Structural Soils

22/05/2026

Congratulations to Jackie Bland being named in the Ground Engineering Magazine Top 20 Women in Ground Investigation in the UK in 2026.

For those of us who have worked around geotechnical data over the years, Jackie’s contribution will already be familiar, even if her work often sits quietly in the background making everything else function properly.

A few things that stand out from what is a remarkable career:
Jackie has been involved with the AGS data format since its very first release in 1990. That kind of consistency over more than three decades is rare and says a lot about her commitment to improving how we manage ground investigation data.

As Chair of the AGS - Association of Geotechnical & Geoenvironmental Specialists Data Management Working Group for the past 15 years, she has helped guide multiple major updates to the AGS format, shaping how data is collected, shared and used across the UK. Few people have had that level of sustained influence on a national standard.

Her technical depth spans both geotechnical data and IT systems, including developing bespoke borehole and laboratory management systems. That blend of practical experience and digital capability is not easy to find.

Jackie also led the update of the UK Specification for Ground Investigation in 2022 and was the lead author of BS 8574, both of which underpin how we manage and deliver data on projects across the industry.

At Structural Soils, she continues to play a key role as a senior technical leader, helping develop new digital platforms while mentoring and supporting the next generation of specialists.

She is widely respected across the industry, regularly chairing national conferences and contributing to AGS committees that shape future direction and best practice.

What is particularly worth recognising is that much of this work isn’t always visible on site or in final reports, but it underpins almost every ground engineering carried out in the UK today.

Looking ahead, Jackie is now leading work on AGS5, which will move things further forward with new formats and improved data transfer approaches. It’s another step change, and she’s right at the centre of it.

A real pioneer in digital geotechnical data, a steady and trusted industry voice, and a great role model for anyone working in this space.

Congratulations Jackie, thoroughly deserved.

part of the RSK Group

15/05/2026

We are very proud to showcase three of our Women in Ground Investigation in the top 20 in the UK.

14/05/2026

We are delighted to see Maria Hartford-Beynon, Associate Director at Structural Soils, nominated by Ground Engineering Magazine as one of the Top 20 Women in Ground Engineering in 2026.

Maria has spent more than 20 years in ground investigation and geoenvironmental engineering and is someone many of us rely on across the business. Her work on major schemes such as the A83 Rest and be Thankful and the A66 Northern Trans Pennine GI speaks for itself. On the A66 in particular, her oversight of environmental management and permitting was central to keeping a complex investigation moving safely and compliantly.

What stands out just as much is her contribution to people.
✅Leading our engineering professional development programme,
✅Building a company-wide competency framework,
✅Delivering residential training for early career staff,
✅Supporting colleagues through chartership.

She gives a huge amount of time to mentoring and technical review, often behind the scenes, helping others progress.

Maria is also a strong role model across Structural Soils and the wider RSK Group. Her recognition at the Inspiring Women in Construction and Engineering Awards last year was well deserved, and this nomination reflects the consistency and professionalism she brings every day.

A thoroughly deserved nomination. Well done Maria.

Part of the RSK Group



emap

06/05/2026

Last week we welcomed Arup Bristol to our laboratory.

It was a real pleasure to host eight of your team for a tour of our soil and rock testing facilities.

What stood out straight away was how engaged everyone was.

Our principal laboratory technicians were kept busy fielding plenty of thoughtful questions throughout the visit.

What started as a standard session quickly turned into a three hour discussion, which says a lot about the level of interest and collaboration on the day.

We really appreciate the feedback from your team:

"A great visit to the Structural Soils laboratory in Bristol. It was really useful to see the facilities and various tests we schedule being carried out in the lab. It was valuable to hear from their team about the practical constraints in some tests, as well as some of their recent developments in soil and rock testing. A very engaging visit!"

Thanks again to everyone from Arup Bristol for taking the time to visit. These sessions are always a two-way learning experience, and we look forward to welcoming you back.



Part of the RSK Group

02/05/2026

This week we were pleased to host a Year 10 work experience student as part of a one-week industrial placement.

Brian Water from the Oasis Academy, Bristol spent the week getting a practical introduction to ground investigation and land quality work, including:

✅Preliminary site risk assessment
✅Understanding the source–pathway–receptor model
✅Reviewing contamination risk and mitigation options
✅Exploring early-stage site development proposals

For a short placement, Brian engaged well with some fairly grown-up concepts and showed real curiosity about how desk studies and risk assessments feed into planning and development.

