TSA first produced a website entitled Become A Surveyor as an in-house project in 2007. The intention back then was to create a resource centre to help anyone interested in finding out more about surveying to plot their potential career path. It was very much a starting point for someone exploring possible career options. Since then, the look and feel of the site has been upgraded several times but now, Become A Surveyor has been entirely re-invented, thanks to time and investment by TSA to ensure that engaging, helpful and accessible material is readily available to every young person in the UK, along with their teachers and their parents too.  

Unifrog partnership to reach every young person in the UK

Working in partnership with Unifrog, an online careers resource for secondary schools used by thousands of schools across the UK, the website now contains a video library. These short, engaging films show what it is like to be a land, hydrographic and utility surveyor and were produced with the assistance of TSA members.

Other site content includes a huge variety of case studies, with different surveyors telling the story of how they found the way to their profession, the various education and training routes they took to get there and their reflections on their career path in geospatial to date. Drawing on real life examples in this way brings an authenticity and tangible vibrancy to these testimonials.

Plotting a career roadmap on the way to become a surveyor

Having a clear career roadmap for land surveying has long been needed and this is an important feature of the new website, showing potential routes to, and progression up through, the profession.

The website has broad appeal, including for those with no knowledge of surveying, so it examines what land surveying really is, along with an explanation of the variety of specialist roles available, and the significance of the profession too, as no development is undertaken without a survey being carried out first.

Encouraging and informing the next generation about opportunities in the geospatial sector is a critical part of the Association’s mission, so we are thrilled to have reached this significant milestone. Although the site has been launched, this is phase one of the ongoing project, as it will continue to grow and evolve to ensure all the information on it remains relevant and useful.

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AutoCAD Point Cloud Essentials, delivered in partnership with Technical BIM Studio, is designed to equip participants with practical skills for working with point cloud data in AutoCAD. The one-day course is described as ideal for existing users who are finding they are not using the AutoCAD package to its full advantage. The one-day course can be added on to the two-day AutoCAD for Surveying course as a third day or can be attended as a standalone for those who have already completed the two-day course.

What does the new AutoCAD Point Cloud Essentials course cover?

The course content covers point cloud basics, checking and validation, point cloud manipulation, digitising from point cloud and drawing quality checking and delivery. Find out more about the course content here.

Currently, the plan is to hold the course bi-monthly in 2026. Numbers are strictly limited to just six people for each one, guaranteeing an excellent tutor to student ratio.

Discounted rates

Previous attendees of the two-day AutoCAD for Surveying course are eligible for an exclusive 25% discount when booking the new one-day course.

Don’t forget that TSA Members get a special rate (27% discount). The Survey School is the UK’s only commercial training centre that provides training to the land survey industry which is accredited by The Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (CICES). CICES members qualify for a 10% discount.

To find out more or to sign up, please email office@surveyschool.org.uk or call 01905 26329.

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The exam results are nearly in! Now it’s time for school and college leavers to decide what to do next. They may have already thought about how to pursue a chosen career, or may be looking at various options, including which career to pursue. The next step might involve going to college or university, or working as an apprentice to learn while gaining practical experience, or getting a job. For those interested in geometry, geography, building, engineering, or who just like working outside, then a career in surveying could be a perfect fit.  

Plotting a route to surveying

There are several ways to become a surveyor. A reliable route straight from school is to get a job with a surveying company that will then provide training. Worcester-based training centre The Survey School delivers TSA’s Surveying Course, which is the perfect introduction to the profession. The Surveying Course is the cornerstone of The School’s work and was created specifically by TSA to tutor and develop those within the geospatial profession. As well as for new starters, it’s suitable for those with some experience, but with no formal training. For anyone with partial experience, it is intended to broaden their practical knowledge and supplement existing theoretical experience.

