Say hello to our Brand Ambassador Anthony Pritchard from the UK!
Where did you study? The Survey School, Worcester
What are the requirements to be a surveyor in your area? Anyone can become a land surveyor over time but for all surveying disciplines you require a knowledge of STEM subjects and a good attention to detail. My company focuses on water-based projects so I have a greater understanding of water whether within rivers, lakes or the sea.
How did you get into surveying? I was in my early twenties having left school after my A-levels not knowing what I wanted to do. I worked in farming through my school years and enjoyed the outdoor life but always felt there was something out there better suited to my skills. It was my mum who saw an advert in the local paper for an assistant land surveyor and suggested I try for that. I was hooked and took to it like a duck to water. I joined an established company who put me through the Survey Association course at the Survey School in Worcester. This was a newly established 2-year block release course which I really enjoyed and provided the theory to back-up the practical site work I was completing every day in my day job.
How long have you been in the industry? It will be 20 years in July 2021.
Are you part of any associations or organisations you would like us to mention? I am an Associate member of the RICS and hope to be a member of the CICES by the end of the month.
I am Vice Chair of Governors at a local primary school where I also chair the performance and standards committee. I am passionate about the education of young children and want to help provide opportunities to all through knowledge and experience.
Why do you want to be a GKiS Brand Ambassador? I want young people and children to understand the opportunities involved with a career in surveying or a related field – the technology, the indoor/outdoor balance and the travel to name a few!
Why is it important for kids to know about surveying and the wider geospatial industry? Surveying and geospatial data plays such a huge part in our everyday lives, much of which we don’t even realise. From gaming through to sustainability of the planet’s resources, surveying is involved with so much analysis and decision making the world over.
What are you going to do as an ambassador for GKiS? Continue to share my knowledge of the geospatial industry and all things related.
What are your hobbies? Although rugby has been my main hobby for the majority of my life, I am now too old for all that rough and tumble and so instead I have taken up karate! Hope to gain my blackbelt before the end of 2021.
If you/your company had a GKiS character, what would it be? Something from a river or the ocean or maybe Captain Birdseye esque!
What poster or resource would you like to see next from GKiS? As part of the resources, we could offer some larger projects involving a feasibility study, then surveying, designing, and finally setting out the development. Maybe the local village needs a new skate park? The school utilise a BA to help with the process from feasibility through to setting out -just don’t build it!!