The Survey School

What The Survey School does

The Survey School is a UK-based commercial training centre headquartered in Worcester, England, operated by The Survey Association (TSA) as its dedicated education and training division. It is the only commercial survey training centre in the United Kingdom accredited by The Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (CICES), a status reaffirmed through a five-year re-approval in October 2025. The school's core offering is the two-year TSA Surveying Course, delivered across six two-week residential blocks over an eighteen-month period and combined with the ProQual Level 3 Diploma in Engineering Surveying. It complements this flagship programme with a portfolio of short technical courses (typically two to five days) covering GNSS, total stations, utility mapping, GPR post-processing, AutoCAD for Surveying, AutoCAD Point Cloud Essentials, terrestrial laser scanning, and setting out for engineering surveying, delivered using industry-standard equipment from Leica, Trimble, and MALÅ.

The school serves two primary customer segments: new entrants to the land surveying profession and practising geospatial professionals seeking continuing professional development or new technology skills. Most students are sponsored by their employers (including major surveying firms such as Jacobs, MK Surveys, Murphy Geospatial, and Spatial Dimensions, along with government agencies such as Transport for London and Ordnance Survey Northern Ireland) as part of on-the-job training, with a smaller share self-funded. The school also runs a TSA-funded "Teach the Teacher" initiative that trains further-education college tutors delivering the Level 3 Geospatial Survey Technician Apprenticeship.

The business model is fee-for-service professional training, with tiered pricing for TSA members, non-members, and reduced-rate concessions. Course fees are modest and transactional (e.g., £340–£1,215 for short courses), with selected courses offered free under government or industry-sponsored programmes for young people under 23. The school operates from a single Worcester facility, with select courses delivered at partner locations in Wigan and Craigavon, Northern Ireland. Headcount stands at nine employees, and the 2025 cohort produced twenty-nine qualifying students, five of whom achieved Distinction. The school maintains no proprietary software platform, no app, and no external investment; its economics are funded entirely through course fees and in-kind equipment sponsorship from vendors such as KOREC, Trimble, and Leica.

Name

The Survey School

Legal name

The Survey School

Website

https://surveyschool.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Survey School is the UK's only CICES-accredited commercial survey training centre, operating from Worcester. It delivers a two-year TSA Surveying Course with ProQual Level 3 Diploma and a range of short technical courses to trainee and practising land surveying professionals, mostly employer-sponsored.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Surveying Training and Education

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Architecture, Planning & Surveying (AIA, Planning, Land Surveyor CE) (EDAAALAG)

Keywords

• Land surveying training
• Geomatics education
• Survey technician courses
• Engineering surveying courses
• Professional surveyor development

Headquarters

HQ city

Worcester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Training Course Fees: The Survey School generates revenue through course fees for its training programmes. Fees are structured with tiered pricing for members vs non-members, with member companies receiving discounted rates. The school also offers the ProQual Level 3 Diploma alongside its courses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Survey School is a commercial training centre in Worcester, UK, that delivers professional land surveying education. Its core offering is the two-year TSA Surveying Course (delivered in six 2-week blocks) combined with the ProQual Level 3 Diploma in Engineering Surveying, alongside a portfolio of 1- to 5-day short courses covering GNSS, AutoCAD, Revit, Utility Mapping (PAS 128), GPR post-processing, Setting Out, Levelling, Total Stations, Terrestrial Laser Scanning, and Reality Capture. The school functions as the training arm of The Survey Association (TSA).

