Thomson Environmental Consultants was founded with one clear mission – to enable businesses and nature to thrive together. Through consistent support from our clients, partners, and employees, we have grown into a multi-disciplinary, data-driven environmental consultancy that has stood strong for 21 years.
Through progress milestones, including our recent acquisition by Adler and Allan Limited, we sit proudly as a trusted partner on nationally significant infrastructure and environmental programmes. We want to take this opportunity to reflect on an amazing two decades and celebrate everything we have achieved.
Navigating Change at Thomson
Throughout our 21 years in business, we’ve faced many challenges that have changed the way we work. One of the most consistent challenges has been ongoing regulatory change, as environmental legislation has evolved considerably, affecting how assessments are undertaken and how projects are delivered.
These changes have required us to adapt. An example is the introduction of district-level licensing for great crested newt surveys, which reduced the need for site-specific surveys in some areas but also introduced new licensing frameworks that clients needed support to navigate. Thomson moved alongside this change, making sure clients are guided through these changing requirements with clarity and confidence.
More recently, COVID hit us with a more unique challenge. Despite disruption across multiple industries, Thomson adapted its processes and operations to continue supporting clients in delivering nationally significant infrastructure projects.
Advances in technology have also reshaped the way environmental data is collected and used. Thomson has incorporated AI and machine learning for analysing large environmental datasets, helping clients achieve target outcomes that would not have been possible or cost-effective when the business first started trading.
We’ve also experienced some pivotal internal change. The retirement of our founder, Nancy Thomson, in 2024 marked a significant moment for Thomson. With a strong management team in place, the transition has allowed the business to continue building on its established reputation.
Pivotal Projects that Shaped Growth
Thomson’s growth is thanks to a series of major projects that have defined our expertise and capability.
In our first few years, large-scale great crested newt surveys on the Cambridge Guided Busway set the foundation for delivering complex ecological programmes. In 2007, this was followed by two large-scale projects that helped shape the way we work. The London Gateway port development became a long-term partnership, with Thomson continuing to provide ecological survey, mitigation and monitoring services across the site. An extensive survey project along the M4 corridor in South Wales, also delivered around the same time, demonstrated the ability to deploy large field teams effectively.
As Thomson grew, projects such as the Welborne garden village allowed us to further expand our capability and scale. The work we started for High Speed 2 in 2012 showcased our ability to operate at scale, sending large survey teams to collect high-quality data while also prioritising digital innovation. The use of an in-house automated quality assurance tool enabled efficient, on-time delivery of data to clients, setting a new standard at the time.
Through the late 2010s, ongoing involvement in major infrastructure projects and expansion into the energy sector supported our growth. Work on onshore elements of offshore wind developments, such as Dudgeon and Hornsea, highlighted increasing expertise in supporting the transition to renewable energy.
In 2021, our involvement in High Speed 2 grew to include major habitat creation and mitigation schemes, such as a large-scale ancient woodland translocation project. More recently, national habitat and soil monitoring programmes, delivered in partnership with Fera Science, have showcased Thomson’s ability to provide scientifically robust assessments at a large scale.
Our Key Milestones
Over 21 years, Thomson has grown in both size and capability. We have proudly expanded our geographic reach, developed new technical specialisms, and built long-standing relationships with clients across multiple sectors.
From expanding our offices in 2005 and winning the London Gateway Port in 2007, to winning the South Wales Valley Lines Electrification Project in 2012 and being awarded the Framework Contract for Network Rail in 2014, we have achieved an incredible amount.
The milestones that have defined us as a business are too in-depth to list here; please visit our Interactive Timeline to discover the full scope of our amazing journey.
How Have Industry Perceptions Changed?
Over the past 21 years, we’ve seen the role of an environmental consultancy shift significantly. Ecology and environmental services were historically seen as a necessary step to achieve compliance, and nothing more.
Today, clients are increasingly focused not only on meeting regulatory requirements but also on delivering positive environmental outcomes. The climate and nature crises have meant that business decisions now focus on biodiversity and sustainability.
Delivering projects that leave a positive environmental legacy is now expected as standard, which aligns closely with Thomson’s purpose to enable business and nature to thrive together, guiding how we support our clients.
Supporting Clients Through Industry Change
One thing that will never change about Thomson is that we only employ experts who are committed to growing with the industry and keeping up with updates and new challenges.
We actively engage with emerging legislation, working closely with regulators and monitoring policy developments as they move through the legislative process. This allows us to be proactive on upcoming changes and means we can keep our clients informed.
This proactivity also means we can build on our expertise and create resources to meet new challenges, ensuring we are prepared for any changes to development projects and have the internal knowledge and capacity to respond quickly.Keeping up to date is also important, as we pride ourselves on being thought leaders in the industry. Recently, our Director of Ecology, Gregor Neave, authored the BSI Flex 704 v1, showcasing our internal ability to understand and convey complex information.
A Culture Built on Strong Values
Our people are the heart of our success. From our first day, we have been guided by R.I.S.E values – Respect, Integrity, Support and Excellence – which actively support us when we collaborate with clients and approach challenges.
This strong culture is reflected within the team; we have employees who have been with Thomson for more than 18 years, and others returning to us after gaining experience elsewhere.
With a clear vision to be seen as the place to work, we continue to invest in training, development, wellbeing and recognition, ensuring that our people are supported to grow and succeed.
Championing Environmental Change
Our expertise goes far beyond project delivery. Members of the team are regularly called upon to act as expert witnesses at public inquiries, providing clear, evidence-based insight on complex environmental matters.
This further reflects the depth of technical knowledge within the business and our ability to communicate robust scientific conclusions. It also highlights the trust clients place in Thomson to support them in high-profile, challenging environments.
Looking Ahead at Future Opportunities
As the environmental sector continues to evolve, new challenges and opportunities are always emerging; some of the most significant being the implementation of the Planning and Infrastructure Act and the introduction of Environmental Delivery Plans.
These changes have the ability to transform how environmental outcomes are delivered, which will create new opportunities for funding and action. A hybrid approach seems the most likely, combining traditional survey and mitigation methods with new delivery frameworks.
Thomson is already engaged with these developments, working behind the scenes to ensure we best support clients as things evolve. By staying proactive and investing in capability, we’re well-positioned to navigate upcoming industry change.
Building on 21 Years of Impact
Everything we have achieved to this point has allowed us to build invaluable knowledge and relationships. We are grateful for every opportunity we’ve had over the past two decades, and know that all projects and milestones have shaped the business we are today.
As the focus on climate, biodiversity and sustainability continues to grow, the role of environmental consultancy will become even more important. We are committed to standing firm and supporting all clients in delivering projects that not only meet requirements but also create lasting positive impact.
Our past has allowed us to set a strong foundation. Our future will focus on building on that legacy and continuing to enable business and nature to thrive together.
Got a question for our specialists? Please get in touch, and we’d be happy to answer any questions you may have.
