Inverclyde geotechnical business aims to provide training for local people

A family-run Inverclyde business is hiring and training young people in the field of ground investigation, after the business owners accessed specialist advice from Business Gateway.  

A & I Geotechnical offers a range of in-house services including trial pitting, dynamic sampling, cable percussion, technician services, surveying, site supervision, reporting and project management. 

The business was founded in 2016 by Ross Cameron and is still led by Ross and supported by his wife Maria. The team now has six team members and is looking to grow further. Four of these team members are young professionals who they have trained, including their two sons.  

One of the company’s goals is to provide jobs for young people and give them training in a field they may not have considered. This came from a lack of experienced people in the area, so Ross decided to begin hiring and training young people to teach them all about ground investigation, helping them work towards an NVQ in land drilling.

Though it is a small business, the team wants to give back to the local area by sponsoring events and sports teams, using local suppliers where possible, and only employing people in the Inverclyde area. 

When they approached Business Gateway, Ross and Maria met adviser Mario Alonzi, who has been able to provide advice on growing their business and guidance on how to apply for funding from a range of sources.  

Through this support, the couple has received wage-subsidy grants from Inverclyde Council and secured a place on the Inverclyde Business Growth Programme. 

Maria Cameron, director of A & I Geotechnical, said, “Mario has given us fantastic help and advice. With his support, we have managed to secure a grant for equipment that will help us expand the business and also secured a meeting with Scottish Enterprise. Mario has been a great help in continuing to grow the business and provide us with invaluable support.”

Mario Alonzi, Business Gateway adviser, added, “By helping Ross and Maria to grow their business and access funding, we have supported the hiring and training of people in the local community. I look forward to seeing how they continue to grow their business and give back to the area.”