Practically minded

For beginners and newcomers to the profession, the course provides a solid grounding in a wide range of surveying methods and skills. The course itself is broken down into six two-week blocks, which are spread across two years. As the course progresses, the subjects covered expand – as students gain more knowledge and experience – to cover all aspects of surveying. Theory makes up part of the course, as an introduction to understanding the principles behind the practical side of surveying. There are also some mathematical skills relevant to each tuition block. There’s an emphasis on students finding practical solutions to real-life surveying problems and learning the thought processes these entail. During the course, students are encouraged to share their experiences and methods of working – this will contribute to the knowledge they gain and also be mutually beneficial to everyone else on their course.

Building blocks for a career

There is an exam at the end of each study block, to ensure each student has gained the level of expertise to pass the course. Graduation, which involves passing all six blocks, will fulfil 100% of the academic requirement for those students wishing to upgrade from Student to Technical membership of the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (CICES). TSA’s Surveying Course also provides 50% of the points required for the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors’ Associate (AssocRICS) qualification. Competence in Maths and English is recommended, but not essential, as all practical and theoretical guidance will be provided as part of the course. There’s no minimum age restriction, although it’s recommended that the student is at least 18 years old, for the practicalities of site work, responsibility and commitment.

Trainees may often work with a company for 6 to 12 months before starting the 2 year TSA Surveying Course, to give them some background experience before starting more formal training.

TSA’s Surveying Course can run alongside the ProQual Level 3 Diploma in Engineering Surveying.  This provides successful candidates with a recognised qualification and standard which is recognised by the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS). This course requires minimal additional effort for a candidate completing all six blocks of TSA’s course, so is worth considering as an add-on. The Survey School also has a series of Short Courses available too, which are skill-specific for the various areas of surveying.

To find out about job opportunities in surveying, or TSA’s surveying course and its fees, and more information on careers in surveying in general, then visit our website.

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There is much discussion of the importance of apprentices and why businesses should support their education. In this article, we look in more detail at how apprenticeships can help address the profession’s skills gap crisis, and bring multiple benefits to surveying companies:

1. Apprentices are good for business

As a cost-effective way of investing in your staff to support your business in the future, apprenticeships are the way forward. Apprentices will be passionate to learn, bringing new passion and drive to your business.  Apprenticeships can be for new recruits and they can also be used to upskill existing staff.

2. Teaching apprentices tackles the skills gap

The future of your business lies with inspiring and training the next generation. Taking on an apprentice, who is ready and willing to learn from more experienced members of the team, is a sure way to make sure that the skills that are essential for our profession are passed on.  It can also benefit the mentor of the apprentice as it helps to consolidate their knowledge and can be very rewarding to pass on skills to the next generation.

3. Provides a legacy for your business

Taking on an apprentice who is motivated to remain loyal to your company throughout their career will help build a legacy for your business.

4. Helps your business move with the times

Each generation has a greater understanding and mastery of technology, as it becomes more engrained and an essential part of surveying. Apprentices can bring a new, fresh perspective to your business on how best to utilise emerging technologies and therefore new ways of working and winning business. They can also help pass on their knowledge to other staff.

5. You can receive business support

Taking on an apprentice is a big commitment. However, the government covers 95–100% of apprenticeship training costs, making it one of the most affordable ways to develop staff:

• Levy-paying employers (annual payroll over £3 million) can use their levy funds to pay for training
• Non-levy employers pay just 5% of the training cost, with government covering the rest.

If you are upskilling existing staff, you continue to pay their salary as normal. There is no requirement to reduce pay when someone becomes an apprentice. This makes apprenticeships a powerful retention and development tool—particularly for team members stepping into new responsibilities.

6. Kickstarts a new career

Inviting an apprentice to join your business can help jumpstart a career, as apprenticeships  require learned on-the-job experience to allow them to qualify. From GCSE age to postgraduate there are qualifications through levels 1-7, with the most relevant to land survey being  the Level 3 Geospatial Survey Technician apprenticeship and the Level 6 Geospatial Mapping and Science Specialist (degree level).

