• Trimble Catalyst
• Soarvo software
• KOREC consultancy
• …and Tony Fahey – a truly inspirational 82 year old

Tony Fahey on the aqua elliptica

Here at KOREC, we’re used to helping our customers deliver projects through innovative use of Trimble technology. But every now and then, a truly unusual request comes along that reminds us why we love what we do and why, behind the scenes, it’s not all about construction, surveying and engineering.

Earlier in the year, we were delighted to be invited by the UK’s largest dedicated surveying business, Survey Solutions, to play a key role in an inspirational world record attempt by a truly motivating 82-year-old, retired businessman, Tony Fahey.

His name may sound familiar because he was once one of the fastest powerboat racers in the world holding multiple records. It’s therefore brilliantly fitting that his latest record attempt is quite possibly the slowest of his life: a 24-hour “walk on water” challenge to raise money for the children’s charity Make-A-Wish UK. Instead of a thundering powerboat, Tony and his team are propelling a human-powered aqua elliptica – imagine a cross-trainer on water – around Sale Water Park near Manchester.

But how do you measure Tony and his team’s progress on water, and provide distance and time information for verification by the Guinness Book of Records?

Step forward KOREC’s Rob Partridge, and John Cartledge and Soarvo’s Paul Brodin.

The KOREC and Soarvo team, Rob Partridge, Paul Brodin and John Cartledge

What was needed

• Live GPS tracking of the aqua elliptical
• Accurate recording of a position every second, distance, speed, and timing
• An interactive public display so supporters could follow Tony’s progress in real time
• The verifiable data needed for official record ratification (Guinness World Records approval is currently underway)

The challenges

• The battery life of the proposed GPS positioning system was based on a full day’s work rather than the 24 hours required
• The system would have to be positioned on the craft away from all moving parts
• The Soarvo software would need to be customised to record the pinged positions every second rather than the usual every 15 minutes
•  

How it was done – collaboration!

• Trimble Catalyst is an incredibly easy to use GNSS system made up of a DA2 Trimble Receiver and a subscription based on accuracy, in this case centimetre positions were required. The system would be linked to a Trimble TDC600 data logger running the Soarvo software app which would ping positions
• Following extensive testing on dry land and then on the aqua elliptica by Rob and John, the perfect position was found to mount the system on a seat pole that had been left on the craft
• Meanwhile, John had calculated exactly what was needed battery wise to keep the system running for 24 hours. Three options were assessed and the ‘least intelligent’ selected so that it would not manage its own power and potentially turn itself off during the world record attempt
• Soarvo’s Paul Brodin customised the Soarvo software to record a bread trail every second rather than every 15 minutes
• This information would be transmitted to Soarvo running on a laptop at the edge of the water to provide live updates on positions and times
• A form was built to record the 86,400 points (every second for 24 hours)
• A back up system and battery were prepped

On the day

Following a couple of dry runs, the world record attempt began with Tony kicking off the first leg, completing an exhausting single continuous effort of 2 hours and 20 minutes, covering 5 miles – the longest single stint by any team member.

The rest of the challenge was completed as a relay by his family team who rotated in shifts through the night.

Soarvo software was used to update the public

From the land Rob and John tracked the system’s performance and both took turns in the rescue boat where they were pleased to report that the site of the system’s solid blue light and glow from the TDC600 screen provided reassurance that everything was working correctly.

Due to the low temperatures affecting the battery life, Rob and John disconnected the TDC600 from this source letting it run on its own internal battery towards the end of the WR attempt.

Rob, Tony and John

Achieving the world record

Success! Four world records were successfully achieved by Tony and the team and a huge sigh of relief came from the KOREC crew who’d had a fun but definitely stressful time to ensure that every contingency had been planned for in Tony’s very special attempt.

