There is a lot of social media focus on Soilfix and the projects that we are working on, but none of this would be possible without our valued employees.

From pumping injection wells in the cold to recording waste tickets from the comfort of a warm office, every employee plays a vital and valuable role.

The ‘Employee Spotlight’ series introduces you to our staff and in turn, gives a round of literary applause to each.

We kick off this series on the first of December with Ed Smith who is our newly appointed Graduate Remediation Engineer.

Name: Ed Smith

Job Title: Graduate Remediation Engineer

1. Briefly describe how you spend your day
   I am lucky at Soilfix because each project requires different things. On the day to day, I assist the project managers and oversee all the active site works such as drilling, fluid injection and excavations. Depending on the project I could be dipping and interpreting borehole data or supervising geotechnical testing of engineered piling mats on groundworks projects. I regularly do soil and surface water sampling and organise and interpret laboratory testing results to ensure that soils are not contaminated and that we minimise the environmental impact of our site works.
2. What is the best thing about your job?
   I really enjoy not being stuck behind a desk. I get to spend most of my week out on several different sites. It keeps every day new and fresh.
3. What is the best thing about working for Soilfix?
   The different types of projects that Soilfix are involved in. These range from large scale groundworks projects to smaller scale in-situ groundwater treatment and monitoring. These require different skills and the application of a wide knowledge area from civil engineering to contaminant transport and hydrogeology.
4. Proudest moment so far working for Soilfix?
   Channelling my inner racer and winning the office go-karting trip!
5. What do you like to do outside of work?
   I’m quite an active person and enjoy lots of sports. Before lockdown 2.0 I was spending quite a lot of time on the golf course.  At the weekends I love to take my dogs on either long walks or down to the beach. I’m also a real foodie and love attempting to cook, whether the end result is successful or not!
6. What inspires you?
   I want to have a positive impact on the environment. I am passionate about climate change mitigation and want to work to create a better future for the whole earth system.
7. Fill in the blank: I once met ….
   Kenny Dalglish. I was on holiday in Spain and had to jump-start his car at a petrol station!
8. If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?
   I’d love to learn how to scuba dive. It would be amazing to get the opportunity to dive on a pristine and healthy section of coral reef.
9. What’s your Monday morning ‘motivational shower song’?
   It’s got to be Mr Brightside, The Killers
10. What are five words (or less) of advice for others in your profession?
    Get stuck in.