7. The pressure’s not all on you

Apprentices don’t spend 100% of their time learning solely from your company. They will attend college, either a day a week, or in blocks of one or two weeks, with the rest of the time spent with the company learning on the job. This two-way support enables the apprentice to put into practice their theoretical learnings in the workplace, but also take back their new-found practical skills and knowledge to their coursework. This ensures a balanced education to enable apprentices with the best chance of being ready for the real world of surveying.

8. We can help

You can find out lots of detail about apprenticeships work on our website here https://www.tsa-uk.org.uk/apprenticeships-your-questions-answered/ where we have answers to some of the most often asked questions and loads of useful links for more information.

9. Advertise for an apprentice

The Survey Association offers a free service to promote your apprentice requirements. So whether you’re looking for a Land, Utility or Hydrographic Surveying apprentice, showcase what your company has to offer and attract the best apprentice talent here: https://www.tsa-uk.org.uk/apprenticeships/

10. There are going to be some changes

The UK Government has reformed the way apprenticeships are delivered and funded in England. From 1 August 2025, there are going to be significant updates to apprenticeship funding, coming into effect for new apprentice starters.

Some of these changes include the minimum duration of an apprenticeship reducing from one year to eight months, to boost faster qualification, and from 1 January 2026 there will only be Levy funding available for new starting apprentices aged 21 or younger – older apprentices must be self-funded by the company supporting them. For more information for how this might impact your business visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apprenticeship-funding-rules-2025-to-2026

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As well as its longer courses, The Survey School also offers eight short courses that cover a range of disciplines within the land surveying profession. These technical ‘short courses’ range from two to five days in duration. All of them take place at The Survey School in Worcester. Students who enrol on a course will be sent instructions ahead of the time, to allow them to prepare before they attend.  As part of each package, hot and cold drinks are included in the course fee, although accommodation and lunch are not provided. 

Short courses for a long career

These short courses provide insightful, concise guides to specific areas of surveying. These range from surveying and engineering courses, to utility mapping and digital construction software. The pricing structure is three tiered – for Chartered Institute of Civil Engineering Surveyors (CICES) members, TSA members or technicians who are not members of any association or professional body. Those wishing to attend may have limited experience of surveying, or already have qualifications and practical knowledge. They are also ideal for those who wish to reacquaint themselves with modern methods and equipment, if they have had a period outside the profession.

The available courses are as follows. All dates are for 2025:

GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System)

This course is two days, beginning on 26 August. It offers a combination of background information and hands-on experience of GNSS technology. The material is presented using a combination of PowerPoint presentation, discussions and practical workshops. The cost is £695, but CICES members pay £625 and TSA members only £495.

5-day Surveying Course

Commencing on 2 June, 1 September or 15 December, this course is designed to give surveyors and engineers a good grounding in the principles and practical application of site surveying. The course is aimed at an assistant or junior surveyor, who is starting to carry out their own small surveys and requires more theoretical and practical training. This costs £1215, with CICES members paying £1095 and TSA members only £880.

AutoCAD for Surveying

Available from 23 June or 8 September, this two-day course, run in association with Technical BIM Studio, is specifically aimed at new and current AutoCAD users in the geospatial profession. The price is £755, with a reduction to £680 for CICES members and £550 for TSA members.

Setting Out for Engineering Surveying

Beginning on either 30 Jun or 10 November, this five-day course is designed to give engineering graduates and personnel already working in the construction industry experience in the principles, calculations and practical application of site setting-out for more complex situations. Costs are £1215 for industry technicians, £1095 for CICES members and £880 for TSA members.

Utility Mapping Course

This five-day course can commence on either 22 September or 17 November. Run in association with Sygma Solutions Ltd, it is a utility surveyor training course. Attendees can also take the Level 3 certificate in Utility Mapping and Surveying (QCF) concurrently. The cost is £995 (with QCF Level 3 adds £145) while TSA members will pay only £995 (with QCF Level 3 free of charge).

