Overview

Greenhatch understand the importance of working with communities to provide both knowledge and employment opportunities. The Greenhatch community promise is our business initiative to engage people, remove barriers and provide opportunities.

Greenhatch have always been pro active in trying to provide as many opportunities as possible and this was usually in the form of work-experience and industrial placements. In 2019, Robert Page, Founder, joined the employer skills board at Derby College and quickly identified the issue, employers complain about a ‘shortage of skills’ whilst younger generations see a ‘lack of opportunities. Robert believed that the answer was in employer support and that employers had to do more to bring this together.

Unbeknown at the time, the foundation for the ‘Community promise’ had been established there and then. That idea is now a part of the Greenhatch identity and is constantly growing. Since 2019, Greenhatch have reached thousands of individuals, particularly those in education and provided opportunities that have led to significant employment opportunities.

The Greenhatch community Promise continues to grow year on year and anticipate engaging increased numbers in the future.

Careers Fairs

Greenhatch attend multiple Fairs throughout the country, where we engage with Students to highlight the Geospatial industry.

The employees who represent Greenhatch at these Fairs tend to have 3-4 years’ experience at Greenhatch, and can offer advice to the students based on their own personal experiences.

This helps the students to feel comfortable with our company and have an instant connection with our representatives.

Greenhatch have attended educational institutions across the country.

If your School, College of University would like us to attend one of your careers fairs then please email @HR Mailbox

Secondary School Pupils

Greenhatch are registered with UniFrog, and we offer 1 week work placements where the students would be based at any of our 4 regional offices.

T-Level Students

Greenhatch are current engaged with Derby College Group and Oaklands College (St Albans), whereby we offer first year students in the Design, Surveying and Planning Courses placements to complete their 315 hours work experience, which is a requirement of any T-Level Course.

Since 2022 Greenhatch have provided work placement to 16 students, and currently 7 are now on full-time employment contracts with us.

University Placements

Over 25 students have completed their industrial placement with Greenhatch, of whom 10 are currently in established full-time employment with Greenhatch.

Apprenticeships

Employees who have served a minimum of 6 month with the company might be offered a college or university course placement.

These courses tend to be 1 day placement with a local College or University and is funded through our Apprenticeship Levy Scheme.

In-House Training

Greenhatch have developed a robust training programme which forms part of the annual staff development plan and managed by our HR Department.

The training is a mix of theory and practical session, which is run over a 12-month period, and current led by a Founder with over 39 years’ experience who is a Fellow of the CICES.

Chartered Institute of Civil Engineering Surveyors (CICES)

Greenhatch are heavily involved with the CICES, with one current Director the Chair of East Midlands Region.

We have an active Approved Development Scheme (ADS), that the CICES have official recognised, and our scheme was awarded in 2019 the annual award for performance and impact on their staff.

There are currently 39 CICES members of different grades, with another 13 on the Approved Development Training Scheme.

Our commitment to the individuals who are members of the CICES, is that all annual professional fees and subscription, training, and CPD events are settled for by the company.

Employee Ownership Trust

Greenhatch transitioned from a Share Ownership Scheme to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) in 2024.

This change in the company structure provides opportunities for all employees to progress through to senior positions in the business.

The new set-up of the management team, which consists of 4 Directors and 2 Associate Directors, all join Greenhatch as trainees.

This top tier of management have amassed over 123 years’ employment with the company, which equates to 20+ years’ service and an average age of 45.

The new 8 Associates and 3 Regional Managers have accumulated 214 years’ service, which breakdown to almost 20 years’ service and an average age of 43.

These figures highlight the loyalty of our employees, and proof that the “Promote from Within” philosophy works for our company.

Although the Greenhatch EOT is still in its infancy, it provides everyone with the opportunity to achieve their aspirations, where it be to run the business or be a highly skilled or motivated employee.

Overview

Since the introduction of the Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction T Level in 2020, Greenhatch has worked closely with Derby College to support the delivery of surveying education and help bridge the gap between education and industry.

