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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There are various routes into becoming a surveyor and you can find out more about them here. Gaining formal qualifications at a college or university is one route into the profession. Our survey training course at The Survey School is designed for new entrants into the profession, or for those with experience, looking for formal training.

Whichever route you choose into land surveying, the great thing about this profession is that it’s very hands-on. There is an office-based aspect to the role, but there is also a great deal of outdoor working and on-site visits too.

Different every day

A surveying career is a rewarding one that often means you work on a diverse array of projects, as surveying is intrinsic to all aspects of engineering and construction. The nature of the work means that no two days are really the same, with every project throwing up new challenges and requiring different skills.

Looking at a ‘typical’ day, then there will usually be a briefing or meeting at the office, to schedule and plan out what needs to be done. If you are site-based, this will take place in the site office. If not, you will travel to the projects you are working on that day. These might be a one-off project, or part of multiple visits and surveys. If you are working on a construction project, you could be on site, setting out a building, using digital levels and a theodolite. This involves projecting plans and dimensions – that so far only exist on drawings and designs – into the real world, onto the real landscape. It’s the point at which a building or structure starts to take shape.  

A wide skillset every day

If you are on site to carry out a survey – a topographical survey or underground utilities survey for example – then you need to ensure beforehand that you have the necessary permissions and access to areas to be surveyed. If the public has access to the areas, you need to make sure you can work safely with their presence. This might occur during an as-built survey, which capture data of already constructed buildings as they stand. These surveys can be used to project alterations onto the buildings, or as a record of the current condition of a structure. If this involves you exploring the higher areas of a building – for instance the roof or towers of a town hall or church – then you might need to use remote-controlled drones to get a ‘bird’s eye view’.    

As you can see, every surveying job is different and there are many different skills required to carry out our day-to-day roles. And no matter how well you plan your day, there’s always the unexpected that can pop up and detour you for a while too. Many of these tasks can be best explained and learned in person, which is why apprenticeships are so useful in the surveying profession. If you are interested in pursuing a career in land survey and are unsure of your best next steps, or would like for information on The Survey School and how to become an apprentice, then why not get in touch today?

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After hearing about the Scouts initiative at Conference, Atlantic Geomatics was spurred on to take the plunge with two local schools based near the company’s headquarters in Penrith. The aim was to inform the students about the career prospects of working in land surveying, with the hope of encouraging additional interest in taking up work experience placements with the firm.

‘Lunch and Learn’ at school to find out about land survey careers

Representatives of Atlantic Geomatics gave a presentation to sixth-formers at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in Penrith and held a ‘Lunch and Learn’ session for all ages from Year 7 to Year 13 at Lancaster Royal Grammar School.

The upshot of these events was that Atlantic Geomatics has received more applications than ever for work experience placements, clearly demonstrating that there is real appetite among young people to get involved and find out more about a career in land surveying.

Our Vice President, Oliver Viney, Managing Director at Atlantic Geomatics, said,

“We simply tweaked the presentation Caitlin from Storm Geomatics had prepared for the Scouts, to tailor it more specifically to a slightly different audience. We were really pleased by the levels of interest the students showed in what we had to say.”

Work experience placements in surveying firms

Atlantic Geomatics has been offering work experience placements for some years now. The young people spend two to three days out and about with a senior surveyor on site, collecting data in a variety of settings, from construction sites to more rural environments and then spend some time in the office, processing the data and producing final plans. This provides excellent insight into the life cycle of a project and how surveyors contribute to it.

Atlantic Geomatics has already had very positive outcomes with work experience placements. For example, one of its current Trainee Surveyors, Tom Rawle, did some work experience with the firm in Year 12 and then came to work there full time after completing his A Levels. The next step will be for him to complete The Survey School surveying course.

Oliver continues,

“There are some challenges when it comes to having young people on certain sites but these can generally be overcome, with the right risk assessments and adequate controls in place. We have found clients to be very supportive when we have explained what we are looking to achieve. The quality of students has been consistently excellent. They are very bright, very capable and, given the opportunity, can bring a huge amount to a business.”

Most schools have a specific week set aside for different age groups to undertake work experience placements, but they will also welcome offers of placements outside these times, often during school holidays. To find out more about outreach into schools, contact Katie Holt, Business Development Manager at The Survey Association by emailing katie@tsa-uk.org.uk.

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It would seem there is little understanding of professions within the built environment and few young people aspire to a career in this important sector of the British and global economy. It is with this serious skills shortage in mind that the organisers of GEO Business 2017 are delighted to announce the launch of a brand new educational element to the show – GEO Careers. Working alongside Alison Watson from Class of Your Own (COYO), they have together developed a full day of enticing activities and presentations for students aged 14-19, with the aim of demonstrating just how exciting the geospatial industry is and why they should choose a ‘geo’ career path.