Reality Capture – Revit Fundamentals

Starting on 4 August or 6 October, this two-day course provides a Revit fundamentals course related to reality capture and measured survey modelling. It ranges from project setup, to generating 2D and 3D output from reality capture, or measured survey data. Each course includes up to five hours (for TSA members) and two hours (non-members) post-course telephone technical support per attendee. The price is £755, or £680 for CICES members and £550 for TSA members.

Levelling – Surveying & Setting Out

Commencing on 4 August or 8 December, this course is designed to give Junior Surveyors, engineers and personnel in the surveying and construction industry a basic grounding in the principles and practical application of levelling. The two-day course is aimed at candidates with no previous experience of using levelling equipment. Costs are £540 for non-members, £485 for CICES members and £385 for TSA members.

Total Stations – Surveying & Setting Out

Available to begin on 6 August or 10 December, this three-day course is designed to give Junior Surveyors, engineers and personnel in the surveying and construction industry a good grounding in how to use modern total stations. It’s aimed at new recruits, or staff who have little or no experience of using modern total stations. The cost is £755, or £680 for CICES members and £550 for TSA members.

There are still a few places left on the 2025 dates mentioned above and more detail here on the various courses. To book your place, please email us at office@surveyschool.org.uk or ring on 01905 26329.

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Did you know that The Survey School’s flagship surveying accreditation was created specifically by The Survey Association? TSA’s Surveying Course focuses on developing new entrants into geospatial surveying, or those with some experience of working in the profession, but who have no formal training. It is intended to broaden the student’s practical experience, while also supporting experience gained from their employer. The course is broken down into six two-week blocks, with the next block beginning on 7 July 2025.

On course for success

TSA’s course is the backbone of The Survey School’s work. It is specifically designed to broaden students’ practical experience and supplement theoretical knowledge. The course is broken down into six two-week blocks scheduled over two years. The first block is ‘An Introduction to Surveying and Computations’. The second is ‘Control and Detail Surveying’, block three deals with ‘Projections, Grids and GNSS’, block four is ‘Measured Building and Specialist Surveys’ and five covers ‘Construction and Engineering Surveys’. The final block is ‘Survey Management and Computer Processing’. TSA’s course runs alongside the ProQual Level 3 Diploma in Engineering Surveying. This provides successful candidates with a recognised qualification and standard that is acknowledged by the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS). 

Shared knowledge

As the course progresses and the students’ experience and knowledge grow, the blocks reflect a broader spectrum of subjects to be covered in greater depth. Theory is taught as an aid to understanding the principles behind the practical application of surveying in a real working environment. The maths skills that are taught as part of the course are relevant to the practical applications in each block. An emphasis is placed on students thinking through problems for themselves. They are also encouraged to share their experiences and methods of working. As a whole, this will contribute to their body of knowledge and be of mutual benefit to all the fellow students in their block. This approach ensures that knowledge is shared and that practical examples are provided for surveying methods and tasks.

Practical solutions

Assignments form part of this process too. At the end of blocks one to five, each student’s employer will be provided with details of the ‘work experience’ assignment tasks. Students should complete these assignments prior to commencing the next block. The marked assignments are an integral part of the course, reinforcing what has been learnt and leading to further development. In this way, students will learn how to think like a surveyor and apply theoretical knowledge to find practical solutions. 

There’s much more information on the course and the Survey School on its website, including a downloadable brochure outlining the course components in much greater detail. Why not get in touch and join the next block of students on 7 July? 

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With National Apprenticeship Week 2025 (NAW 2025) taking place from 10 – 16 February this year, it seems a good time to look at the crucially important role that apprenticeships have in upskilling the next generation of workers looking for a career within the land surveying profession.

