SDL Surveying said that, despite the number of transactions being placed through all surveyors dropping by approximately 200k in 2020, it had increased its transaction numbers by over 50k.
As a result, and in order to improve its capacity, it had increased its number of in-house surveyors throughout the year from 87 to 106 and had grown its network surveyor firm numbers from 80 to over 100.
SDL said it will continue to recruit more internal and network surveyors in order to fill its capacity gaps and to improve service standards. Throughout December it has held a number of CPD sessions for its regional surveyors focused on 2021 and how it will continue to meet those standards
The greater volumes of business have also necessitated a number of changes within the business with promotions to new management roles and the creation of a number of new jobs specifically to support SDL’s field-based surveyors.
Adam Baker is promoted to field surveying director overseeing the existing team of regional surveyors, while three new regional managers have been promoted from the surveying field and SDL has announced it will be recruiting two additional managers.
Three members of the management team are also moving up to expanded roles – Rachel Griffiths now becomes head of operations – external, Ben Sharpe becomes head of operations – data and insight, and John Grieve becomes head of operations – internal. All three will work together to help develop the SDL Surveying Operation function and to ensure it is able to meet the challenges of the future.
Simon Jackson (pictured), managing director of SDL Surveying, said: “As we come to the end of 2020, we can reflect on a truly rollercoaster ride of a year. At the start we wanted to focus on steady growth across the business, but the nature of the pandemic, and particularly post-lockdown activity, has meant this has been anything but ‘steady’.
“Instead, our ability to hit the ground running in May and our focus on supporting our lender clients in maintaining their capacity for business, meant that instead of following the trend of the entire surveying sector and seeing transactions fall, we’ve seen a five-figure increase in activity.
“This is testament to the hard work of all involved, but it has also necessitated on ongoing focus on increasing capacity through recruitment, and ensuring we are fully on top of all operational challenges this presents.
“Because of this we’ve restructured internally, given a number of valued staff promotions and a wider remit, and we’re also recruiting, specifically to support our field-based surveyors.
“This has been an incredibly challenging year, but a very rewarding one, and with an excellent team in place, we now push forward with our plans and ambitions for 2021 and beyond.”