A big thank you to Michael Addinall for supporting and mentoring throughout the week.

Work experience placements matter. They give students an honest insight into what the job actually involves and help them make informed choices about future study and careers. We are always happy to support that.

Good luck to Brian with the rest of his studies.

Part of the RSK Group

30/04/2026

Huge congratulations to Kate Bridges on being nominated as one of the Top 20 Women in the Ground Engineering Magazine awards for 2026.

Kate is currently Drilling Director at Structural Soils, part of the RSK Group, and has been with the business since joining as a graduate geologist in 2006. Over nearly two decades, she has progressed from hands‑on site supervision through project management into a senior leadership role, while staying closely connected to delivery on the ground.

Since taking on responsibility for the drilling department in 2019, Kate has led its growth and development, with a strong focus on health, safety, welfare, and operational quality. She has played a key role in major infrastructure projects including Hinkley Point C and Wylfa B, bringing a calm, rigorous, and practical approach to complex ground investigations.

What really stands out, though, is Kate’s impact on people. She’s known for building strong teams, giving colleagues the space to do their jobs well, and stepping in with support when it’s needed. Alongside this, she actively mentors others, leads workshops to support chartership, and champions fair opportunity based on skills and experience rather than labels.

This nomination is well deserved recognition of Kate’s technical ability, leadership, and positive influence across the business and the wider ground engineering community.

Well done, Kate.

17/04/2026

We were delighted to welcome Tony Gee and Partners to our UKAS-accredited Bristol laboratory.

Our Principal Technicians gave an in-depth tour covering:
Rock testing
Shear strength testing
Compaction and index testing
Our effective stress and cyclic triaxial facility

The visit also included a walk-through of the full laboratory process, from samples arriving into the lab through to testing. Our Eric Downey talked through the life of a sample, including our logging area, photographic dark room, and the different sample types and sample sizes for the testing required and installation methods used to suit specific project needs.

From Thomas Kabala.... Tony Gee and Partners

'Thank you very much to you and your team for giving up your time to show us round. It was very informative and particularly useful for many of the Engineers in attendance who are in the early stages of their career. It was great for the team to see the testing apparatus and gain a better understanding of the lab testing that we can specify and what the results we receive actually mean. I’ve had really good feedback from everyone I’ve spoken to this afternoon, so thanks again for the engaging tour. '

It’s always good to have the opportunity to explain not just what we do, but how and why we do it, and to share the experience and hard work and dedication that is required behind reliable laboratory data.

Thanks to the Tony Gee and Partners team including Thomas Kabala for taking the time to visit, and to our lab team Dimitris Xirouchakis, Oliver Fiddaman, Claudio Pugliese, Alan Thomson for hosting such a thorough and engaging session.

part of the RSK Group

26/03/2026

A big thank you to the Ground Engineering Magazine for the excellent photographs taken at the Basements and Underground Structures Conference on 24 March of both our Michael Williams and Eric Downey.

The images really captured the atmosphere of the day and the conversations happening around some challenging and interesting projects.

Congratulations again to everyone involved in the CERN and Palace of Westminster projects that were being showcased. From the pre-site and admin teams, through to on-site delivery drilling and engineering teams, laboratory testing, and reporting, it was a great example of collaborative effort across the business.

We look forward to being invited back next year.

part of the RSK Group

25/03/2026

We are delighted to be sponsoring the South West OSIG Geoforum being held this evening at the University of Bristol.

The event, organised by the SUT - Society for Underwater Technology, brings together professionals working across offshore site investigation, geotechnics and marine ground engineering. It is a great opportunity to share experience, discuss technical challenges, and stay connected with the wider industry.

Supporting events like this matters to us. Open technical discussion, learning from others, and encouraging collaboration across disciplines all help raise standards in our sector.

We look forward to meeting fellow attendees tonight and to hearing the presentations.

If you are attending, please come and say hello to Dimitris Xirouchakis.

part of the RSK Group

Join us for a relaxed evening of engaging presentations for those interested in all things offshore site investigation and south-west-focused followed by refreshments and networking with like-minded people.