Breaking Ground
Breaking Ground is the voice of the geotechnical industry, and is supported by Ground Engineering Magazine and The Ground Forum. Hosted by Steve Hadley, Chair of the Federation of Piling Specialists, the podcast covers a wide range of topics including sustainability, design, commerce and STEM. If you're in the industry - or if you're thinking of joining - there will be something here for you! To find out more about Ground Engineering Magazine, visit www.geplus.co.uk. To find out more about The Ground Forum, visit https://ground-forum.org.uk
Episodes
May 12, 2025 • 74 mins
In this episode of the Breaking Ground podcast, Steve Hadley and Ciaran Jennings are with Natalie Bews (Managing Director at Skelair International Ltd), discussing her journey in the geotechnical engineering sector. Natalie shares her early passion for geology, her career progression from an assistant geotechnical engineer to a business development role, and the importance of proactive marketing strategies in securing projects...
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March 28, 2025 • 47 mins
In this episode, Steve Hadley and Ciaran Jennings are discussing the journey into a Geotechnics career with some recent graduates from the Ground Forum undergraduate mentoring program discussing their journeys into the field of ground engineering. They share their educational backgrounds, experiences in the industry, and insights into the challenges and opportunities they face.
Hadley hosts the episode together wit...
Hadley hosts the episode together wit...
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November 25, 2024 • 73 mins
In this episode, Steve Hadley and Ciaran Jennings are discussing CFA piling, the potential of machine learning in the industry and the impact of regulations on pile design. They explore insights from a survey on AI's role in the piling industry and the future of automation in construction jobs.
Our guests on this podcast are John Hopkins (Project Manager, Expanded Piling Ltd) and John Chick (Former FPS Chair and Techni...
Our guests on this podcast are John Hopkins (Project Manager, Expanded Piling Ltd) and John Chick (Former FPS Chair and Techni...
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July 31, 2024 • 53 mins
In this episode, Steve Hadley and Ciaran Jennings are discussing one of our Ground Forum members, the Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining, also known as IOM3. Specifically, they focus on the Ground Engineering Subgroup (GES) of IOM3.
Our guests on this podcast are David Waring Senior Geotechnical Engineer at BP, Emily Wood who is Engineering Manager at BAM and Paul Skerry, the Director of Membership at I...
Our guests on this podcast are David Waring Senior Geotechnical Engineer at BP, Emily Wood who is Engineering Manager at BAM and Paul Skerry, the Director of Membership at I...
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June 6, 2024 • 64 mins
In this episode, Steve Hadley and Ciaran Jennings chat with Dr Paul Beetham of Nottingham Trent University, a Chartered Civil Engineer specialising in geotechnical design and ground improvement.
Hadley hosts the episode together with Federation of Piling Specialists (UK) and European Federation of Foundation Contractors secretary Ciaran Jennings.
Hadley hosts the episode together with Federation of Piling Specialists (UK) and European Federation of Foundation Contractors secretary Ciaran Jennings.
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April 26, 2024 • 47 mins
In this episode, Steve Hadley and Ciaran Jennings chat with Luisa Hendry, who you might know from the world of social media as the Scottish Geologist.
Hadley hosts the episode together with Federation of Piling Specialists (UK) and European Federation of Foundation Contractors secretary Ciaran Jennings.
Hadley hosts the episode together with Federation of Piling Specialists (UK) and European Federation of Foundation Contractors secretary Ciaran Jennings.
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January 29, 2024 • 56 mins
In this episode, Steve Hadley and his guests discuss social mobility and pathways into the ground engineering industry.
Hadley hosts the episode together with Federation of Piling Specialists (UK) and European Federation of Foundation Contractors secretary Ciaran Jennings.
They are joined by Ramboll design engineer Palak Shukla, Atkins Réalis senior geotechnical engineer Tony Bowerman, and Mott MacDonald senior g...
Hadley hosts the episode together with Federation of Piling Specialists (UK) and European Federation of Foundation Contractors secretary Ciaran Jennings.
They are joined by Ramboll design engineer Palak Shukla, Atkins Réalis senior geotechnical engineer Tony Bowerman, and Mott MacDonald senior g...
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December 18, 2023 • 43 mins
In this episode Steve Hadley meets Skevi Perdikou from Geofem. The company is a leader in the application of remote sensing and visualisation technology for monitoring infrastructure and geotechnical assets. This is becoming an increasingly important tool to use along with traditional and complex geotechnical models when assessing events such as dam, slope and cliff failures. Listen to hear more about the science behind these ...
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October 27, 2023 • 57 mins
Hock Liew and Javier Marti join Steve Hadley to explore the history and current implementation of the observational method in basement construction. They explain how better instrumentation and monitoring can help inform decision making that can save time and money, as well as managing risks to workers, the public and surrounding assets.
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September 19, 2023 • 73 mins
Dinesh Patel is a world renowned expert in geotechnical engineering. He has produced innovative solutions for landmark building projects and written papers that continue to be referenced decades after their release. Tune in and enjoy the second of two episodes exploring his career journey.