• Walking on water for 2 hours (longest continuous duration)
• Walking on water for 5 miles (longest distance in one continuous go)
• Walking on water for 24 hours (full endurance duration)
• Over 100 km walking on water (total team distance: 104.97 km / ~65.2 miles)

Progress was broadcast live via Soarvo

Over £30k was raised for the charity and Tony is already planning his next challenge. Find out more on Instagram @toneyfaheyofficial.

Please do make a donation to Make-A-Wish UK via Tony’s JustGiving page.

Technical take-aways

Soarvo is highly customisable for powerful and specific tasks with just a small amount of configuration that most can do.

Trimble Catalyst is extremely reliable and performs way beyond its price point functioning for 24 hours with no glitches or crashes.

Tony’s motivation

Tony’s challenge follows a near-death, life-changing accident in February 2021, when he was struck by a car travelling at 50mph while out on his daily walk. He sustained severe injuries that required emergency surgery and 18 months of intensive rehabilitation.

The Charity:  Make-A-Wish

The challenge marks the first in a planned series of water speed and endurance record attempts, all designed to raise as much money as possible to help grant life-changing wishes for children living with critical illness. The charity is especially important to Tony:

“A few years ago, I met a young boy who was unwell. We talked about boats, record breaking speeds and my time on the water. He was fascinated by it all. I told him I wanted to help make one of his wishes come true.

I went back to see him again, hoping to take him with me on the water. I was an hour too late.

That moment has stayed with me ever since.

Make-A-Wish® UK helps create life-changing wishes for children living with critical illness, giving them and their families moments of joy, hope and precious memories when they’re needed most. Supporting this charity is very personal to me, and it’s at the heart of everything I’m doing now.”

Good luck in your future challenges Tony!

As a result of their recent successful integration into Cansel Group, KOREC Group and Survey Solutions Group (SSG) are pleased to announce that both companies are now authorised Propeller distributors covering the UK, Scotland and Ireland.

The two companies will sell and support Propeller’s leading cloud-based platform for drone mapping, 3D site analytics and earthworks management.

KOREC and SSG customers will have a proven solution for processing and analysing drone data across a range of applications including surveying, mapping, construction, housebuilding, aggregates, mining and waste management. The Propeller distributorship will also enable KOREC and SSG to expand into the BYOD (bring your own data) market.

Compatible with all the major UAVs sold by both KOREC and SSG, Propeller can also be fully integrated into the Trimble eco-system via the Trimble Connect common data environment.  

Benoit Mallen, President UK and Ireland, Cansel Group said:

“At Cansel, with KOREC Group and Survey Solutions Group now fully integrated, we’re committed to delivering user-friendly field-to-finish workflows. The Propeller agreement brings their leading cloud-based drone mapping, 3D analytics, and earthworks platform to customers across the UK, Scotland, and Ireland enabling faster, more actionable insights from drone data in surveying, construction, aggregates, mining, waste management, and more.”

Sam Long, Account Executive, Propeller Aero said:

“We’re excited to welcome KOREC and SSG as new distributions for Propeller Aero. KOREC and SSG have built an outstanding reputation within the geospatial industry, and their expertise and strong relationships across the sector make them a natural fit for Propeller. Since they already provide many of the survey-grade drones our customers rely on, this partnership makes it easier for surveyors to process drone data, reduce photogrammetry workloads and share accurate site insights with teams across the business. We’re really looking forward to bringing the Propeller platform to KOREC and SSG’s customers and helping them unlock the value of accurate aerial data and streamlined site workflows.”

For more information or to arrange a demonstration, please contact www.korecgroup.com/contact or www.surveysolutionsgroup.co.uk

Propeller will be attending KOREC’s upcoming UAV days in March and April with further dates in Scotland to be announced by SSG.

Download a PDF of the release here

About KOREC Group 

KOREC Group specialises in the provision of intuitive software and world lead positioning technology for the measurement, mapping and management of the natural and built environment. 

