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ADVERTORIAL
GeoAccess is celebrating its 10th birthday. Managing Director (MD) Mark Coleman reflects on the journey and the company’s mindset that regardless of the challenge, a solution is always possible
Transforming the inspection and examination of earthworks
The GeoAccess team out on site
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t was 10 years ago that engineers Mark Coleman and Dave Frost decided to set up GeoAccess, with the aim of providing solutions for inspections on difficult access sites in the rail sector. “It would have been very easy not to make that leap, but we did and what we’ve gone on to achieve has been amazing and something I’m incredibly proud about,” said MD Mark. And with good reason. From just Mark and Dave, GeoAccess has now grown to 20 full time members of staff and up to 150 sub-contractors. In the 2023/24 season alone its earthwork examiners inspected over 15,600 individual five-chain lengths, comprising cuttings, embankments, and rock slopes. “It’s astounding really,” added Mark. “We’ve evolved, and the industry has changed, and we’ve adapted to stay with it, we’re still here and stronger than ever, with no signs of slowing down. “GeoAccess started out with the aim of solving one tiny problem, doing something better than anybody else could do. We then solved another problem, and another, and the business expanded from there. It has always been about making a positive difference in what we do, which is something that drives us forward every day.” Mark said that first challenge, which involved tricky access requiring rope access and de-vegetation, demanded that they think outside the box, accessing the site differently and using different systems and
ideas that hadn’t really been used before in the railways. That risk was rewarded with a project completed on time and under budget. “We thrive on the clients who come to us saying they’re not sure the problem can be solved,” he said. “That is what gets our creative juices flowing, thinking about different ways it can be done. “In the last few years, there has been added pressure on clients with budgets and standards, so we’re finding projects are being squeezed more and more, putting the onus on us to think more about innovative solutions that deliver better services for less. “This is something we continue to do, using technology and the likes of AI to make even more of a positive difference. You are going to see groundbreaking projects out of GeoAccess imminently, with one in particular which is going to be breathtaking and will make such a positive difference.” It is set to build on the company’s growing reputation, utilising its highly experienced geotechnical engineers coupled with unmanned aerial vehicles, remotely operated vehicles, rope access and confined space techniques. Its clients include Network Rail, for which it has developed an alternative way of accessing infrastructure to carry out inspections. Such has been its success that GeoAccess is exploring more line blocks, possessions and traditional track access that
November 2024
Dave Frost (left) and Mark Coleman
have all historically caused issues. Mark added: “Another area of success has been employing Ben Bowen as an ecologist to support our vegetation management and environmental teams. It has really propelled that side of the business, and we are looking to expand that team in the future. “We continue to do lots of work with Network Rail, trying to find better ways to resolve ecology issues such as protected species and areas, ascents, and licences that we need. It is working really well, a lot more efficient, cheaper, and we are still protecting and looking after the environment and ecology.” Another area of excitement is surrounding the company’s full digital training academy, currently being developed by Techcare Digital, which aims to bring innovative, interactive, and accessible training to everyone, everywhere. “We’re hoping this will be released in the next 12 months,” said Mark. “It is going to have a tremendous impact on the industry both internally for us as an organisation, but also for other organisations as well. There is a massive gap that we’ve all got which this is going to plug, and it all comes back to our ethos of making a positive difference. “Overall, I’m very excited for the future. I can’t wait for the next few weeks with what is coming, let alone the next few months and years. It is onwards and upwards definitely.” www.geoaccess.co.uk/