This partnership began in 2019 when Greenhatch Founder, Robert Page, joined the Derby College Employer Skills Board (ESB). The board brings together local construction leaders to ensure that the skills being taught reflect current industry standards and that students are equipped with the knowledge employers require.

Early discussions identified a need for additional support in delivering the surveying element of the T Level curriculum. Following meetings with the college, Greenhatch committed a full week of staff time to deliver both classroom-based theory and practical surveying experience.

Sam Lewis, Director at Greenhatch, developed bespoke teaching materials before leading students through practical surveying exercises at Carsington Water. The programme introduced students to a range of surveying techniques and successfully prepared them for their practical assessments. Every student achieved a distinction in this element of the course.

The long-term impact has been significant. Two students from the first T Level cohort joined Greenhatch, where they remain today, with one progressing through a degree apprenticeship. Since then, Greenhatch has provided 19 industrial placements and recruited several T Level learners into full-time employment.

Alongside its partnership with Derby College, Greenhatch has continued to support education through guest lectures, workshops and engagement events with Stephenson College, La Retraite College, North Kent College and Oaklands College.

Towards the end of the 2025 academic year, the Employer Skills Board identified that more than 20 first-year T Level students were at risk of not completing the industrial placement hours required to successfully finish the course. As student numbers continue to grow, sourcing sufficient placement opportunities has become an increasing challenge for colleges.

Rather than simply recognising the problem, Greenhatch developed an innovative solution:

Week One – Company Formation and Site Survey

Students were divided into teams and tasked with creating their own surveying consultancy. Each company developed its own name, branding and company ethos before assigning professional roles including Managing Director, Quantity Surveyor, Surveyor and Lead Designer. Teams also established salaries and project budgets, encouraging an understanding of business management alongside technical delivery.

Each team received the same project brief based on a genuine site at Derby College's Broomfield Campus: six disused garages identified for redevelopment. The location provided a safe and controlled environment for students to experience real-world surveying.

Following a full site induction, Greenhatch professionals demonstrated the setup and operation of total stations before introducing students to key surveying techniques and data collection methods.

It quickly became apparent that many students had very limited practical experience with surveying equipment. Greenhatch therefore adapted the programme, providing additional coaching and practical demonstrations to build confidence and ensure students understood how to accurately capture both internal and external features.

Given the limited timescale and the steep learning curve, Greenhatch completed one full survey on behalf of the students, allowing them to observe professional workflows while ensuring a complete and accurate dataset was available for the following week's CAD and Revit exercises.

Week Two – CAD and Revit Training

With survey data collected, attention turned to digital modelling.

The original plan focused on developing both AutoCAD and Revit skills. However, an early assessment showed that many students had little or no experience using AutoCAD, whereas most possessed a basic understanding of Revit. The programme was therefore adapted to maximise learning outcomes by placing greater emphasis on Revit.

Originally, all training was scheduled at the Broomfield Campus, but unreliable Wi-Fi and limited IT facilities significantly affected productivity. Following feedback from students, the sessions were relocated to Derby College's Hudson Building at Pride Park, where improved computer facilities enabled a far more effective learning environment despite the additional daily travel.

Week Three – Independent Delivery and Client Presentations

By the third week, students had gained sufficient confidence to work more independently.

Greenhatch professionals provided technical guidance while encouraging teams to take ownership of their projects. College staff remained available throughout, but the emphasis shifted towards self-management, teamwork, accountability and professional decision-making.

The project concluded with a presentation day hosted at Greenhatch's headquarters in Little Eaton.

Each team presented its completed project in the boardroom to a panel of Greenhatch professionals, replicating the experience of presenting proposals to a real client. Although many students were understandably nervous, every team delivered impressive presentations that demonstrated clear improvements in confidence, technical ability and professional communication.

Practical surveying techniques and total station operation.

Fundamental CAD and Revit modelling skills.

Teamwork, communication and collaborative working.

Commercial awareness through role allocation and budgeting.

Presentation and client-facing communication skills.

A realistic understanding of professional surveying practice and industry workflows.

For Greenhatch, the project also delivered significant value. Staff developed meaningful relationships with students, providing technical expertise, career advice and mentoring while helping inspire the next generation of construction professionals.