KOREC is the UK and Irish distributor for Trimble and operates nationwide out of offices in Huntingdon, Liverpool, Dublin and Craigavon (NI). .In December 2025, KOREC joined the Cansel Group, a respected leader in geospatial technology with established operations across Canada and North America.  www.canselgroup.com www.korecgroup.com

About Survey Solutions Group

Established in 1993, Survey Solutions Group provides high quality survey systems, for sale or hire, backed up by its service and repair centre, technical support and training service.

In 2001 it became the only authorised Trimble distributor in Scotland for all Geospatial solutions and in 2025 joined the Cansel Group, a respected leader in geospatial technology with established operations across Canada and North America. www.canselgroup.com http://www.surveysolutionsgroup.co.uk/

About Propeller

Propeller Aero is a leading global provider of cloud-based drone mapping, 3D site analytics and earthworks management solutions. Founded in 2014 in Sydney, the company has grown from a startup into a trusted industry player with offices in Denver, Manila, and Amsterdam. www.propelleraero.com

KOREC is delighted to announce that it has signed a reseller agreement with Terrasolid to sell the company’s software which is widely recognised as the industry standard for LiDAR and image data processing.

The agreement is for the UK and Ireland and covers the main Terrasolid product suite including TerraScan, TerraModeler, TerraPhoto, TerraMatch, TerraStereo and TerraBatch as well as UAV and Lite versions.

Developed specifically to meet the demanding requirements of geospatial, engineering, and environmental professionals, Terrasolid’s software provides the versatile tools needed to create everything from 3D vector models and feature extractions to orthophotos and advanced point cloud visualisations, regardless of data source or sensor.

This agreement reinforces KOREC’s position as a one-stop solution provider – hardware, software, and support & training – and enhances the company’s ability to deliver complete end-to-end workflows for 3D data capture, processing, and analysis.

“For 25 years Terrasolid has been the industry standard for processing LIDAR data from dynamic laser scanning solutions including Mobile Mapping, UAV, fixed wing, and handheld SLAM,” said Mark Reid, UK Sales Director at KOREC. “The software is agnostic and complements our existing portfolio to help customers efficiently process and extract value from their captured datasets with even greater accuracy and efficiency.”

“For Terrasolid, the partnership with KOREC represents strengthened access to a key geospatial market,” said Xabier Eraña, VP Sales at Terrasolid. “With KOREC’s deep reach into surveying, mapping and infrastructure sectors in the UK & Ireland, Terrasolid is better positioned to deliver its 3D reality-capture software to critical industry workflows.”

For more information or to arrange a demonstration, please visit www.korecgroup.com/contact

ENDS 

About KOREC Group 

KOREC Group specialises in the provision of intuitive software and world lead positioning technology for the measurement, mapping and management of the natural and built environment. 

KOREC is the UK and Irish distributor for Trimble (www.trimble.com) and operates nationwide out of offices in Huntingdon, Liverpool, Dublin and Craigavon (NI). www.korecgroup.com 

About Terrasolid

Terrasolid develops world-leading software solutions for processing 3D point clouds and imagery collected from airborne, mobile, and terrestrial sensors. Based in Finland, Terrasolid’s applications are trusted by mapping professionals and engineers in over 100 countries. www.terrasolid.com

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Discover TerraScan

TerraScan from Terrasolid is the industry standard for managing and processing point clouds – a reputation its held for over 25 years. TerraScan is the main app in the Terrasolid software suite, designed to make it easy for you to manage, process and visualise point cloud data. Deliverables include high quality classified point cloud data or vector data to be used in various engineering and maintenance applications.

Learn more

KOREC Group is pleased to announce that it has been appointed as the exclusive channel partner in the UK and Ireland for Exyn Technologies, a leading US specialist in autonomous robotics and data collection

KOREC’s focus will lie with the company’s latest 3D mapping solution, the recently released Exyn Nexys.  Modular in design, this system can be used as a handheld device as well as an attachment to a drone, ground robot, vehicle, or backpack.