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August 12, 2023 • 80 mins
Dinesh Patel is a world renowned expert in geotechnical engineering. He has produced innovative solutions for landmark building projects and written papers that continue to be referenced decades after their release. Tune in and enjoy the first of two episodes exploring his career journey.
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June 21, 2023 • 71 mins
In this episode Steve Hadley is joined by Keller’s newly installed group sustainability manager Luke Deamer; sustainability expert and Russell and Dawson senior consultant Erica Russell; and Arup geotechnical and sustainability engineer Alice Berry, who is returning to the podcast.
We explain some of the terminology being used in discussions around carbon and look into how the ground engineering sector can t...
We explain some of the terminology being used in discussions around carbon and look into how the ground engineering sector can t...
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May 4, 2023 • 63 mins
LQM’s Paul Nathanail, Atkins' Carrie Rose, and Ian Evans from Arcadis join host Steve Hadley to discuss the topic of contaminated land.
The guests review some common sources of it, as well as methods of investigation and containment. The panel also provides insights into contamination within popular culture by referencing films such as Deepwater Horizon and Erin Brockovich.
If you would like to be fea...
The guests review some common sources of it, as well as methods of investigation and containment. The panel also provides insights into contamination within popular culture by referencing films such as Deepwater Horizon and Erin Brockovich.
If you would like to be fea...
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March 7, 2023 • 47 mins
In this episode of the podcast host Steve Hadley meets Carla Martín Clavé.
Carla, who moved to an engineering geologist role at Jacobs after completion of her PhD, won the prestigious Glossop Award in 2022 and gave a presentation on the role of engineering geology in the energy transition at the Engineering Group of the Geological Society’s Glossop evening.
The conversation covers the use of sal...
Carla, who moved to an engineering geologist role at Jacobs after completion of her PhD, won the prestigious Glossop Award in 2022 and gave a presentation on the role of engineering geology in the energy transition at the Engineering Group of the Geological Society’s Glossop evening.
The conversation covers the use of sal...
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January 16, 2023 • 50 mins
Host Steve Hadley is joined in this episode by Rebecca Penn of Balfour Beatty, Martin Griffin of Knight Piésold and Gary Evans from Plowman Craven to discuss neurodiversity.
The group explains some of the conditions, their experience of being neurodiverse and working in the construction industry, and how having a neurodiverse team can make your organisation more effective.
If you would like to be featured o...
The group explains some of the conditions, their experience of being neurodiverse and working in the construction industry, and how having a neurodiverse team can make your organisation more effective.
If you would like to be featured o...
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January 9, 2023 • 47 mins
In this episode Steve speaks to Alex Petty, a geotechnical engineer from the UK, now leading teams in Western Australia.
Alex talks about some of the exciting projects and unique geology in that part of the world. He explains how good geological knowledge can help provide clients with cost-effective solutions.
If you would like to be featured on the podcast - this call is especially to our overseas listener...
Alex talks about some of the exciting projects and unique geology in that part of the world. He explains how good geological knowledge can help provide clients with cost-effective solutions.
If you would like to be featured on the podcast - this call is especially to our overseas listener...
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November 29, 2022 • 43 mins
Tarmac geotechnical manager Katherine Evans has set up Bold as Brass, a new network for women in construction, quarrying and mining on LinkedIn.
It was created so that women could have a place to network and support each other. In addition, there is a group for allies, as all genders are responsible for culture change within the industry.
It was created so that women could have a place to network and support each other. In addition, there is a group for allies, as all genders are responsible for culture change within the industry.
“I wanted to give women a place they felt safe to discus...
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October 4, 2022 • 57 mins
In this episode of Breaking Ground, host Steve Hadley chats to Jim Williams who works for Historic England, which advises the government on the historic environment.
Williams helps to carry out Historic England’s mission to “champion heritage to improve people’s lives” by managing a team of science advisors across the country.
It is their job to help local authority archaeologists wi...
Williams helps to carry out Historic England’s mission to “champion heritage to improve people’s lives” by managing a team of science advisors across the country.
It is their job to help local authority archaeologists wi...
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July 6, 2022 • 62 mins
Steve Hadley meets Yuli (Chaido) Doulala-Rigby, Chief Engineer at Tensar. They talk about Yuli’s journey into geosynthetics, product types and applications. Yuli promotes geogrids as playing a key role in sustainable temporary and permanent works geotechnical solutions.
She also goes on to bust some myths about women in engineering and offers an inspirational tale for others to follow.
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June 14, 2022 • 41 mins
On this episode of Breaking Ground Steve Hadley chats to George Tuckwell, Director of Geosciences & Engineering at RSK, and Richard Pidcock, Joint Managing Director at Central Alliance, to talk about geophysics and the range of techniques available to ground engineers.
Steve admits that he has been more used to more conventional ground investigation techniques during his career, and of course this technol...
Steve admits that he has been more used to more conventional ground investigation techniques during his career, and of course this technol...
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