Feedback from both Derby College staff and students was overwhelmingly positive, with participants highlighting the value of working on a genuine project and experiencing an authentic industry environment.

Lasting Success

Following completion, the project was presented to the Employer Skills Board, where local construction businesses recognised both its impact and its potential.

As a result, Whitehouse Construction, Danaher & Walsh and GF Tomlinson all committed to supporting the 2026 programme, which will continue under the established identity of The Greenhatch Project.

Greenhatch is proud to have pioneered an innovative approach that enables students to gain genuine industrial experience while fulfilling a key educational requirement. The initiative demonstrates how industry and education can work together to solve real challenges and create meaningful opportunities for young people entering the profession.

In recognition of his leadership and commitment to education, Sam Lewis has since been elected Chair of the Employer Skills Board.

Principal CAD Technician

Adam Moss

Route into Greenhatch: UOD sandwich placement student, then stayed on a casual basis for his last year of university, then taken on a full time basis from 2019
Year first engaged with Greenhatch: 2017
Educational institution/course, where appropriate: UOD
Current length of service with Greenhatch, if applicable: 9 years
Current career progression – starting from secondary school, college / Uni, and their training and development whilst at Greenhatch

14 X GCSE’s, A LEVELS (3 in total)– 1. ICT – BTEC, - 2. GRAPHIC PRODUCTS, 3. GEOGRAPHY + extended project qualification.

Then UOD – Architectural Technology and Practice degree course.
Key skills developed
1. Employability
  
  What skills, experience and professional behaviours did participants develop whilst first engaging with Greenhatch (Work experience/placement/project etc)..
  
  Teamwork – working with different ages and types of people, as opposed to just students of the same age and experience level
  
  Adam learnt a lot on Revit – the application of this software is quite different in the workplace – and Adam’s skill level increased massively
  
  Adam knew nothing of the surveying industry – so had to learn a lot of background information about that.
  
  Adam was given the chance to participate in ‘Technology Day’ in which tech suppliers came in to demonstrate their equipment during his placement year and he was able to build his knowledge of surveying tech sufficiently so that he could produce better material for his dissertation.
  
  Adam went out on site to learn about practical surveying, so he could appreciate the other side of the job role in more detail.
  
  Adam had no other job prior to this – so had no general employability skills – no work experience at all therefore and so his experience at Greenhatch opened up a whole new level of knowledge and experience.
  
  Adam understood much more about general building construction and the way buildings flow and function much better.
2. Career aspirations
  - Did exposure to Greenhatch raise, clarify or change their career ambitions?
    
    Adam thought he would be doing design up to this point. But he enjoyed seeing the actual work being done on local projects he had worked on rather than hypothetical design projects which he would have engaged in had he followed the design route, which may never come to fruition. Eg: Adam worked on Derby Market Hall – roof replacement – very longstanding local project – a very satisfying project to be part of.
    
    Therefore the placement changed his career direction.
    
    From an environmental standpoint a career at Greenhatch also made more sense for Adam, given that he was working on plans to refurbish existing structures as opposed to building new structures which utilise more resources.
  - Were you looking for a career in the Geospatial industry?
    
    No, not specifically, within Revit but he had not thought of geospatial as a real option.
  - Do your aspirations align with the EOT Greenhatch Hierachy Pyramid?
    
    The ethos of an EOT feeds into the ‘community’ feel of being part of an organisation where you are not just a number, but your work genuinely contributes to the overall success of the employees working within it. Adam aspires to building his career further with Greenhatch - moving up the pyramid in the future.
3. Progression
  
  Did the initiative (placement) lead to further education, employment, progression or a career in the industry?
  
  Yes, a full time career - Asst 2017, Technician 2019, Senior 2021, Principal 2023.
  
  Adam is working towards CICES accreditation in 2026 and is looking to complete this in 2027.
  
  Now teaching others in Revit department skills, so passing his experience down the line to others..
4. Greenhatch's contribution
  
  What specifically did Greenhatch provide that helped make the participant's journey possible or successful? Degree Apprenticeships/offer of employment etc..
  