The Nexys is equipped with a LiDAR scanner and Exyn’s proprietary SLAM algorithms, delivering exceptional capture speeds of up to 1.9 million scan points per second, alongside real-time point cloud colourisation.

The system can also navigate autonomously in GNSS-denied environments, featuring what Exyn defines as Autonomy Level 4 capabilities. At this level, drones and robots can explore and map unknown spaces completely independentlyeliminating the need for human intervention.

The introduction of the Nexys range, which includes both standard and Pro models, further strengthens KOREC’s portfolio of mobile mapping systems. This expansion ensures that KOREC continues to meet the growing demand for accurate, easily captured point cloud data with workflows relevant to the UK and Irish markets.

Additional Nexys features include direct export into Trimble Reality Cloud Platform Service (TRCPS), integration of Trimble GNSS solutions for precise georeferencing, adjustment to ground control meaning no drift, real time colourisation and advanced dust filtering.

Mark Poveda, Managing Director – UK & Ireland, KOREC Group said: 

“Exyn recognises KOREC as a trusted partner with decades of experience in delivering customer-focused solutions shaped by invaluable feedback. With our strong mutual alignment with Trimble, this partnership is a perfect fit, ensuring that Exyn’s cutting-edge US technology is introduced to the UK and Irish markets by a local expert who understands their customer’s real-world challenges faced on site every day.”

Brandon Torres Declet, CEO at Exyn Technologies said:

“We are thrilled to welcome KOREC Group as our first UK and Irish-based partner. Their commitment to empowering industries to measure, map, and manage the natural and built environment aligns perfectly with our mission. We’re excited to collaborate with a like-minded partner to bring Exyn’s cutting-edge autonomous technology to the UK market.”

About Exyn

Founded in 2014 with headquarters in Philadelphia, Exyn Technologies is pioneering autonomous aerial robot systems for complex, GNSS-denied environments. The company’s full-stack solution enables flexible deployment of single or multi-robots that can intelligently navigate and dynamically adapt to complex environments in real-time.

Download a PDF of this press release here

Nexys is a modular system and can be used as a handheld device as well as an attachment to a drone, ground robot, vehicle, or backpack

03/03/2025

Sam Hough, Construction Business Manager (UK), KOREC Group, reports from this year’s prestigious BITA (British and Irish Trading Alliance) Gala Ball and Awards Celebration

On Saturday 19^th October, I was delighted to join KOREC’s Group Leadership Team at the biggest event in the BITA (British and Irish Trading Alliance) calendar, the Gala Ball and Awards Celebration. Held bi-annually at a prestigious location in London, this year the Raffles Hotel, the event is a fabulous coming together of prominent figures in the construction, property, financial, and hospitality industry providing opportunities for networking whilst also supporting charitable causes. 

As one of the headline sponsors of the evening, it was an excellent opportunity for KOREC to connect with key figures across various industries such as Laing O’Rourke, John Sisk and Sons and Kelly Communications, and share the our ‘Measure, Map and Manage’ message with relation to the connected construction site, expanded on in the latest release of BITA’s publication ‘Networks’ with this piece below:  

Pictured above (left to right), Mark Poveda (Managing Director – UK & Ireland), Sam Hough (Construction Business Manager (UK), Mark Reid (UK Sales Director), Alan Browne (Executive Chairman) and John McGoey (CEO at ECC Group) 

Imagine a construction site powered by real-time data, a truly connected construction site enables a reduction in errors, the latest models are used for setting out, enhanced team collaboration, clearer communication, significant time and cost savings and increased project visibility. But how can that be achieved? 

It’s a widely published figure that the cost of construction rework is estimated to represent between 2% and 20% of total costs, according to the Construction Industry Institute (CII) (average of 12%). Whilst we’re never going to live in a perfect world, consider how significantly that figure could decrease if every team member – from finance and design to engineering, surveying, and construction – worked from a single source of easily accessible, up-to-date data, including models, schedules, and documents? 

