Groundwise Searches Ltd

What Groundwise Searches Ltd does

Groundwise Searches Ltd is a privately held UK specialist in desktop utility mapping and environmental search reports, incorporated in England and headquartered in Southend-on-Sea, Essex. Founded in late 2000, the firm compiles PAS128 Quality Level D compliant utility search reports by contacting up to 40 utility companies per project, consolidating their PDF asset maps into standardized reports (and optional DWG CAD compilation drawings) covering electricity, gas, water, drainage, telecoms, rail, mobile masts, and street lighting. It was the first UK firm to offer online ordering of utility searches, the first to supply UK environmental search companies, and the first to serve the UK legal property search industry. Its proprietary self-serve platform at mapping.groundwise.com generates instant quotes in under 60 seconds and supports a Premier Account tier with 30-day invoice terms for high-volume enterprise clients.

The company serves a horizontal mix of construction companies, engineering consultancies (Arup, BAM Nuttall, Mott MacDonald, RPS, WSP), property search providers (LSC, Searchflow, TM Group), government bodies (Environment Agency, Transport for London, Network Rail, NHS), surveyors, and utilities/infrastructure developers active in EV charging and renewables. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time fees per report (Standard from £100+VAT, Quick Turnaround from £150+VAT), with a recurring subscription overlay via Premier Account invoicing and bundled environmental products resold from Groundsure (Map Insight, Enviro Insight, Geo Insight, GeoRisk, Flood, UXO). The six-person team all hold the ProQual Level 3 Certificate for Utility Mapping & Surveying, and the firm is accredited under PAS128:2022, HSG47, Constructionline Gold, Achilles, SMAS Worksafe, SSIP Acclaim, Builders Profile, and RISQS. Geographic coverage spans the UK and Ireland, with no public funding, parent company, or acquisition history disclosed.

Name

Groundwise Searches Ltd

Legal name

Groundwise Searches Ltd

Website

https://groundwise.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Groundwise Searches Ltd, founded in 2000 and based in Southend-on-Sea, provides PAS128 Type D desktop utility searches, CAD mapping, and Groundsure-resold environmental reports to construction firms, consultancies, government bodies, and property search providers across the UK and Ireland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Southend-on-Sea

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Utility Search Reports: One-time fee for desktop utility search reports covering underground utility asset mapping. Prices vary by site size, geographic location, and selected utilities. Delivered as PDF reports with optional CAD compilation add-on.
2. CAD Desktop Mapping Service: Cost-effective add-on service converting utility search PDF data into single DWG format compilation drawing. Provides layered visual representation of all utility assets within site boundary.
3. Environmental Reports: Reseller of Groundsure environmental reports including UXO, historical mapping, contaminated land, geological, flood risk, and mining/stability reports. Sold as standalone products or bundled with utility searches.
4. Premier Account Services: Invoice-based account terms (30 days) for high-volume commercial clients. Clients can place multiple orders per invoice with Purchase Order alignment to company procurement procedures.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Groundwise researches and compiles underground utility asset data on behalf of clients in the UK and Ireland, producing PAS 128 Type D desktop utility search reports covering electricity, gas, water, drainage, telecoms, and other utilities. Reports are delivered as consolidated PDFs with an optional CAD (DWG) compilation add-on that fits utility records to Ordnance Survey base mapping. The company also resells Groundsure environmental search reports covering contaminated land, geology, historical mapping, flooding, mining/stability, and unexploded ordnance.

Product overview

Groundwise Searches Ltd offers a portfolio of utility mapping and environmental search services. The core offering consists of PAS128 Type D Utility Searches, available as Comprehensive, Basic, ASAP, Bespoke, Exempt, or Top-Up variants. These desktop utility searches compile underground utility maps by contacting up to 40 utility companies per report, delivered as PDF documents. An optional Desktop Mapping (CAD) add-on converts utility data into single DWG format compilation drawings. Environmental Searches are provided through a reseller partnership with Groundsure, including Map Insight (historical mapping), Enviro Insight (contaminated land), Geo Insight (geological data), GeoRisk (mining and stability), Flood Risk Assessment, and UXO Survey (unexploded ordnance). The company was established in 2000 and serves the UK and Ireland.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PAS128 (D) Utility Searches Desktop utility search reports covering buried utility assets across the UK and Ireland, compliant with PAS 128 Quality Level D and HSG47 standards. Contacting up to 40 utility companies per report and delivering consolidated PDF results identifying underground electricity, gas, water, drainage, telecoms, rail, mobile masts, and other services.
• ASAP Search Urgent turnaround variant of the Utility Search service delivering available utility data on receipt with outstanding results added as they arrive, including a quick turnaround option delivering data within 6 hours for qualifying requests.
• Bespoke Search Service Customizable utility search allowing clients to specify exact requirements including single utility enquiries, environmental reports, or wayleave enquiries within a tailored scope.
• Exempt Stats Search Service Reduced cost utility search service for Local Authorities, Government Bodies, Non-Departmental Public Bodies, or Statutory Undertakers where certain utilities waive their search fees.
• Desktop Mapping (CAD) Converts utility search PDF data into a single DWG format compilation drawing with layered utility networks, with all features fitted to Ordnance Survey data tile, utility records traced, and PDF and KMZ output options available.
• Environmental Searches Portfolio of environmental search reports resold from Groundsure, including Map Insight (historical mapping), Enviro Insight (contaminated land), Geo Insight (geological data), GeoRisk (mining and ground stability), Flood Risk Assessment, and UXO Survey (unexploded ordnance), sold standalone or bundled with utility searches.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced utility strike risk through comprehensive PAS128 compliant utility mapping
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• GroundsurecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGroundwise operates as a reseller of Groundsure environmental reports including UXO (Unexploded Ordnance), Map Insight (historical mapping), Enviro Insight (contaminated land), Geo Insight (geological), Flood Risk, and GeoRisk+ (mining and ground stability) reports. These environmental reports complement Groundwise's core utility search services.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Dudley Associates: UK-based provider of utility detection, mapping and PAS128 surveys. Directly comparable niche specialist competing for the same pre-construction utility search work in the UK.
• Subscan: Underground utility surveying and mapping specialist in the UK. Competes with Groundwise on desktop and on-site utility detection services for construction clients.
• Statemap: UK utility search and mapping services provider focused on pre-construction utility records and CAD deliverables. Closely overlaps Groundwise's product set and target customers.

Others

• Groundsure: Environmental and location data provider whose reports Groundwise resells. Adjacent rather than direct competitor on utility data, but a key partner and potential competitive threat if Groundsure enters utility mapping directly.
• Hexagon Geosystems: Global provider of surveying instruments, sensors and software used in utility detection and mapping. Indirect comparator via the technology stack that underpins the wider underground utility mapping category.

Broad incumbents

• Plowman Craven: UK surveying and consultancy with utility mapping and measured surveying services. Larger and broader than Groundwise, but directly comparable on PAS128-aligned utility search work for infrastructure clients.
• Murphy Geospatial: Ireland and UK-based surveying firm offering utility mapping, topographical, and measured building surveys. Broader surveying portfolio but operates in the same utility mapping category as Groundwise.
• Landmark Information Group: Major UK property data and search provider that bundles utility, environmental, and conveyancing searches at scale. Overlaps with Groundwise via property search intermediaries and offers broader reach but less specialist focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/groundwise

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Groundwise Searches Ltd