Meet the team

I have worked on expanding and growing the business through various avenues which has been achieved through hard work.   In the early days, the company just undertook drilling works with a small laboratory running simple tests. Everything we did was hand drawn and typed on a typewriter which was then compiled into a report. I began life in the laboratory and went through the British Standard and worked out what testing we could complete and if we could expand which ultimately we did. Through this I learnt a vast wealth of knowledge handling all sorts of soils first hand and gained a hands on knowledge of soils. I brought in computers to the company in the early 1990’s and taught myself ‘Autocad’, Excel, Word and various other packages and designed the new format of reporting. This was then taught through the staff who took this on and we became efficient. I went on to complete various diplomas and degrees part time at Cambridge and Guildford University and over the next 9 years obtained a Masters Degree in Geotechnical Engineering. This vastly improved my knowledge of soil and construction which is still used to date. Within this time and some time around the late 1990’s, we introduced contaminated land into the business through work I had completed on Environmental Science modules. This then begun a whole new phase of reporting with desk top studies, environmental sampling and reporting and working hand in hand with chemistry labs to expend knowledge and best practice. HESI now complete a wide range of assessments of contaminated land sites and work with all clients to overcome contamination risk and provide mitigation to problems which may arise. I find the work interesting and do not feel that I go to work and thoroughly enjoy the experience of HESI. I now undertake all forms of site investigation and continue to attend site and undertake meetings, site assessments and reporting as well as the running of HESI which keeps me busy.

Not knowing that this type of soils lab existed I went for a trial and really enjoyed the work and the team at HESI.  From working in the laboratory, I was able to learn all the various tests as well as engineering description of soils and more about the site investigation industry. Having completed sometime in the laboratory the team at HESI enabled me to learn CAD and also drawing up the laboratory testing.  I also completed site works along with an experienced engineer. I enjoyed this work and as time progressed, I left the lab and worked with Chris Gray in the Geo -Environmental side of the company. Helping to expand the environmental contaminated land side of the company, helping people to clear contamination land condition for planning applications, building control or NHBC and enabling them to remediate and developed their sites so they are fit for use. I helped organise the jobs, drawing up, collating data for Desk Top Studies and ultimately writing up reports.

This role includes a performing multitude of soil tests which spans from plasticity of the soils to the strength of the soils. During this time Danny revamped the system in the soils lab to improve efficiency and help increase the capacity of work that could be managed. This then led to the promotion to Laboratory Manager. Since 2022 and the rebranding and relocation of Herts & Essex Site Investigations, (Now HESI). Danny has been able to help design the new bespoke soils laboratory to further enhance the effectiveness of our testing and workload with fast turnarounds and all in accordance to BS 1377-2 : 2022.