  Placement and Offer of employment
5. Removal of Barriers
  
  Has any of the Greenhatch initiates assisted removal of barriers?
  
  For example, are you a first generation into higher education/Did the T-Level project allow the completion of a course/ Diverse background where opportunities in construction seem more limited.
  
  Grandparents were Accountants and had degrees but parents without degrees.
6. A short quote that captures their experience
  
  Adam’s experience at GH has provided him, with certainty and stability in his career and he has particularly valued the chance to actually see the real impact of his work: eg: in a scene in an iconic film, where AM had modelled a staircase for camera placement & the Derby Market Hall project.
  
  Adam is especially grateful to be able to find work near his University, which was his preferred location and is looking further forward to a continuing successful career at the GH group.
7. Is the employee happy for us to publish their story on our website and submit as part of the Kings Award application?
  
  Yes

Administration and Invoicing Assistant

Erin Lynott

Route into Greenhatch: Via Derby College where Erin was doing a T-Level in Science
Year first engaged with Greenhatch: Greenhatch really wanted to expand the Admin team by bringing a college student into our business and allowing them the opportunity to grow and develop their career at Greenhatch Group Ltd. To this end, an advertisement was specifically placed within Derby College and the relevant T-level course lecturers were approached, so the vacancy could be circulated amongst students. Erin saw our advertisement at the College and was excited to apply.
Educational institution/course: where appropriate: Derby College – T-level Science
Current length of service with Greenhatch, if applicable: Since 1st June 2026 – so 4 months
Current career progression – starting from secondary school, college / Uni, and their training and development whilst at Greenhatch

After gaining 8 x GCSE’s, Erin was unsure what career path to take but liked the idea of a T-Level course with its more practical focus and decided to follow a course in Science, as she felt it would give her a broad range skills that could be applied in the workplace.
Key skills developed
1. Employability
  
  What skills, experience and professional behaviours did participants develop whilst first engaging with Greenhatch (Work experience/placement/project etc)..
  
  At Greenhatch, which is her first full-time role in a professional environment, Erin has grown in confidence in these areas:
  - Telephone skills
  - Invoicing Skills and associated invoicing using Xero
  - General Administration skills
  - Increased confidence levels - dealing with visitors into reception and handling questions and queries from clients over the telephone
  - Timekeeping skills
2. Career aspirations
  - Did exposure to Greenhatch raise, clarify or change their career ambitions?
    The opportunity at Greenhatch changed her career path, allowing her to enter an industry that she had heard about and was interested in and allowed her the chance to experience a professional work environment
  - Where you looking for a career in the Geospatial industry?
    No, not necessarily.
  - Do your aspirations align with the EOT Greenhatch Hierachy Pyramid?
    Yes, Erin would like to advance her career and become a Senior Administrator in the future and is also very interested in the fact that Greenhatch are willing and open to consider offering further education opportunities, via Degree Apprenticeships in the future.
3. Progression
  
  Did the initiative lead to further education, employment, progression or a career in the industry?
  
  Greenhatch specific aim to recruit from Derby College only, led to Erin having the opportunity to join the company and start her career.
4. Greenhatch's contribution
  
  What specifically did Greenhatch provide that helped make the participant's journey possible or successful? Degree Apprenticeships/offer of employment etc..
  
  Offer of full time employment.
5. Removal of Barriers
  
  Has any of the Greenhatch initiates assisted removal of barriers?
  
  For example, are you a first generation into higher education/Did the T-Level project allow the completion of a course/ Diverse background where opportunities in construction seem more limited.
  
  Yes, Erin is the first person in her family to do a further education course.
6. A short quote that captures their experience
  
  I had always had an interest in the surveying industry, so when I saw the advertisement, I was very excited to apply for the role in the Administration department. I was also very excited to hear that Greenhatch support higher education initiatives and that in the future, I may be considered for a degree apprenticeship, once I decide what direction I would like to take my career in. Greenhatch has given me the opportunity to experience a professional, supportive, working environment and I am grateful for the chance that I been given to start my professional career.
7. Is the employee happy for us to publish their story on our website and submit as part of the Kings Award application?
  
