Introducing Darren Meads from West Yorkshire, UK!
Where did you study? I was taught internally by the company I started out with back in 2015 no knowledge what so ever, I had served in the Army’s Infantry for 8 years so since 2015 I have been a student to the surveying industry starting with Ground Penetrating Radar to Utility Mapping.
An opportunity in 2016 to become a Land Surveyor which of course I jumped at the chance and have loved it ever since, Learning from mainly my colleagues and line manager it took me roughly about 6 months to really master the basic’s of surveying and then from this it was time to become a surveyor on my own and learn how to make it my personal way of surveying as every surveyor surveys differently using the same principles of course but making it their own, experimenting trying new ways and pushing the equipment to its full potential is always a great way to learn you don’t always need books or educational courses etc.. I guess it would help yes hugely but some people are more hands on which opens up the audience to surveying.
What are the requirements to be a surveyor in your area? There are no set requirements per say and this is an important part that I believe needs to be understood. Anyone interested in surveying has the right requirements firstly by showing the voluntary interest, I love to see young people keen and enthusiastic about wanting to become a surveyor. It’s a simple case of you get out what you put in so these are the only characterises you require to become a great surveyor.
How did you get into surveying? Actually by mistake, my dyslexia played a part in this when I was first searching for a job in 2014/2015 before leaving the Armed Forces, I thought I was going for a job in Surveillance when indeed I arrived for the interview he said “so what do you know about surveying” so I had applied for the job by pure mistake but looking back I guess it was supposed to happen because I got the job same day and have loved the surveying industry ever since.
If you are not a surveyor, what do you do? Don’t understand what you mean, either what else would I be doing or what do I do in spare time outside of surveying ?
How long have you been in the industry? Not very long since 2015 so almost 6 years and I have learnt some amazing things, its taken me to some great places across the UK which to explore the UK as a surveyor has been an experience in its self and meet some fantastic people along the way which are lifetime friends, I cant see myself leaving the industry.
Are you part of any associations or organisations you would like us to mention? Not yet but I am working towards currently CMI due to complete end of this year.
Why do you want to be a GKiS Brand Ambassador? Simply, I want to help educate young students and older generations the importance of surveying and how it can help shape your life into becoming a great part of todays society and Get Kids Into Surveying is a great way of sharing this passion, it’s a great platform to make a start on having an impact on getting kids into surveying.
Why is it important for kids to know about surveying and the wider geospatial industry Because this is our future generation, the future of surveying depends on educating kids on what part and the importance to which surveying plays in our infrastructure without this we wouldn’t have a lot of the infrastructure we have today, with innovation going the way its going in surveying its becoming more trendy and digital which its highly impressive and could help attract kids into surveying.
What are you going to do as an ambassador for GKiS? I want to help educate, show kids just how cool surveying is and where it can take you.
I want kids to understand that your GCSE’s good or bad shouldn’t stop you from achieving greatness, greatness isn’t learnt it’s a part of who you are and surveying will allow you to open up and express what you are and can be capable of. This is my message and what I want to achieve.
What are your hobbies? View finder, my Army years will always take me up a maintain in my spare time.
If you/your company had a GKiS character, what would it be? A Lion, Lions are fearless but family oriented, they look after their own above all.
What poster or resource would you like to see next from GKiS? How about some focus on ways kids can transfer their skills into surveying innovation, Xbox or PlayStation etc.. to using a surveying controller, so many avenues this could produce.
Anything else you want to add that you think our audience (surveyors, teachers, parents) would be interested in? Its important to set out the correct foundations when kids do enter into surveying, their first impressions are paramount into keeping them within the industry, show passion and compassion with any young student they are our future.