Taking place on 24th May alongside GEO Business in London, the programme will consist of several talks from industry professionals highlighting their own careers, experience and expertise. This will be followed by a group activity to scan the exhibition hall (the roof of which is a feat of engineering ingenuity in itself) and digitally model it, encouraging collaboration, ownership and the real life application of maths and technology skills outside of the classroom. A panel of esteemed judges will then review each of the models, presenting the winners with an action packed day out behind the scenes at one of the UK’s current infrastructure projects.

Alison, Managing Director (and land surveyor) at COYO, wrote the accredited ‘Design Engineer Construct!’ (DEC!) curriculum which integrates the technical areas of sustainability, architecture, engineering and construction into a fun “learn anytime, anywhere” approach. The course has subsequently been adopted by schools across the UK to inspire the next generation of built environment professionals. At GEO Business 2017, students studying the ‘DEC!’ course at Clacton Coastal Academy, Essex have been selected to visit GEO Business, on a fully funded trip that will assist with their coursework and broaden their minds as to the potential paths their careers could take.

When talking about this collaborative project, Alison commented, ‘We could not be more excited to work with the GEO Business team enabling students to visit the UK’s largest geospatial event. This will not only be a fantastic experience for the students but industry will also have the opportunity to engage with the next generation and help cultivate their natural interest in the technical world of geospatial technology.’

GEO Business Event Director Caroline Hobden commented, ‘We have been working towards this for quite some time now, so it is extremely satisfying to see our hard work come to fruition. We are absolutely thrilled to be working with Class Of Your Own (COYO) to launch such a worthwhile programme at the show. We are looking forward to welcoming the students of Clacton Coastal Academy on this maiden voyage and to growing this event so that we can welcome more schools, colleges and universities in years to come.’

GEO Careers is also open to DEC! teachers from across the UK, who will have the opportunity to come to the show, benefit from complimentary access to the main conference and enjoy their own focused training session from professionals within industry, aiming to fully arm them with knowledge of the latest technology and techniques to take back to their students and further educate and inspire them.

For further information on GEO Careers, please contact Caroline Hobden directly, chobden@divcom.co.uk or call +44 (0) 1453 836363.

The post GEO Careers – inspiration for the next generation appeared first on The Survey Association.

It would seem there is little understanding of professions within the built environment and few young people aspire to a career in this important sector of the British and global economy. It is with this serious skills shortage in mind that the organisers of GEO Business 2017 are delighted to announce the launch of a brand new educational element to the show – GEO Careers. Working alongside Alison Watson from Class of Your Own (COYO), they have together developed a full day of enticing activities and presentations for students aged 14-19, with the aim of demonstrating just how exciting the geospatial industry is and why they should choose a ‘geo’ career path.

Taking place on 24th May alongside GEO Business in London, the programme will consist of several talks from industry professionals highlighting their own careers, experience and expertise. This will be followed by a group activity to scan the exhibition hall (the roof of which is a feat of engineering ingenuity in itself) and digitally model it, encouraging collaboration, ownership and the real life application of maths and technology skills outside of the classroom. A panel of esteemed judges will then review each of the models, presenting the winners with an action packed day out behind the scenes at one of the UK’s current infrastructure projects.

Alison, Managing Director (and land surveyor) at COYO, wrote the accredited ‘Design Engineer Construct!’ (DEC!) curriculum which integrates the technical areas of sustainability, architecture, engineering and construction into a fun “learn anytime, anywhere” approach. The course has subsequently been adopted by schools across the UK to inspire the next generation of built environment professionals. At GEO Business 2017, students studying the ‘DEC!’ course at Clacton Coastal Academy, Essex have been selected to visit GEO Business, on a fully funded trip that will assist with their coursework and broaden their minds as to the potential paths their careers could take.

When talking about this collaborative project, Alison commented, ‘We could not be more excited to work with the GEO Business team enabling students to visit the UK’s largest geospatial event. This will not only be a fantastic experience for the students but industry will also have the opportunity to engage with the next generation and help cultivate their natural interest in the technical world of geospatial technology.’

GEO Business Event Director Caroline Hobden commented, ‘We have been working towards this for quite some time now, so it is extremely satisfying to see our hard work come to fruition. We are absolutely thrilled to be working with Class Of Your Own (COYO) to launch such a worthwhile programme at the show. We are looking forward to welcoming the students of Clacton Coastal Academy on this maiden voyage and to growing this event so that we can welcome more schools, colleges and universities in years to come.’

GEO Careers is also open to DEC! teachers from across the UK, who will have the opportunity to come to the show, benefit from complimentary access to the main conference and enjoy their own focused training session from professionals within industry, aiming to fully arm them with knowledge of the latest technology and techniques to take back to their students and further educate and inspire them.

For further information on GEO Careers, please contact Caroline Hobden directly, chobden@divcom.co.uk or call +44 (0) 1453 836363.

The post GEO Careers – inspiration for the next generation appeared first on The Survey Association.