Benefits of apprenticeships

There are apprenticeships for so many different types of careers these days. As land surveying is a very hands-on and practical profession, apprenticeships provide a very important route into it. The apprentices benefit from the advantage of earning while they are learning – and the learning combines attendance at a college (either day release or block release), with working for an employer – including time on site, as well as in the office. 

While there are some things where the classroom environment is best, many of the practicalities and intricacies of the profession can be better explained – or rather shown – in a real-life environment, which makes an apprenticeship the obvious solution. Apprentices will work with experienced surveyors, who share their knowledge and expertise, ensuring it is not lost in the generational shift.

The Level 3 Geospatial Survey Technician apprenticeship and the Level 6 Geospatial Mapping and Science Specialist degree apprenticeship and both perfectly suited to land survey companies, with content developed by a group of employers to suit their needs.

The WIFM factor

In return, the ‘what’s in it for me’ (WIFM) factor for employers, is the opportunity to be able to help shape their apprentices to meet the needs of their particular organisation, instilling the culture and the processes from the start. Providing an apprenticeship place will also breed loyalty with the apprentice – and even if they go on to work elsewhere, they will always remember the company that gave them their first taste of the profession.

NAW 2025

National Apprenticeship Week is a week-long celebration that brings together businesses and apprentices across the country to shine a light on the positive impact that apprenticeships make to individuals, businesses and the wider economy. The Department for Education has announced that the theme for National Apprenticeship Week 2025 is ‘Skills For Life’. The skills gap is something the land surveying profession is very aware of and a key objective of The Survey Association is that, ‘every young person should know about land surveying as a career’.

For more information on NAW 2025 visit https://naw.appawards.co.uk/ and to find out more about opportunities within the land surveying profession, visit https://www.tsa-uk.org.uk/.

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UPDATE 2026: Check out www.becomeasurveyor.com for all the routes into geospatial surveying.

Originally founded over 30 years ago, The Survey School (TSS) has long been synonymous with survey training excellence. 10 years ago, we took over the running of TSS to ensure the continuation of arguably the best survey training available in the UK. Since that time, we have invested in updating the IT systems and equipment, courses, tutors and the building in general to ensure that the training centre offers the best possible, practical, survey training.

Technical know-how

TSS offers a range of technical short courses over two- to five-day duration, aimed at surveyors at different levels and covering a range of topics, from utility mapping and levelling, through to total stations and Autocad. The School works closely with all of the leading survey instrument manufacturers to ensure that the course detail and equipment is as up-to-date as possible.

Learning the profession

TSS is also home to our very own TSA Surveying Course, which takes place in six-week blocks over two years. Designed to broaden a student’s practical experience and supplement their theoretical knowledge, the course is aimed at new entrants into the land surveying profession. It is also a useful course for surveyors who have experience but no formal training.

Practical and theory

This course is run alongside the ProQual Level 3 Diploma in Engineering Surveying.  This provides a successful candidate with a recognised qualification and standard which is recognised by CSCS.  The course places emphasis on students thinking through problems for themselves, sharing their experiences and working methods with each other.  In a recent development, an employer that is registered with CITB is entitled to a £600 grant from CITB, on completion of the ProQual Level 3 Diploma in Civil Engineering.

Celebrating success

This year’s cohorts from TSA Surveying Courses 59, 60 and 61 celebrated their graduation last month. To mark their achievement, we invited the students to attend our annual conference at the British Motor Museum in Warwick. Bringing the students together with our members, demonstrated and showcased the powerful and close relationship between The Survey Association and The Survey School. All the students received their certificates, with three being singled out as award winners.

Commenting on the event, CEO Rachel Tyrrell said,

“Our annual conference is an opportunity to celebrate success and work together to address challenges, using the strong TSA network to work on solutions. This year, with The Survey School graduates in attendance, we could honour their hard work, as well as enjoying their energy and enthusiasm as they embark on the next step in their professional careers. With the skills shortage at a record high, it is very encouraging to see evidence of such talent and dedication being nurtured at The Survey School.”