  Yes, absolutely.

Asst CAD Technician

Zuzanna Sawicka

Route into Greenhatch: All GCSE’S passed at Level 5 and above, including Maths, English and Science, followed by:

T-level in Professional Construction – 2-year course, during which Zuzanna completed her 315 x T-Level placement hours
Year first engaged with Greenhatch:

2021 – for placement hours, followed by part-time work from Jan 2022, whilst still completing her T-Level qualification, leading to a full-time role from May 2022 as an Asst CAD Technician
Educational institution/course: where appropriate:

Derby College – T-Level
University of Derby – BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering
Current length of service with Greenhatch, if applicable: 4.5 years
Current career progression – starting from secondary school, college / Uni, and their training and development whilst at Greenhatch

Since completing her T-level and gaining 2 years of full-time work experience in her Assistant CAD technician role, Zuzanna commenced her Degree Apprenticeship with the University of Derby in September 2024. This involves working at Greenhatch for 4 days and having a 1 day per week as day release to attend her degree course.
Key skills developed
1. Employability
  
  What skills, experience and professional behaviours did participants develop whilst first engaging with Greenhatch (Work experience/placement/project etc)..
  - Huge amount of knowledge and experience of Revit gained from her career at Greenhatch so far - the T-level course only provided a basic introduction to this type of work – but Zuzanna realised that she particularly enjoyed this aspect of her course and was surprised and pleased to discover that there was a career in Revit both possible and available at Greenhatch. The valuable work experience she gained whilst fulfilling her 315 hours of work in 2021, helped her to approach her exams with a greater level of confidence.
  - In addition to this her CAD skills have greatly improved, and she provided an example that particularly increased her confidence levels, earlier on in her career when she was asked to work on a large Puregym project.
  - In addition to this with her only prior work experience being in hospitality and retail, Greenhatch gave her the opportunity to experience a professional office environment and really utilise her technical skills to follow a career that she was genuinely interested in.
  - Zuzanna confirmed that her communication skills have improved considerably, due to the requirement to collaborate on projects within the Revit Division and also communicate with the people of all levels within the wider company.
2. Career aspirations
  
  Did exposure to Greenhatch raise, clarify or change their career ambitions?
  - Zuzanna had no clear career plan at the beginning of her journey, and had wanted to study graphic design, but was u able to locate a suitable course, hence her decision to move into the Professional Construction T-level. She also had no idea that job roles existed in the Revit/CAD field.
  - Having realised how much she enjoyed the work and had enjoyed her experience at Greenhatch, during placement, she was attracted to join our organisation, as she knew that there was a possibility that she could progress onto a Degree Apprenticeship. Zuzanna really liked the idea of being able to work and gain a degree at the same time, as opposed to the traditional route to do a degree full time and this was always her aim. Zuzanna was also really happy that she was able to gain enough work experience (2 years) before starting her apprenticeship, as this allowed her the time to learn her job role more thoroughly first, before turning her attention to the combination of work and study. This has meant she has been better able to pace her studies and avoid the chance of ‘burnout.’
  Were you looking for a career in the Geospatial industry?
  
  No, Zuzanna weas not aware of available roles in this industry.
  
  Do your aspirations align with the EOT Greenhatch Hierachy Pyramid?
  
  Yes, once her degree is complete, Zuzanna would really love to develop her career at Greenhatch and use her additional civil engineering degree knowledge and skills for the benefit of both her and the Organisation.
3. Progression
  
  Did the initiative lead to further education, employment, progression or a career in the industry?
  
  If Zuzanna had not completed her Placement hours at Greenhatch during her T-Level, she would very likely not have been able to go to University. It is a direct result of her engagement with Greenhatch through their association with Derby College, that her career and education have been able to continue and thrive.
4. Greenhatch's contribution
  
  What specifically did Greenhatch provide that helped make the participant's journey possible or successful? Degree Apprenticeships/offer of employment etc..
  
