Survey Solutions is the UK’s largest independent engineering surveying firm, with more than 250 employees across 16 offices. Since a 2024 management buyout backed by WestBridge Capital, the company has been undergoing a bold transformation into a technology-enabled platform business under the leadership of CEO David Lowe.

A seasoned industry figure, David previously founded Yotta and held senior roles at Fugro and Synectics. He holds an MBA from Aston University and a degree in Industrial Engineering from De Montfort University – bringing both strategic vision and deep operational insight to his role.

In this exclusive Q&A, David discusses the key forces shaping the sector – from AI and automation to real-time data, carbon-neutral operations, and the growing importance of digital skills – as well as his vision for the future of engineering surveying.

Industry Trends and Challenges

What do you see as the most significant trends currently shaping the manufacturing and engineering industries?

Digital transformation is probably having the biggest impact, with clients expecting real-time, cloud-accessible data rather than static reports and drawings. This shift has reshaped how we capture, process and deliver geospatial data.

We’re also seeing an increase in the integration of our services. Topographical and underground utilities surveying, monitoring, and BIM were traditionally separate disciplines, but we’re now delivering a range of services as a series of works – which adds real value to the design and construction phases of projects.

Elsewhere, the sector is facing challenges driven by inflation, the requirement for tight turnarounds and pressure on margins. However, our clients continue to value the way we work in partnership with them to uncover insights and highlight efficiencies that save them time and money.

What are the biggest challenges your company is facing right now, and how are you addressing them?

There are a range of challenges at present across the sectors we operate in – including viability gaps, tighter budgets and sustainability pressures.

However, our focus remains on working closely with our clients to deliver the best results for them. We pride ourselves on our innovation and technical expertise, which can often unlock viability challenges at the feasibility stage. We’re also on-hand throughout the lifecycle of a project to help ensure construction continues safely through our monitoring services.

The rise of AI is impacting the whole sector too, but we’re investing in the training and development of our employees to ensure they have the necessary skills and understanding to implement AI effectively in their roles – and to take advantage of the efficiencies it can help realise.

Innovation and Technology

How is your company leveraging new technologies like automation, AI, or IoT to stay competitive?

Innovation is at the heart of Survey Solutions, and one application which is currently having a significant positive impact for our clients is Vismo. The software provides access to live data that our partners can query, update and integrate with their own systems.

We’re also utilising AI – through the implementation of elements such as field service technology – to free up more of our surveyors’ time so they can focus on what they do best: working directly with clients to find innovative solutions, realise efficiencies and deliver real value.

Can you share an example of a recent innovation at your company and its impact on your operations?

Through Vismo, we’ve seen our relationships with clients grow even stronger thanks to the economies of scale it delivers. The platform gives them better data continuity, keeps everything in one place, and allows them to analyse much more information than before – saving lengthy administrative and research time.

Elsewhere, we’ve implemented a programme called Power BI reporting across our operations. Providing managers with real-time visibility of productivity and project metrics, it has completely streamlined our reporting process.

Sustainability and Environmental Impact

What steps is your company taking to reduce its environmental footprint and improve sustainability?

Our investors, WestBridge Capital, take ESG very seriously – it’s a core part of our value creation plan. We’ve partnered with Sustainable Advantage to help us manage our ESG journey, and Survey Solutions has been one of very few – if not the only – carbon neutral engineering survey companies in the UK since 2024.

We’ve implemented a number of operational changes to be as kind to the environment as possible. This includes transitioning our vehicle fleet to electric where operationally viable, using drone surveys to limit vehicle movements, and utilising remote monitoring to reduce the need for repeated site visits. Vismo eliminates thousands of data transfers, and we’re also consolidating office locations where necessary.

How do you see sustainability influencing the future of manufacturing and engineering?

Sustainability credentials, carbon reporting and evidence of environmental commitments will continue to grow in importance for tender submissions – it’s already not just a ‘nice to have’.

I also expect to see the current shift towards digital twins and continuous monitoring maintaining an upwards trajectory, as they enable better asset management and help extend infrastructure lifecycles – which is better for the environment.

And finally, we’ll see more and more sustainability-driven projects coming to the market, on top of those already taking place, such as rail electrification, water network improvements and renewable energy installations.

Workforce Development and Skills

What skills do you believe are most critical for the future workforce in manufacturing and engineering?

Technical and people skills will remain critical, as they always have – but data literacy will take on even more importance. Knowing how to capture data accurately and efficiently, and then use it in the most effective way, will provide the most value to our clients.

The ability to work across a number of disciplines will also be crucial, especially as technology continues to advance.

How is your company investing in workforce development and training?

We know that our people are our greatest asset – they set us apart from the competition and give us our competitive advantage. That’s why we have a range of initiatives in place to help people learn, develop and upskill.

For those starting out in the industry, we provide a structured programme over one to two years, which gives us a continuous pipeline of talent. We also invest in apprenticeships where we can.

We’ve implemented a learning management system to ensure consistent training across all 16 offices, with clear progression pathways from trainee through to senior technical and management roles. We’ve also partnered with CICES – the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors – to enable all of our surveyors to become chartered within the next two years.

We’re proud of the career paths we’ve built: the vast majority of our survey managers and senior surveyors progressed from trainee positions within the company.

Globalisation and Supply Chain Management

How has globalisation affected your business, and how do you manage risks associated with global supply chains?

Globalisation has brought new market entrants from outside the UK, but we know that by focusing on delivery, innovation and customer service, we set ourselves apart. Quality speaks for itself – and it’s vital in precision surveying.

What strategies are you employing to ensure resilience and flexibility in your supply chain?

We have robust policies and requirements in place for our supply chain, and only partner with companies that we know we can trust to deliver consistent quality. This approach enables us to stay at the forefront of surveying technology.

Leadership and Business Strategy

How do you maintain a culture of innovation and continuous improvement within your organisation?

It starts with hiring curious people who align with our values: we care, we share, we deliver, we grow. We give them permission to experiment. We encourage offices to trial new approaches – and when something works, we scale it across the business.

Regular cross-office communication helps share best practice, and our technology investments drive continuous improvement by providing visibility of performance. We also listen carefully to clients – many of our innovations began with clients describing problems they needed solving, rather than services they wanted to buy.

What is your vision for the future of your company, and how do you plan to achieve it?

Our aim is to build the UK’s leading technology-enabled integrated engineering surveying and monitoring platform. We’re targeting £100 million revenue within three years through a mix of organic growth and strategic acquisitions.

The two main ways we’re planning to achieve this are:

• Combining complementary capabilities under one platform, to transform the value we deliver to clients

• Focusing on the growth and development of our team, enabling them to stay at the forefront of technological innovation and deliver impactful results

I see Survey Solutions evolving from a surveying company that uses technology, to a technology company that delivers engineering solutions for our clients’ most pressing problems – enabling them to design and build faster, with greater certainty.

Vismo is central to this vision – becoming the platform through which clients, and the full ecosystem, can manage their geospatial data relationships with us and, ultimately, with other providers too.