Product overview

The Survey School offers a portfolio of surveying training programs consisting of a primary 2-year TSA Surveying Course (delivered in 6 blocks over 18 months), combined with the ProQual Level 3 Diploma in Engineering Surveying. Alongside this core program, the school provides a range of technical short courses (2-5 days) covering specific surveying disciplines including AutoCAD for Surveying, AutoCAD Point Cloud Essentials, GNSS, Utility Mapping, GPR Post Processing, and Setting Out for Engineering Surveying. New modules on Terrestrial Laser Scanning have been introduced to keep pace with advancing technology. The school operates as the UK's only commercial survey training centre accredited by the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (CICES).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• TSA Surveying Course Two-year professional surveying training program delivered in six 2-week blocks over 18 months, covering topographical, measured buildings, utilities, and GIS, run alongside the ProQual Level 3 Diploma in Engineering Surveying. Designed for new entrants into the Geomatics profession or those with experience but no formal training.
• ProQual Level 3 Diploma in Engineering Surveying Professional qualification delivered alongside the TSA Surveying Course, recognised by CSCS and fulfilling CICES Technical membership and RICS Associate Membership requirements.
• Setting Out for Engineering Surveying 5-day advanced course for engineering graduates and construction professionals covering complex site setting-out principles, calculations, and practical applications using levels, total stations, and survey software.
• Utility Mapping Course 5-day course delivered in association with Sygma Solutions Ltd covering PAS 128 methodology, electromagnetic locating, Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) theory and operation, and practical utility detection techniques.
• GNSS Course 2-day course covering Global Navigation Satellite System technology including coordinate systems, kinematic surveys, static surveys, post-processing, and practical hands-on experience with Network RTK and site calibration.
• AutoCAD for Surveying 2-day course run in association with Technical BIM Studio covering AutoCAD fundamentals, survey data handling, topography digitization, working with backdrops, PDF imports, and documentation for geospatial professionals.
• AutoCAD Point Cloud Essentials 1-day course covering point cloud processing in AutoCAD, including data validation, manipulation, geometry extraction, and producing floor plans, elevations, and 2D drawings from point cloud data.
• GPR Post Processing (MALÅ users) 1-day course for MALÅ GPR users covering post-processing techniques, data filtering, hyperbola fitting, and export to CAD formats, with both theoretical classroom and practical site data collection components.
• Levelling – Surveying & Setting Out Short course on levelling techniques for surveying and setting out applications, scheduled at the Worcester training centre.
• Total Stations – Surveying & Setting Out Short course on total station operation for surveying and setting out applications.
• 5 Day Surveying Course 5-day introductory surveying course offering condensed exposure to core surveying topics, suitable for delegates seeking foundational training in a shorter format.
• Reality Capture – Revit Fundamentals Short course covering reality capture workflows and Revit fundamentals for measured survey modelling aimed at surveyors.
• Terrestrial Laser Scanning Module Newly introduced module within the TSA Surveying Course covering terrestrial laser scanning fundamentals using a manufacturer-neutral approach with Leica and Trimble practical workflows provided by industry partners.