Two Trimble solutions enable just that: 

Trimble Connect is a cloud-based platform that allows project teams to share, view, and coordinate on construction models and data in real time. With an emphasis on collaboration, it supports the entire lifecycle of a construction project by providing a space where stakeholders can review 3D models, 2D drawings, 3D laser scans and other project files. 

Trimble Viewpoint is a cloud-based construction management solution designed to integrate various aspects of a project, from accounting to project management, into one unified platform. 

Together, they provide a seamless flow of data between project management and project execution. 

Working with KOREC: Connected data in practice 

KOREC specialises in the development, and subsequent roll-out of field to office workflows (using Trimble Viewpoint and Trimble Connect) and the integration of all your Trimble measuring and surveying equipment. The latest Building Safety Act imposes stricter requirements for as-built documentation. Trimble Connect can assist here covering all setting out data irrespective of the sensor used whether a total station, laser scanner or augmented reality.  

A recent XYZ report, Constructing Tomorrow, states that the two main ways the industry is addressing errors and rework is through using advanced technology and equipment and better communication protocols, something that we are seeing increasingly backed up by KOREC customers, for example:  

Mercury Engineering enhanced communication, minimised model errors and saved time across global teams by using Trimble’s XR10 mixed reality headset technology. The XR10 enabled the creation of sharable videos and images for a large-scale, three-floor data centre project, allowing the team to quickly identify potential issues and efficiently collaborate with remote members, who were often in different countries. 

Walsh Steel Detailing (WSD) saved invaluable time on a recent large project using a Trimble X7 laser scanner and the XR10 mixed reality headset. Trimble Connect allowed for the seamless sharing of 3D models and real-time data, enabling remote and on-site teams to identify issues, ensure model accuracy, and collaborate efficiently, reducing errors and improving project delivery. 

The team felt that the two technologies complimented each other perfectly with the X7 allowing WSD to bring the site to their office so they could model around it whilst the XR10 allowed them to verify the model on site and gain total client confidence in the work they were doing before any material was cut. 

Laing O’Rourke used Trimble’s Connect AR augmented reality app to give their building construction workers even greater accessibility to 3D models in the field. The app runs on tablets and smartphones and via QR markers allows for easy positioning of 3D models whilst on the job site. 

Trimble Connect AR has been designed to revolutionise QA/QC workflows through the viewing of digital models at 1:1 scale onsite and in context. This enables the Laing O’Rourke project team to validate the build, observe omissions, and visually collaborate to resolve issues. 

They recently used the system on the prestigious Whiteley redevelopment in London. The versatility of the system was proved by positive feedback from three different teams, MEP, Structural and Design Engineering. 

What next? 

Trimble Viewpoint, Trimble Connect, and Trimble’s construction measurement portfolio are revolutionising the construction industry by enhancing efficiency, collaboration, and visibility. As technology advances, these platforms will be essential for the success of construction projects.  

The construction team at KOREC is dedicated to empowering our customers to develop workflows that fully utilise these transformative tools. 

Trimble’s innovative technology is paving the way for more efficient and accurate building processes. Let’s build better together! 

• Contact us on UK: 0345 603 1214 and IRE: 014564 702 

• Follow Sam Hough on LinkedIn 

• Visit www.korecgroup.com or www.facebook.com/TrimbleConstructionByKOREC 

Europe’s largest maize maze is back and it’s even better than last year, all set out with some special assistance from a KOREC supplied Trimble TDC650 handheld GNSS.

If there’s one thing that we can rely on from Tom Pearcy, Maze Master at York Maze, it’s a fantastic theme for this annual attraction. Over the years, we’ve been delighted to help him out with the loan of various high-accuracy Trimble GPS systems for setting out the intricated designs. Our favourite? Well, it’s a toss-up between ‘40 years of Star Wars’ and ‘90 years of Lego play’.

