Kirsty's Story

What is your Business?

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I offer ecological surveying and analysis services to ecological consultancy firms and GIS services to a wide clientele. The results from my surveying and analyses are
usually used in reports for development applications. However, I have created GIS models for a variety of products, including habitat maps and, more recently, for website installation.

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How did you get started?

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During my undergraduate degree, I enquired with local ecological consultancy firms if they required any assistance with the upcoming survey season. I worked with two
consultancies in the first year, conducting bat emergence and transect surveys. As I learnt more through this work and my studies, the services I could provide grew, expanding into analysing bat data post-survey and then using GIS. My clientele expanded through networking and word of mouth, with consultancies discussing projects and recommending my services; this has expanded my business over the last few years.

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How did you hear about SWEF?

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The research on small business start-ups help led me to SWEF, the grant and the support would allow me to expand my business (with my main goal at the time to expand my peak time from just the ecological survey period). I applied for the funding to gain qualifications and programmes to help me increase my services.

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How did the grant help your business?

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Through the grant, I have been able to expand the services I can offer, including passing my tree climbing and aerial rescue qualification, allowing me to implement
probes and cameras in trees for surveying. This will also help when I have gained my Bat Licence. In addition to paying for programmes to complete bat aquatic analysis, a skill I have been learning through winter and am offering for this survey season. The tree climbing course, being in the arboriculture industry, has expanded
my contacts, allowing me to expand the business into habitat management, including hedge planting and laying. This has allowed me to create another period of work during tree season (Autumn/Winter).

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How have you seen your finances change?

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Due to habitat management's introduction, I have increased cash flow throughout the year. Previously, my busy period was Spring/Summer due to species cycles, meaning winter was a low period. The expansions of services I now supply coming into this survey season have also allowed me to expand my clientele for the
upcoming season, which in turn should increase my revenue for this upcoming year.

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How else would you have funded this?

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Without the funding, the required funds would have to be accrued through business profits. This would have delayed my training and lengthened the time before I could
expand the business and services offered. This would have led to lower cash flow, meaning I would have likely needed a different job over winter to subsidise my income.

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Where do you see your business in a year?

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I am currently working towards my Bat Species Licence and CIEEM accreditation. In addition, I am planning on taking my FISC later in the year. These would allow me to become an ecological consultant and take on clients directly.

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