Last week, Lankelma held our annual Training Week, bringing the team together for a mix of learning sessions, team-building activities, and a well-deserved celebration.
This year’s theme was “Back to Basics.” After more than 25 years of operations, we’ve accumulated a wealth of experience and expertise. The goal was to share that knowledge across the team, helping both our newest members and our most experienced staff continue to grow together.
Some of us revisited familiar topics, some got a little too hands-on with the dummies during the first aid course, and others had the chance to learn something completely new. The week was a great reminder that continuous improvement and shared knowledge are at the heart of what we do at Lankelma.
Of course, it wasn’t all work! We also enjoyed some friendly competition with an energetic laser tag match, congratulations to the Blue Team for their decisive victory! Red Team, we’re eagerly waiting for your comeback next year.
To wrap up the week, we gathered for a company dinner on Thursday, a relaxed evening focused on connecting with each other outside of work. The rule was simple: no work talk allowed, and anyone who slipped up had to take a shot! Special shoutout to Rob Bennett and Chris Clark, who may have had the most shots that night.
It was a fantastic week filled with learning, laughter, and stronger bonds. A big thank-you to everyone who participated and helped make it such a success.
Here’s to another year of teamwork, growth, and excellence at Lankelma!
Lankelma was proud to support The Lossenham Project, a community-led landscape research initiative that began in 2020. Focused on Lossenham and its surrounding hinterland—spanning 15 parishes across the Kent/Sussex border along the River Rother—the project aims to uncover the environmental and human history of this dynamic landscape over the past ten thousand years.
Reaching Deep into the Past
The Rother Valley holds deeply buried, waterlogged deposits that contain vital clues about environmental changes since the last Ice Age. Accessing these ancient layers requires specialist capability—an area where Lankelma’s expertise and advanced technology come to the forefront.
Using our MOSTAP sampling system, Lankelma successfully recovered samples from many metres below the surface, targeting ancient, organic-rich sediments. These samples have the potential to reveal well-preserved organic remains, which can be radiocarbon dated to build a refined chronology of how the valley’s environment has evolved over millennia.
Our Contribution
By combining geotechnical precision with archaeological sensitivity, Lankelma enabled researchers to reach and retrieve materials that would otherwise remain inaccessible. The information locked within these layers will play a key role in reconstructing past landscapes and understanding how communities adapted to their changing environment.
This project highlights Lankelma’s strength in delivering specialist investigations that go beyond traditional geotechnical work—supporting scientific discovery, heritage research, and environmental reconstruction with accuracy, care, and innovation.
How long have you been working at this company?
I’ve been with Lankelma for 18 “short” years, and it’s been an incredible journey so far.
What do you like about working here, and what have you learned during your time with the company?
What I love most about working here is the people. It really feels like a family—from the MD all the way to the cleaners. I even know everyone’s partners’ names, which says a lot about how close we all are. Over the years, I’ve learned that nothing ever goes exactly to plan. There’s always some last-minute breakdown, site cancellation, or health and safety issue. But with the right people around, anything can be solved, usually with a laugh and a smile.
What is life like as an operator?
Life as an operator can be tough but very rewarding. There are long days, often driving from site to site and working alone, but the experiences are worth it. CPT has taken me all over the world—from China and Congo to Oman, New Zealand, Finland, Sweden, and Canada. For me, it’s not just a job, it’s a lifestyle.
How is your experience as a Health & Safety Manager, and how does it compare to your previous role as an operator?
Some might say it’s a case of poacher turned gamekeeper, but for me, the move felt natural. With nearly two decades of fieldwork behind me, I feel I can really make a difference. Health and safety doesn’t need to be complicated—it should be the easiest part of what we do, something woven into our daily work rather than just paperwork.
How do you feel about being the longest-serving team member in the company?
It honestly feels like only yesterday I joined—though back then I had jet-black hair and a flat stomach! Some things change, but what hasn’t is how much I enjoy being part of the team. I take pride in having grown with the company and seeing how far we’ve come together.
Is there anything you’d like to share with the readers?
After all these years, I wouldn’t change a thing. It’s been a journey worth every mile.
Today, the Lankelma team is on the ground in Nantes, France, attending the International Symposium on Frontiers in Offshore Geotechnics (ISFOG 2024).
We’re proud to be part of this leading international event, pushing the boundaries of nearshore ground investigation and showcasing our latest equipment and expanded capabilities. It’s a fantastic opportunity to engage with industry leaders, share knowledge, and explore the future of offshore geotechnics.
If you’re attending ISFOG, be sure to stop by our stand — meet the team, have a chat about your next project, and don’t leave without picking up one of our coveted Lankelma mugs and a Lego CPT rig!
Sometimes, it’s necessary to push more than just cones into the ground.
As part of Lankelma’s ongoing green initiatives, our team braved the brisk UK winter to add another 150 trees to the growing woodland around our office, building on the 600 saplings previously planted.
In just a few short years, we hope these young trees will grow into a thriving forest, a green space that future generations of Lankelma staff can enjoy and take pride in.
It’s another step in our commitment to sustainability, biodiversity, and leaving a lasting positive impact on the environment we work in every day.
In 2024, from Cornwall to the Highlands, across the UK and internationally – and everywhere in between!
At Lankelma, we pride ourselves on being more than just a service provider – we’re trusted partners in delivering ground investigation and geotechnical solutions wherever they’re needed. Our reach extends far beyond regional boundaries, supporting projects across the UK and around the world.
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As part of our 25th anniversary celebrations, we’re excited to invite you to a special lecture at the University of Glasgow on 11 November 2024, featuring Professor Paul Mayne.
Join us for an insightful session on Geoparameter Evaluation Using the CPT, led by one of the foremost experts in the field.
More details and registration information coming soon — stay tuned!
We were excited to share that the CPT short course and demonstrations event, which we proudly collaborated on, got underway and went strong! It was fantastic to see so many participants join us alongside students from industry and other institutions, creating a lively and engaging learning experience.
At Lankelma, we were passionate about advancing ground investigation knowledge and proud to support this event by sharing our expertise and cutting-edge equipment.
Professional Learning Opportunity: Geotechnical Site Investigation Short Course and Lecture
Take advantage of this opportunity to learn from industry experts @Joeseph Hobbs, @Prof Richard Jardine and deepen your understanding of key geotechnical concepts!
To learn more and register, click on the following link:
𝐃𝐚𝐲 2: 𝐋𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐆𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 Date: Thursday, November 7, 2024 Register here – 👉 https://lnkd.in/edNu6nhc