So, what have we got for this year? Here’s a clue:

I’m the scariest creature in the deep dark wood, with my terrible tusks and my terrible claws!

Yes, the theme for 2024 is 25 years of The Gruffalo, and as ever it covers over 5km of pathways cut into the 15-acre field. Tom chose the theme because “…I used to love reading The Gruffalo to my children, it is something that appeals to grown-ups too. My design celebrating 25 Years of The Gruffalo has been cut out using Trimble GPS technology supplied by KOREC to plot the pathways. It is nerve-wracking because I can’t tell if I’ve made a mistake and put a path in the wrong place until July when the maize plants are fully grown and the final image is revealed.”

A couple of years ago, Tom revealed exactly how the maize magic happens and why the Trimble TDC650 is helpful.         

“We’ve come a long way since our first creation in 2002. Back then our mazes were based on just lines and circles drawn onto graph paper and in the field, we used sticks and strings to set out the design, a time-consuming exercise which could take two weeks or more.

Today the process is much more straightforward. Our theme is designed in a basic drawing package and then uploaded onto our Trimble handheld GNSS. We then go out into the maize field and effectively create the biggest dot to dot in the world!

Using the map on the handheld, I plot out the design amongst the 6” high maize plants, marking the points as I go, whilst a cultivator follows on behind.

The TDC650 has been great for mapping out the maze, it holds its accuracy all day long, and it didn’t lose its connection for the whole time we used it, something the previous models could be prone to. The accuracy allows us to create ever more complex mazes, that look truly amazing from the sky!”

York Maze is open for visitors to explore from Saturday 15 July to Monday 2 September 2024 when the crop will be harvested. Book tickets here.

If you’d like to learn more about the Trimble mapping systems, call our KOREC Mapping Team on UK: +44 (0) 345 603 1214 or Ireland +353 (0) 1456 4702

By following all the industry guidelines, nationwide survey company Survey Solutions is sending out a strong message to equipment thieves: ‘If you steal from us, we will pursue every angle to reclaim that instrument.’ The result is a Trimble S5 Total Station tracked and recovered from Poland.

Whilst survey equipment theft remains rife as recently reported by The Survey Association in one of its regular updates, on a more encouraging front, an instrument stolen from Survey Solutions has been reclaimed from Warsaw in Poland.

For Survey Solutions’ Survey Manager, Reece Maycey, the tracking and recovery of this instrument has proved to be a satisfying experience and one that throws some light on what happens when a piece of equipment is stolen:

“Our company has experienced instrument theft in the past and we have several cases currently under investigation. However, this time, our efforts have led to a successful outcome and the experience of dealing with the relevant parties in the recovery of the instrument have been extremely positive starting with a receptive response from the local police through to the help we’ve received from TSA, DeterTech and the UK Police Task Force that deals with construction and agricultural equipment theft.”

Whilst Survey Solutions protects its equipment in a number of ways (including the use of Trimble’s Sentinel real-time device tracking solution and padlocks and cables) and ensures that all its surveyors are aware that remaining safe during a theft is the number one priority, inevitably incidents still occur. In this case, the KOREC supplied Trimble S5 Total Station was stolen from the roadside in a quiet dead-end street in East London whilst the surveyors were 50-60m away.

The local police were immediately alerted and at the same time, Reece used the Trimble Sentinel app to track the instrument’s movement in real-time. The tracking positions led to a nearby block of flats and although the police were on the scene promptly, it was impossible to pinpoint which flat the instrument was stored in.

Significant progress

However, three weeks later, the signal became active again allowing Reece to track its movement around the Warsaw area and at this stage significant progress was made. Through TSA, Survey Solutions were put in touch with the intelligence-led security solutions company DeterTech (formerly SmartWater), who work in alliance with TSA to coordinate a response to thieves who persistently target surveyors.