  T – Level Placement opportunities, part-time work, full-time employment and the availability and support to undertake a degree apprenticeship course.
5. Removal of Barriers
  
  Has any of the Greenhatch initiates assisted removal of barriers?
  
  For example, are you a first generation into higher education/Did the T-Level project allow the completion of a course/ Diverse background where opportunities in construction seem more limited.
  - Zuzanna is the first generation to move into higher education in her family.
  - The availability of a T-Level placement allowed her to gain her qualification at Derby College.
  - Zuzanna is a female, developing her long-term career in the male dominated construction sector and Greenhatch will continue to support her on her journey.
6. A short quote that captures their experience
  
  The Greenhatch Group have given me the opportunity to develop my career, moving through my T-level placement year, to part time and subsequently full-time employment and have supported me to achieve my goal of gaining a Civil Engineering degree. This combined education and employment journey has given me the chance to forge a meaningful, long-term career in the construction sector.
7. Is the employee happy for us to publish their story on our website and submit as part of the Kings Award application?
  
  Yes

Senior CAD Technician

George Barwick

Route into Greenhatch: At University doing Architectural Tech degree at UOD. Course Lecturer recommended GH for a sandwich placement year
Year first engaged with Greenhatch:1/6/2021 – placement - then remained as a casual worker whilst finishing Uni, then straight back to us full time from Summer 2023.
Educational institution/course: where appropriate: UOD
Current length of service with Greenhatch, if applicable: 5 years
Current career progression – starting from secondary school, college / Uni, and their training and development whilst at Greenhatch

5 X GCSE’s, then 2 x apprenticeships in welding at The Gatemaker (6 months), then another apprenticeship in mechanical engineering at ARB & Grounds (6 months), then college at BTEC Professional Construction DCG for 2 years,( Course pre T-levels), then UOD for degree.
Key skills developed
1. Employability
  
  What skills, experience and professional behaviours did participants develop whilst first engaging with Greenhatch (Work experience/placement/project etc)..
  
  Communication – verbal and written, interacting within teams was a key skill, also more independence and learnt to work within a professional workplace for the first time.
  
  Especially wanted to work with REVIT and knew that GH had a reputation for excellence in this area and valued the professional training available.
  
  Also wanted to work here at Greenhatch to get the experience in the wide scope of building projects available eg; historical, commercial, residential and commercial, all commonplace at GH.
  
  ‘2D’ - I had no experience in this until I came to GH – this was a key skill development area for George.
  
  Leadership skills – now 5 years in GB runs and leads his own Revit projects, guiding and assisting other team members to produce high-quality output for the GH client, regularly training the next cohort of Revit employee’s new skills.
2. Career aspirations
  - Did exposure to Greenhatch raise, clarify or change their career ambitions?
    
    It gave me more of a focus and a drive and I had a clearer direction for my career. I had no idea that there were opportunities in the surveying sector.
  - Were you looking for a career in the Geospatial industry?
    
    No not really, until, I had the experience of the placement – I also liked the opportunity of the sandwich placement, as this, gave me the surety of a permanent job role after finishing my degree. I felt there was job security in the sector as there is always a need for this type of work in construction and without the Greenhatch opportunity, I would not have known these roles even existed.
  - Do your aspirations align with the EOT Greenhatch Hierachy Pyramid?
    
    GB wants to develop his career at Greenhatch and wants to strive to be at the highest level possible in the coming years.
    
    The Greenhatch Hierachy Pyramid has made the company structure much clearer and transparent, and this definition of available roles has helped him see where his career could go in the future.
3. Progression
  
  Did the initiative (placement) lead to further education, employment, progression or a career in the industry?
  
  Yes – full-time career and progression in the industry.
4. Greenhatch's contribution
  
  What specifically did Greenhatch provide that helped make the participant's journey possible or successful? Degree Apprenticeships/offer of employment etc..
  
  Placement opportunity.
  
  Offer of full-time employment - which was made available directly after I finished my degree.
5. Removal of Barriers
  
  Has any of the Greenhatch initiates assisted removal of barriers?
  For example, are you a first generation into higher education/Did the T-Level project allow the completion of a course/ Diverse background where opportunities in construction seem more limited.
  