TSA Surveying Course 67 starts in February 2025 and places are being snapped up fast. If you are interested in more information or would like to book onto it, contact office@surveyschool.org.uk.

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Offering a clear pathway into the world of surveying,  The Survey School offers some of the best survey training available in the UK.

Created specifically by TSA and accredited by The Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (CICES), the Surveying Course offers a route into surveying for those seeking a role in the geospatial survey profession. It also provides formal training for those looking to bolster their experience, using existing practical and theoretical experience. This will be a great enhancement for their employer’s organisation.

Stay the course

Based in Worcester, this non-academic practical survey training is comprised of six training blocks held over two weeks, taken over two years. This allows for a broad spectrum of subjects to be covered as both the course and the student’s experience and knowledge progresses in both surveying and setting out.

Students will be encouraged to think through and solve problems for themselves, putting into practice the theory taught to coincide with practical application, and using mathematical and observational skills to reinforce their decisions. Students can also share their methods of working and experiences in assessed class workwhich will counttowards their body of work, acting as a great resource in the sharing of knowledge. A formal written exam is also undertaken at the end of each study block.

The course will also inform students of the latest developments in surveying technology, including new hardware and software solutions, such as in GNSS, SUAVs and in laser scanning, to outline what is now possible and what will soon be possible inthe engineering and construction industry.

All in the results

This TSA Surveying Course runs alongside the ProQual Level 3 Diploma in Engineering Surveying, providing the successful student with a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS)-recognised qualification and standard, which also is accepted as a route to a CSCS Gold card. It is also recognised by OfQual. 

The course also provides 100% of the academic requirement for those wishing to upgrade from Student to Technical membership of CICES, and contributes 50% of the points required for the RICS Associate (AssocRICS) qualification.

Celebrate success

Once the course has been completed, there will be an Awards Ceremony, with prizes presented to the top performing students. TSA and Leica Geosystems will award a prize to the best student of the year in the group, and a prize will also be awarded for the best assignment, by the CICES. This year, the event will go up a gear and be held as part of TSA’s Conference in November.

Member benefits

As a member of TSA, you can enjoy the benefits of an up to 50% discount on the undertaking of an employee on this course. Pricing information can be viewed here.

For more information on booking onto this course contact the team at The Survey School.

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This month (February 28) we are holding our annual Health, Safety and Wellbeing Day. We would like to thank Leica Geosystems for its generosity in hosting this event once again.

This Seminar is designed: 

• For Survey Company Directors, Managers, Supervisors and others in a Health and Safety Management role.  
• To give a broad base of information to those responsible for the Management of Health and Safety.  
• To be a useful foundation course focusing on Director’s and Manager’s roles and responsibilities.  

Health and safety

The morning’s health and safety update will be run by Martin Mullholland of MD Safety Management, a team with 30 years’ experience in health and safety consultancy. The Survey Association has been working with Martin for many years, running our first health and safety seminar in 2007 and every year since.

During the morning session, Martin will focus on:

• A look at the latest and best practice updates from the world of health and safety
• Exploring the framework for health and safety competency
• Bridging the gap between safety and sustainability, including the triple bottom line of profit, people and planet

Wellbeing

The statistics around mental health are frightening, and this is particularly true within the construction sector. According to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics, covering England and Wales, workers in construction are now nearly four times more likely to take their own lives than in other sectors.

The wellbeing focus in the afternoon will be an interactive, engaging, and uplifting session run by Jenny Evans from Rainbows End Coaching. Jenny is an inspirational and motivating coach, experienced in support and guidance, with a flair for moving people forward. She will focus on providing members with the tools to deal with stress and look after their own wellbeing as well as that of their team. Everybody will leave feeling revived and pleased they came.

This event is free to members, make sure you put the date in your diary and book by replying to office@tsa-uk.org.uk, providing names and individual email addresses of attendees.

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