Reece was able to provide DeterTech with full details on the instrument, its serial number, type etc to identify it along with real-time positions in Warsaw where its frequent movement indicated it was being used on regular surveys in the area. DeterTech worked in conjunction with a police officer on the UK task force specialising in organised crime of the theft of construction and agricultural equipment who liaised with police in Poland.

The instrument was recovered by Polish police and is now in the possession of Survey Solutions’ insurance company.

For Reece Maycey, the success of this recovery underlines how important it is to collaborate with industry partners to provide the information that enables not just the recovery of instruments but the avoidance of theft in the first place. This can be assisted through the sharing of information and vigilant business practices that include being alert to unusual vehicle behaviour around a site and being prepared to bring in security in ‘hot spot’ theft areas that can be identified with TSA information.

TSA advice on keeping your equipment safe

About Sentinel: Protect your Trimble Total Stations in the field:

• Trimble Sentinel is app based. If your instrument is stolen, it can be tracked immediately from the field.
• Trimble Sentinel uses the 4G network and locations can be pinged via any available mobile network
• Trimble Sentinel is retro fitted inside the Trimble Total Station and cannot ‘just be taken off’. It also has its own internal battery – charged during general instrument use, it will continue to ping signals for a period of time. In the event of a theft, call KOREC and we will talk you through best practice to ensure you can track this signal for as long as possible.

        T.R.U.S.T. KOREC

Sentinel is available as an after-market add-on for Trimble S Series and C5 instruments. Its usefulness goes far beyond retrieving missing instruments. It can help you find teams in the field at any given time. It also contains a G-force sensor that sends alerts to users to check instruments for calibration errors or damage when they’ve been dropped or have endured a rough ride…And remember, the Sentinel tracking module is installed inside the total station by KOREC, an authorised Trimble Service Provider.

Download the Sentinel PDF here

For more information on Sentinel, please call your regional KOREC consultant or contact us here.

KOREC is proud to announce that we support both serving and former military personnel – by signing up to the Armed Forces Covenant.

Established over a decade ago by the UK Government, the Covenant is a pledge from the nation to our armed forces, that they will be respected, supported and treated fairly.

We’re in good company – joining over 10,000 other businesses and organisations of all sizes who have pledged their support.

KOREC has an existing military connection through one of our own –Philip McCarten, who joined KOREC in 2020 as a member of our geospatial technical support team.

Prior to this, Phil was a member of the 42 Engineer Regiment (Geographic) as a Field Surveyor and Geographic Technician for almost a quarter of a century. The specialist unit is made up of both regulars and reservists, and provides geographic information, survey capabilities and mapping products for the Armed Forces. During his time in the unit, Phil travelled the globe conducting surveys, training and advising personnel in all manner of geographic matters. He even won the prestigious Queen’s Commendation for Bravery for his actions in West Africa in 1998.

Of the news that KOREC has signed up to the Covenant, Phil said;

“I’m delighted that KOREC have signed up, and wanted to say thanks and well done. KOREC is a great place to work and emulates the same values that are at the core of the Armed Forces. I am looking forward to seeing how we, as an organization, implement the covenant in our day to day working, especially as our Huntingdon office is only 3 miles away from my old regiment’s base!”

What is the Covenant?

The Covenant supports current serving members, reservists, veterans, family members, and those who have been injured during their service lifetime.

For reservists in particular, the pledge allows them to balance their civilian work with their Armed Forces role – by providing additional paid leave for them to complete necessary training.

The Covenant opens up a wide variety of support, including;

• Help with purchasing a home
• Enhanced access to physical and mental healthcare
• Financial advice and support
• Support for Veterans via Veterans UK

Discover more about the Armed Forces Covenant, including the complete list of pledging organisations, via their website; https://www.armedforcescovenant.gov.uk/

We are delighted to share that we have been awarded the prestigious Investors In People & Investors In Wellbeing accreditation – with over 96% of employees agreeing that KOREC is a great place to work!

