(Image: Supplied)
A North East family-run surveying business which started with just one employee 13 years ago has announced plans to recruit more staff as it looks to build on more than a decade of growth.
Gridmark Survey, based in Castle Eden, was founded in 2013 by land surveyor and civil engineer Christopher Mooney.
He is now joined in the business by his wife, Abbey.
Chris Mooney, founder and director, said: "When I set up on my own, I didn’t really expect things to grow as they did.
The company was started by Chris Mooney and now employs 16 people, including his director wife Abbey (Image: Supplied)
"So to start with I brought my dad, who was a retired roofer, on board with me as my surveying assistant.
"My career had taken me across the UK, working on major civil engineering and construction projects.
"This included managing surveying teams for large-scale motorway earthworks projects, onshore wind farms, coastal renewable energy developments, mining and deep quarrying.
"Drawing on the experience and professional relationships I built along the way, I decided to establish my business back home in the North East, where momentum began to build a reputation."
What began as a freelance venture quickly expanded as demand grew.
The company now employs 16 people and has reached a turnover of more than £1 million.
Mr Mooney’s wife, Abbey, joined the business after her previous employer was acquired and its survey services arm was unlikely to be retained.
She said: "The early stages were a strange time really, as I’d no sooner joined the business than I found out I was pregnant, then when our first son was born we were plunged into lockdown because of the Covid pandemic.
"But due to the nature of the projects we were managing around the region, we were classed as a critical service so we could continue to work and that meant we also kept growing, although not quite as quickly as we would have done.
"For three years the team stayed the same but when a couple of really big opportunities came our way, we knew it was time to expand."
The couple decided to relocate to larger premises in Castle Eden to accommodate their growing team.
Gridmark Survey offers a range of geospatial services including land and building surveys, civil engineering, earthworks, underground utilities mapping, drone operations, and hydrographic surveys.
The company has also partnered with Hartlepool College to provide trainee placements, underlining its commitment to nurturing young talent.
Chris Mooney attributes the company’s steady growth to careful planning and timely recruitment.
He said: "I really believe that a big part of our success has been recruiting at the right times, not rushing into things and growing too quickly.
"We’ve brought the right people in at the right time and we’ve got a great team of people who are as passionate about our growth as we are."
Looking ahead, the company plans to hire an experienced operations manager to support further expansion.
Mr Mooney said: "The next steps for us are to bring in an experienced operations manager who can work directly with myself and Abbey to take some of the pressure off us and will also give Abbey especially the chance to develop our business strategy as we know we will continue to grow.
"It’s an exciting time for the business but none of it would have been possible without the people we have working with us."
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Beyond her role in the business, Abbey Mooney is involved in mentoring and advocating for women in construction, supporting those pursuing related qualifications.
The couple credit their success to a combination of industry experience, careful growth, and a strong team culture.
Their journey from a one-man operation to a £1 million business highlights the value of long-term planning and the importance of the people behind the company.