Quantifiable outcome

• ProQual Level 3 Diploma in Engineering Surveying - eligible for £600 CITB grant for member companies
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Ordnance Survey Northern Ireland (OSNI)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 September 2025The Survey School partnered with OSNI to deliver a tailored 5-day training programme at their Craigavon facility. The course blended theory with practical exercises led by tutor David Bennett, refreshing and enhancing OSNI surveying professionals' skills.
• Natural Resources WalesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 September 2025The Survey School is working to foster collaborations between the school and government agencies, with 2 training courses being delivered for Natural Resources Wales in autumn 2025.
• KOREC GroupminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 June 2025KOREC Group and Trimble Geospatial generously sponsored an interactive smart screen for The Survey School's newly upgraded training room. KOREC also provides the Trimble practical workflow element for terrestrial laser scanning training.
• Trimble GeospatialminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 June 2025Trimble Geospatial generously sponsored an interactive smart screen for The Survey School. Provides the Trimble practical workflow element for terrestrial laser scanning modules.
• Leica GeosystemsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 June 2025Leica Geosystems generously sponsored an interactive smart screen for The Survey School. Adam Ball, a former trainer and tech support for Leica Geosystems for 15 years, now serves as Senior Tutor.
• Sygma Solutions LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 January 2025Sygma Solutions Ltd offers free utility mapping training for young people under 23 in partnership with The Survey School. Provides the 5-day TSA & CICES Approved PAS128 Utility Mapping Course at locations including Sygma's Wigan base and The Survey School in Worcester. Sygma also hosts GPR Post Processing training at their Hindley facility.
• Mid-Kent CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 September 2024Mid-Kent College participates in TSA's 'Teach the Teacher' initiative, welcoming lecturers to The Survey School in Worcester for TSA-funded levelling and total station courses to enhance delivery of the Level 3 Geospatial Survey Technician Apprenticeship.
• Riverside CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 September 2024Riverside College participated in the 'Teach the Teacher' initiative, with tutors attending TSA-funded levelling and total station courses at The Survey School in Worcester.
• Dudley CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 September 2024Dudley College participated in the 'Teach the Teacher' initiative, with tutors attending TSA-funded levelling and total station courses at The Survey School in Worcester.
• The Survey Association (TSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Survey School is run by The Survey Association (TSA) and is home to the TSA Surveying Course. TSA Council holds Vision Days and invests in survey training initiatives including Geospatial Apprenticeships. The school operates as the commercial training arm of the UK's professional surveying association.
• Technical BIM StudiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical BIM Studio partners with The Survey School to deliver AutoCAD and Revit training courses. The 2-day AutoCAD for Surveying course and the AutoCAD Point Cloud Essentials course are run in association with Technical BIM Studio.
• ProQualcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Survey School is an approved ProQual centre (2021/22). The TSA Surveying Course is run alongside the ProQual Level 3 Diploma in Engineering Surveying, providing successful candidates with a qualification recognised by CSCS.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• KOREC Group: KOREC is a UK Trimble and Leica distributor that runs its own customer training events and is an active GTM partner/sponsor of The Survey School (smart screen, terrestrial laser scanning workflow delivery).
• Leica Geosystems: Leica Geosystems is a major survey-equipment manufacturer that delivers manufacturer-led training on total stations, GNSS and laser scanning — overlapping topically with The Survey School's short courses and a current sponsor of the school's smart-screen facility.
• Topcon Positioning: Topcon Positioning is a global survey-instrument manufacturer offering its own training, certification and educational programmes that compete indirectly with The Survey School's equipment-specific short courses in GNSS, total stations and machine control.
• Trimble: Trimble is a leading survey-equipment vendor whose Trimble Geospatial division provides free or low-cost product training and academic programmes, and is a current sponsor of The Survey School's terrestrial laser scanning curriculum.
• Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (CICES): CICES is The Survey School's accreditor and the awarding body for the CICES Technical membership upgrade that the school's flagship course delivers; it is included as an adjacent/regulatory peer rather than a direct competitor.

Direct peers

• University of East London (UEL): UEL offers a BSc in Surveying and Mapping Science, producing graduates who enter the same CICES / RICS membership pipeline as The Survey School's graduates, and competing for the same pool of surveying-firm employer sponsorships.
• Leeds College of Building: Leeds College of Building is a vocational FE provider delivering construction and built-environment training including surveying-related programmes, and is the most direct further-education comparator to The Survey School's applied, hands-on training model.
• Sheffield Hallam University — Department of the Natural and Built Environment: Sheffield Hallam delivers surveying and built-environment degree and CPD pathways, including apprenticeship-aligned programmes, and competes with The Survey School for both self-funded students and employer-sponsored CPD buyers in the Yorkshire and Midlands regions.
• Nottingham Trent University (NTU) — School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment: NTU runs one of the UK's most established BSc (Hons) Surveying programmes and is a primary higher-education route into the land-surveying profession, directly overlapping with The Survey School's target audience of new entrants and junior practitioners seeking CICES / RICS-aligned training.

Broad incumbents

• Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS): RICS is the largest UK surveying professional body, offers its own CPD, qualifications and training products (including the AssocRICS pathway that The Survey School feeds into), and acts as both a partner and a broader competitive force in surveying education.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-survey-school

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 The Survey School