Family run surveying company hitting the mark as it grows from one to 16 people and turnover nears one million pounds
A family-run surveying company which started with one employee 13 years ago has announced plans for further recruitment to support ambitious plans to grow.
Gridmark Survey, based in Castle Eden, was founded in 2013 by experienced land surveyor and civil engineer Christopher Mooney and is now headed up by Chris and his director wife Abbey.
After starting as an apprentice from college, followed by years of working for local authorities and private construction firms, Chris felt the time was right to set up on his own, though his initial plan was to work as a freelance land and engineering surveyor.
But as the demand for his surveying services grew, Chris decided to expand the team.
Dad of two Chris, from Peterlee, said: “When I set up on my own, I didn’t really expect things to grow as they did. So to start with I brought my dad, who was a retired roofer, on board with me as my surveying assistant.
“My career had taken me across the UK, working on major civil engineering and construction projects. This included managing surveying teams for large-scale motorway earthworks projects, onshore wind farms, coastal renewable energy developments, mining and deep quarrying. Drawing on the experience and professional relationships I built along the way, I decided to establish my business back home in the North East, where momentum began to build a reputation.
“Then, by chance, the surveying company Abbey was working for was bought out and the survey services side of the business she managed was unlikely to be retained. So, we thought that was the right time for us to join forces.
“That’s really when our growth started.”
As the team grew, Chris and Abbey made the decision to move to larger premises in Castle Eden, which gave them the space to recruit at right pace and with the right people.
And it’s worked, with turnover now nearing £1 million.
Abbey said: “The early stages were a strange time really, as I’d no sooner joined the business than I found out I was pregnant, then when our first son was born we were plunged into lockdown because of the Covid pandemic.
“But due to the nature of the projects we were managing around the region, we were classed as a critical service so we could continue to work and that meant we also kept growing, although not quite as quickly as we would have done.
“For three years the team stayed the same but when a couple of really big opportunities came our way, we knew it was time to expand.”
Gridmark Survey, a geospatial surveying company whose services include land and building surveys, civil engineering, earthworks, underground utilities mapping, drone operations and hydrographic surveys, now employs 16 people and recently teamed up with Hartlepool College to offer placements for trainees as part of their commitment to supporting young talent.
Abbey is also flying the flag for women in the industry, acting as an advocate and mentor to those who are choosing subjects and qualifications related to construction, of which Gridmark Survey is a part of.
Chris said: “I really believe that a big part of our success has been recruiting at the right times, not rushing into things and growing too quickly.
“We’ve brought the right people in at the right time and we’ve got a great team of people who are as passionate about our growth as we are.
“The next steps for us are to bring in an experienced Operations Manager who can work directly with myself and Abbey to take some of the pressure off us and will also give Abbey especially the chance to develop our business strategy as we know we will continue to grow.
“It’s an exciting time for the business but none of it would have been possible without the people we have working with us.”
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