  Both parents did degrees - Accounting and Politics
6. A short quote that captures their experience
  
  · George has a hearing impairment and a cochlear implant, and he has proved that this is no barrier to getting into and being successful in the construction industry. GB is also keen to show to others who may also have similar disabilities that these should not be a barrier to success. The work environment at Greenhatch is open and fair, and the disability has not ever been a barrier within the business whatsoever.
  
  As one of the first cohort of students to come into the organisation as a Placement student, George has experienced extensive company changes that have occurred in the last 5 years and has benefitted hugely by being able to adapt and grow within this ever-changing professional environment. The placement and the subsequent role have given him the chance of earning sufficient income to be able to buy his own home and become independent.
7. Is the employee happy for us to publish their story on our website and submit as part of the Kings Award application?
  
  Yes

Assistant Building Surveyor

Matthew Kirk

Route into Greenhatch: Matt was undertaking a T-Level in Construction, Design, Surveying and Planning at Derby College. He particularly enjoyed the surveying aspect of the course and following a lecture at the college, provided by Sam Lewis – Greenhatch Director – Matt approached Sam to ask if there might be any job opportunities available at Greenhatch. Matt was subsequently interviewed and offered a full-time role in February 2022 as a Trainee Building Surveyor, to commence in June 2022, when his college course was complete.
Year first engaged with Greenhatch: 2022
Educational institution/course: where appropriate: Derby College & University of Derby
Current length of service with Greenhatch, if applicable: 4 years
Current career progression – starting from secondary school, college / Uni, and their training and development whilst at Greenhatch

Gaining 8 x GCSE’S, Matt really enjoyed CAD/Design at school and had an initial ambition to study architecture, as at that point, he was unaware of the roles available in the geo-spatial sector.

Matt has gained a variety of on-the-job skills and undertaken various training courses, such as gaining his CSCS card qualification and has also been undertaking a degree apprenticeship to gain his Civil Engineering degree, on a day release basis.
Key skills developed
1. Employability
  
  What skills, experience and professional behaviours did participants develop whilst first engaging with Greenhatch (Work experience/placement/project etc)..
  - Communication skills have developed considerably, with Matt dealing with clients in many different types of client settings, anything from a residential property to a commercial building, to retail units and industrial buildings, all the way up to working on a long-term project at Claridge’s Hotel in London.
  - Matt has had to develop the skills to use his own initiative, whilst out on site, problem solving and working out the best solutions available to meet client requirements and has had to maintain confidentiality when working on sensitive client sites.
  - Matt has developed his skills in operating a Total station and GPS scanner.
2. Career aspirations
  - Did exposure to Greenhatch raise, clarify or change their career ambitions?
    
    Changed the direction of Matts career from Architecture to Surveying, which has afforded him the opportunity of a more suitable job role, given his ADHD condition. Matt realised that working every day in an office environment was not going to suit him, which potentially would have been the case in the architectural world, and the opportunity to work out on client sites conducting surveys the majority of the week, with only a small part of his week being office based, was much better suited to his neurodiversity.
  - Were you looking for a career in the Geospatial industry?
    
    No. As detailed above.
  - Do your aspirations align with the EOT Greenhatch Hierachy Pyramid?
    
    Yes, Matt has ambitions to progress his career at Greenhatch, following the completion of his degree course. He is keen to use his skills and knowledge, gained whilst doing the degree for his own benefit and for the benefit of the Company in the future.
3. Progression
  
  Did the initiative lead to further education, employment, progression or a career in the industry?
  
  The offer of higher education opportunities, definitely made a career at Greenhatch more attractive to Matt.
4. Greenhatch's contribution
  
  What specifically did Greenhatch provide that helped make the participant's journey possible or successful? Degree Apprenticeships/offer of employment etc..
  
  The availability of a degree apprenticeship opportunity was a top priority.
5. Removal of Barriers
  
  Has any of the Greenhatch initiates assisted removal of barriers? For example, are you a first generation into higher education/Did the T-Level project allow the completion of a course/ Diverse background where opportunities in construction seem more limited.
  
