Who we are

Accountability

We are wholly accountable for our actions and decisions. This means our responsibilities to our client, to ourselves and the wider community.

During a validation and verification exercise on imported Topsoil, microscopic fibres of Asbestos were found. Additional sampling, risk assessment and remediation was required. A complex arrangement in relation to handing over the plots existed, so our Project Engineer had to liaise with multiple stakeholders including concerned local residents. The Engineer was able to address all concerns and an agreeable solution was found.

Adaptability

Adapting to an environment and situation and the ability to move quickly to suit our client’s needs, allow construction to progress with minimal impact on construction timeframes.

Following intrusive investigations foundations were anticipated to be formed at 2.0m bgl on chalk. Following excavations, and on a restricted access site with numerous party walls, Made Ground was still present at 2.0m on a particularly sensitive flank wall of the development. The client was concerned that a significantly deeper excavation to find chalk would undermine party walls. Following a quick risk assessment and on discussion with the Site Manager, a Ground & Water Engineer was able to utilise a scaffold pole and hammer to safely undertake an impromptu window sample and prove chalk 300mm below the surface and allow construction to immediately re-commence.

Approachability

We value people and treat everyone on equal terms and always with respect. We work with clients, are always open to advice and ideas and treat our clients and suppliers as individuals, putting people at ease and making them feel valued.

When a Structural Engineer revealed a recent project to be far more complex than first thought; with minimal impact on the cost, we happily undertook a detailed settlement and heave analysis, allowing the engineer to develop his foundation design with confidence and ultimately determine a building scheme within the client’s budget.

Accuracy

We are committed to professionalism, quality, excellence and attention to detail.

A site well known locally for its surface water issues was highlighted in our Flood Risk Assessment. However, EA data indicated that this flooding was caused by groundwater and not surface water run-off. Via a detailed analysis of local BGS boreholes, along with a trip to the site during a torrential downpour, it was possible to show clearly that the flooding was caused by surface water run-off from numerous areas of hardstanding off an adjacent road, which enabled the client to achieve planning and remove the EA objection.

Accepting

We accept we don’t always get it right. We accept constructive criticism, analyse and learn from these experiences.

Desk Studies and Contamination Risk Assessments for two redevelopments in Fulham, south-west London were rejected by the Council’s Contaminated Land Officer. We were determined to understand what the Council required. The project team held numerous meetings with the Council, reached an understanding, formulated a strategy for further investigation and ultimately satisfy the planning conditions.

Appreciative

We say thank you and we celebrate our success collectively.

Because we work as one team and care passionately about what we do and its impact on the wider society, when the news broke that the last surviving D-Day tank landing ship had reached its final resting place on the vast concrete plinth we helped to design at the D-Day Museum in Portsmouth, the team made a special journey to celebrate this landmark event with the museum and project team and people of Portsmouth.

Action

The Ground & Water team is pro-active, disciplined and focused at work. We are committed to our vision, mission to ensure the success of Ground & Water. If we deliver on our promises to ourselves, we can deliver on our promises to our clients.

Concrete was being lost during pile installation, potentially associated with the Lambeth Group or deeper chalk dissolution. The client was on a tight construction timetable. We created time and availability to investigate the issue, find a solution, agree a way forward with stakeholders and allow construction to progress with minimal impact on timeframes.

Adventure

A career with Ground & Water is an adventure. We enjoy our work. It is technically challenging, mentally stimulating, very physical at times and varied.

Phase two of a very challenging site investigation, coincided with the first snow of the winter. The resulting thaw turned the site into shin deep mud. The rotary drillers could not get their kit next to the borehole locations. Delicate negotiations with the adjoining site resulted in the use of their plant to move the heavier kit and the compressor into place. Everything else that could be man handled was carried across the site by our Engineer, while the drillers drilled. Our already concerned client was worried about potential solution features and the mounting delay costs. But after the herculean effort by all, the drilling was completed and we left the site with bulging muscles, soggy boots and the faint jingle of sleigh bells over the horizon as the Christmas break approached.

Authentic

We conduct ourselves with integrity at all times.

A few weeks prior to a final handover, we encountered contamination on-site not previously identified. Our team went above and beyond prioritising these works, taking into account the client’s deadline. We worked around and rescheduled other projects, so our technical team was always available to attend this site. We constantly liaised with our laboratory, ensuring that the soil was tested on the quickest turnaround and actioning the results immediately. We worked overtime to undertake statistical analysis and produce a remediation strategy as we were finding more contamination on-site. However, we managed to fully remediate the site as per guidance for the end-use and the client was left satisfied as the investigation was completed days before the final handover.

Achievement

We are an ambitious company and hold high expectations of ourselves and others and strive to continuously improve.

We achieve results for our clients by building and developing an AMAZING team and by looking after and rewarding them. Our team is a happy one, mutually supportive and project outcomes benefit from as much input from across the team as is needed to deliver the desired result for our client.

Our clients prefer and recommend us; our team is proud of what we achieve and the regulators respect us.