My name is Toby Forster, and I am just completing my first year of A level studies at Simon Balle School in Hertford. I have spent this week doing work experience at GEA’s main office in Ware, Hertfordshire.

My name is Olivia Houghton and I am currently a one-year placement student at GEA, based in their head office in Ware, Hertfordshire. The placement is part of the Industrial Bursary Scheme which I got through studying Engineering Geology and Geotechnics at the University of Portsmouth.

The London District Surveyors Association (LDSA) has announced publication of a new version of its design document for piles in London Clay which is widely used by building control across the capital’s 32 boroughs.

At the start of 2003, Tony Blair was Prime Minister and was yet to have his Iraq problem, Girls Aloud had the No 1 single, London had no congestion charge, and Geotechnical & Environmental Associates (GEA) Limited started trading.