fast-jet pilots and now a world-class facilitator, coach and speaker. She shared details of her extraordinary career with her highly engaging presentation. As well as some amazing photography and footage from her RAF days flying the Tornado GR4 and patrolling the ‘No Fly’ zone over Iraq, she also included tips she learned on the front line regarding teamwork, leadership under extreme pressure and resilience.
In addition to telling delegates some fascinating anecdotes, she made what she had learned about herself and others’ behaviour both relevant and thought-provoking for her business audience.
The famous quote from Top Gun:Maverick, ‘it’s not the plane, it’s the pilot’, is just as relevant to surveying as it is to the world of fast jets. It’s not the equipment, it’s the surveyor – the skills, experience, qualifications and training of a surveyors makes all the difference and is the foundation on which everything else flows from.
After spending time answering audience questions, she also signed a number of copies of her bestselling book, ‘An Officer, Not A Gentleman’.
Award winners from The Survey School
Following the keynote speech and a short break, Vice President Oliver Viney led the Awards part of the day. As well as presenting certificates to this year’s cohort of students from The Survey School who have completed Courses 62, 63 and 64 of the two year TSA Surveying Course, three of these students were given particular recognition for their achievements.
Theodor Suhan was awarded the Vice President’s Special Recognition Award, having achieved an overall Distinction for the course, while his final assignment was described by tutors as exceptional.
Simon Hamlyn, Chartered ICES CEO, presented the award for the CICES Prize for the Best Assignment to Luke Appleton of Archidata, who achieved a perfect score of 100% for his faultless final assignment.
Kevin Smith, Managing Director at Hexagon Geosystems / Leica Geosystems, co-sponsor of the Best Student Award, presented Max Heaton of Centara with this award, noting that with a final course average of 93%, Max ranks among the highest achievers since the course began in 2001.
Level 3 and Level 6 Geospatial Apprenticeships awards winners
Once The Survey School graduates had received their awards, it was time to recognise the exceptional achievements of students undertaking Geospatial Apprenticeships. Led by TSA Members and former TSA Council Members, Lucy Powers and Richard Maltby, through the Geospatial Apprenticeship Trailblazer Group, TSA has played a pivotal role in coordinating and developing the recently updated and relaunched Level 3 and Level 6 Geospatial Apprenticeships. These awards stand as a testament to TSA’s enduring commitment to its belief that “every young person should know about land surveying as a career.”
The outstanding apprentices who were recognised in our awards ceremony were three individuals who represent the very best of emerging talent in our profession:
- Ryan Wilson, from Dudley College of Technology whose employer is Solihull Council
- Dylan Bradley, from Riverside College, Widnes, employed by Formby Surveys
- Owen Teesdale, from the University of East London, studying the Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship, employed by Hampshire County Council.
Following the awards, there was plenty of time to enjoy networking over lunch, catching up with delegates and making new connections, before departing in the afternoon.
Members were delighted with the day, providing effusive feedback:
“The keynote speaker always provides thought provoking insights into things that can improve both the business, but also personal development. These speakers have provided real triggers for change within how we deliver leadership within the business, so thank you for investing in such quality speakers.”
“The general buzz was contagious, and I left feeling very excited and motivated about our profession.”
“I believe that (the day) created a very tangible sense of achievement in the students that were receiving their award. You could see the pride on their faces.”
“It was very motivational!”
“Mandy Hickson was tremendous.”
“The networking opportunities were great.”
Benefits of TSA Membership
For the latest news about our exclusive events for members, please go to https://www.tsa-uk.org.uk/events/. Discover more about the raft of benefits of TSA membership and how it helps our members build a better business, at https://www.tsa-uk.org.uk/membership/