  Matt is the first person to do a degree in his family at a young age (his mother gained a degree later in life)
6. A short quote that captures their experience
  
  Greenhatch offered me the chance to start a career in Surveying, and I have been grateful for their willingness to support me to undertake a degree apprenticeship, which was always a personal ambition of mine.
  
  Greenhatch is a supportive employer, with a friendly, ‘family feel’ culture, who not only provide support through their education initiatives, but also provide support to colleagues throughout their career in a variety of ways.
  
  I have been given the chance to develop constructive, professional relationships with colleagues and clients alike.
7. Is the employee happy for us to publish their story on our website and submit as part of the Kings Award application?
  
  Yes.

"Greenhatch initially became involved to help ensure the right skills and knowledge were being delivered within the sector. Since then, the initiative has grown year on year, and we have now engaged with more than 300 learners. We are incredibly proud of what has been achieved, but none of it would have been possible without the commitment of the entire Greenhatch team. Over the past six years, 25 members of staff have volunteered their time to support the programme, demonstrating the passion and belief our people have in developing the next generation of professionals."

Sam Lewis

Director, Greenhatch

Our Coverage

National coverage and international coverage

160+

Committed in-house team

Employees, full training via CICES & custom programmes.

Est 1988

Years of experience

Pioneering surveying excellence from Derby to Newcastle, across the UK.

60,000+

Surveys conducted

Starting from topographical to BIM models, a variety of surveys are conducted till date

1,000s of

Surveys Delivered

Request a survey quote for your project

Get accurate geospatial data from a team trusted by architects, engineers, contractors, developers and local authorities across the UK.

From topographical and measured building surveys to 3D laser scanning, utility mapping, BIM and monitoring, Greenhatch provides the reliable data you need to plan, design and build with confidence.

Why choose Greenhatch?

✓ Established from 1988 surveying experience
✓ Nationwide & International coverage
✓ In-house survey specialists
✓ Clear project management
✓ Data delivered in the format you need

Our recent projects

Explore similar projects and learn how they were delivered in an timely manner.

mobile mapping survey

What Is A Mobile Mapping Survey And When Do You Need It?

Jul 23, 2026, 11:00:00 AM 3 min read

Detailed cross section surveying drawings and topographic map showing ground levels, hard bed levels, and water levels across multiple survey sections for an infrastructure.

Measured Building Survey

How Does Cross Section Surveying Support Your Infrastructure?

Jul 2, 2026, 11:00:00 AM 3 min read

3D architectural building model displayed on a screen showing a Revit 3D Building Model used for construction design and project coordination.

BIM Building Model

Advantages Of Revit 3D Building Models For Your Projects

Jun 25, 2026, 11:00:01 AM 3 min read

View more case studies

The Greenhatch Community Promise

Overview

Engagement with Schools, Colleges and Universities.

Careers Fairs

Educational experts - Philip Gilbert and Matthew Kirk

Work Placements

Secondary School Pupils

T-Level Students

University Placements

Get Kids into Surveying

Career Development

Apprenticeships

In-House Training

Chartered Institute of Civil Engineering Surveyors (CICES)

Opportunities, Advancements and Career Paths.

Employee Ownership Trust

The Greenhatch project

Overview

The Greenhatch Project

Objective

Location

Week One – Company Formation and Site Survey

Week Two – CAD and Revit Training

Week Three – Independent Delivery and Client Presentations

Outcomes and Impact

Lasting Success

Greenhatch Impact Stories

Adam Moss

Erin Lynott

Zuzanna Sawicka

George Barwick

Matthew Kirk

National coverage and international coverage

Committed in-house team

Years of experience

Surveys conducted

Surveys Delivered

Request a survey quote for your project

Why choose Greenhatch?

Our recent projects

What Is A Mobile Mapping Survey And When Do You Need It?

How Does Cross Section Surveying Support Your Infrastructure?

Advantages Of Revit 3D Building Models For Your Projects