Our First Press Release!!

R L Surveys Ltd, a new Land and Measured Building Surveying company launched recently. The company, based in Ashford, Kent has been founded by husband and wife team, Mike and Beccy Holiday and will initially operate across the whole of the South East of England, including London. Their aim is to offer a high quality survey product at a more competitive price point than some others currently on the market, whilst maintaining a personal relationship with both new and existing clients.

Having worked for the same Surveying firm for seven years, Mike decided, with his technical knowledge in Land Surveying, it was time to take a leap of faith and start his own company. Beccy, an Accountant, has the ideal experience to make sure the office side of things runs smoothly – a match made in heaven on a personal and business level you might say!

“We felt that between us, we had a range of business skills from the technical know-how to the administrative and financial side, that we could use to set up on our own without needing any additional assistance – and marketing, well, we’re learning as we go!” commented Mike Holiday, Director.

Mike is an Associate Member of the RICS as well as being a Member of the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors and, with over 10-years post qualification experience there are not many situations he hasn’t encountered, from working at major International Airports, to working on the London Underground network - from large-scale housing developments to small back gardens. At least all jobs are varied!

“We don’t have the constraints of normal ‘office hours’ for work so if a last minute job was to come in late on Friday, we can usually call on a team to try and fit the job in over the weekend. We are also available to speak to our clients during the evenings and weekends, if that is more suitable to them.” commented Beccy Holiday, Director.

As well as establishing a presence in London, Kent and the neighbouring counties, R L Surveys is building up a network of other like-minded Surveying professionals throughout the UK, to combine forces on larger jobs but remain unique in their approaches and not be in direct competition with each other.

R L Surveys would be delighted to tender for any Land Surveying work and look forward to meeting many of you at networking events throughout the year.

Seven months on......

Now well into 2012 business is gradually picking up to a gentle trot, and we're making massive movements in our Google ranking thanks to a exhaustive effort in the admin department. It's amazing how the last decade has seen the Internet become the central part of any marketing strategy. Has it made life easier - probably as you can reinforce points made to people during a cold call. Is it easy - no, but if it was that easy I wouldn't get phone calls everyday promising to get me on Page 1 of Google for a small fee!! Next challenge is to elevate our position on a number of our other 'benchmark' searches - namely Land Surveyors London!

As the business is evolving I'm finding the work taking me more and more into the realms of paper work - do we have a Health & Safety Policy, Environmental Policy, Quality Assurance Policy?? Sometimes paper work can take over, but with the long term goal being growth setting up correctly now will save no end of problems in the future.

Our results initial from 2011 so far are very promising with 23 tenders issued of which only 3 are confirmed as lost, 12 completed and paid for, and 8 outstanding! Not bad for two months full time work.

The next big company mile stone is the purchase of our own equipment which might mean a slight drop in prices (good news for all our clients) as we no longer have the significant headache of equipment hire for most jobs. But as with anything there will always be an exception.

Over the next few months I'll be looking at certain aspects of starting a business with topics ranging from Networking to ' Behind the Lens'. If you are looking to start your own business please feel free to make some suggestions and I'll gladly try and work them in when I have some free time.

Remember to keep following us through Facebook (www.facebook.com/RLSurveys), Twitter (@RLSurveys), and on our main page at www.rlsurveys.co.uk

Taking the Plunge

Big Mistake or Master Stroke?

At the moment it's hanging in the balance but do I regret handing in my notice from a nice safe job with a guaranteed monthly income? Not for a minute. Why stay in a job with no future, and where the work ethic has evolved to such a state that people have lost sight of why they got into the business? Taking nothing away from them I enjoyed working there, but there comes a point when you want to pursue your own goals in your own way, not as directed by others.

So here we are - R L Surveys Ltd - started with the best intentions, ran through a few rough months (call it a settling in period) where big personal mistakes were made before eventually reaching a point of self sufficiency, and fingers crossed will develop into a viable business opportunity to all involved. But I digress (be warned it happens).

R L Surveys Ltd started trading in July 2011, initially on a part time basis but has now developed into a full time job and has been operating as such since November 2011. Whilst interest at first was slow, the business is gradually snow balling into a viable self sustaining business.

We are targeting the local markets in Kent, Sussex, Surrey, London & Essex initially. We'll provide Land Surveying & Measured Building Surveying services at a competitive price whilst maintaining a high cartographic standard & solid checking procedures. Being a family run business developing lasting relationships with our clients in critical to our business development.

More details of the services we offer, and examples of our work can be found at www.rlsurveys.co.uk, or you can keep in touch with us on LinkedIn, Facebook (www.facebook.com/rlsurveys) & Twitter (@RLSurveys).

I hope you enjoy this blog, and feel free to make comment or join in any threads you like. This won't be purely business. All work and no play................