Ten years ago, the plan was simple.
Founder Andrew Russell wanted to create an efficient reporting solution that could handle the huge amounts of data captured on every structural survey, quickly and accurately.
At the same time, he knew his customers valued speed. So, he used technology to deliver something special: high-quality, well-presented reports, guaranteed to land on their desk the very next working day.
The bonus? It gave Andrew plenty of time to devote to his passion for hill walking in the afternoons.
What happened next took everyone by surprise, including Andrew. The idea took off like wildfire. Demand for his unique, tech-enabled service grew exponentially, and before long, he hired his first team member and moved into an office at the Innovation Centre in Daresbury – the perfect home for a business built on innovation.
By consistently delivering a superior service, Andrew earned strong repeat business through word-of-mouth recommendations, and the highly scalable model meant growth quickly followed. He began working with several major loss adjusting firms, expanded into building design and engineering, and soon employed teams of professionals across the UK.
What started as a one-man band with semi-retirement in mind rapidly grew into a professional team of 22 surveyors and engineers.
Then, in 2022, QuestGates, already a major client working with Structural Surveys on high volumes of work, approached Andrew about acquiring the business. The cultural fit was obvious, and the stars aligned. The acquisition completed in May 2022, bringing the surveying expertise in-house as part of the QuestGates group.
So, what’s next for Structural Surveys in 2026 and beyond?
It’s still all about the technology roadmap and further growth. The team is working closely with long-term tech partner Go Report to develop exciting new AI enhancements to their bespoke platform. These include:
- AI-powered report reading
- Technical data to support faster, better decision-making
- Area-specific insights, for example: “In postcode X, there have been X tree root subsidence claims in the last X months”
- Trend analysis and probable causes of damage
After ten years of strong growth, continuous innovation, and a hugely successful operating model that keeps evolving to meet the needs of the insurance industry and beyond, the Structural Surveys team now stands at 35 strong, with Andrew still very much in the driving seat.
Which only leaves one important question… How’s that retirement plan going, Andrew?
Find out more about Structural Surveys here.