Launched 30 years ago, the Investors in People programme certifies organisations that perform against a wide range of criteria – including workplace culture, employee engagement, leadership, communication and working practices.

More recently, in 2019, they added the Investors in Wellbeing initiative – which measures an organisation’s commitment to physical & mental wellbeing.

Following a series of employee surveys and focus groups at the latter end of 2022, we were delighted to receive our accreditation at the first time of asking.

The report highlights a high level of satisfaction and engagement across the board – with our people feeling supported, appreciated – and that their achievements are recognised and their ideas listened to.

Amongst the top headlines, over 95% of our colleagues agreed that they felt supported by their manager, and that they trust the leaders of KOREC. Considering the KOREC Values  (to be happy, profitable & respected) – we were also delighted to learn that 95% of colleagues agree that we have created a culture where everyone feels respected.

Feeling good – inside and out

Our Wellbeing report also makes for very positive reading – confirming that we have ‘a clear and effective commitment to consider and protect the wellbeing of staff’.

We recognise the importance of maintaining robust physical and mental health – and have a wealth of resources in place to support this. These include our 5-strong Mental Health First Aid team, regular physical challenges, our two yearly parties, our provision of the Plumm mental health portal, an annual Wellbeing Survey, and in-person Wellness Days.

It’s a delight to hear that these initiatives are paying dividends – with several people commenting that ‘the corporate approach to wellbeing is one of the key things that will keep them working for KOREC’.

Despite all the positive news, we’re not resting on our laurels. We’ve committed to the 3-year accreditation, which means we’ll continue to work on improving the standard of life at KOREC – so that we can make it an even better place to work, for all our people.

We’d like to take this opportunity to thank all our colleagues who took part in the surveys and focus groups.

Why not join in the fun?

99% of our colleagues agree that their work is interesting – so, if you’re looking for a new role within a welcoming, nurturing, exciting and supportive environment – why not check out our Careers page?

The super deduction tax relief scheme in the UK is coming to an end soon. So, if you’re planning to upgrade your tools of the trade, now would be an excellent time to do so. Read on to discover how the scheme works, who’s eligible, and how much you can claim…

What is the Super Deduction?

Announced by then-Chancellor Rishi Sunak back in the 2021 budget, the super deduction scheme was established to boost investment, productivity and efficiency for UK businesses – especially after the hardship of 2020.

The scheme offers companies the rare opportunity to claim 130% tax relief on new plant and machinery, purchased before 31st March 2023.

Put another way, for every £1 you spend, your taxes are cut by up to 25p.

So, how does it work?

The scheme allows you to claim 130% tax relief on assets purchased before 31st March 2023.

Let’s look at an example.

Let’s say you purchase new kit at a total cost of £100,000.

In that accounting year, you can claim 130% of that figure (i.e. £130,000) from your taxable profits.

Applying 19% corporation tax to that £130,000 figure gives you a tax saving of £24,700

The table below provides a comparison of the Super Deduction with the previous system – as you can see, the tax saving is more than doubled in this example.

*AIA, Annual Investment Allowance, ended December 2021 **WDAs, Writing Down Allowances

What equipment is included?

HM Treasury defines ‘plant and machinery’ as tangible assets that you use in the course of your business – aka, the tools of your trade.

They do not provide an exhaustive list, but examples of these types of assets include;

• Tools such as ladders and drills
• Construction equipment such as excavators, compactors and bulldozers
• Machines such as computers, printers, lathes and planers

In order to qualify, the kit you purchase must be;

• New and unused
• Purchased – not leased
• Not a gift
• Not to be purchased to lease to someone else

Of course, investing in new equipment isn’t just good for your tax affairs – it’s good for productivity too.

Just take a look at this recent example from Casterbridge Land Surveys – after investing in the R12i GNSS solution, they’re experiencing efficiency gains of 30-50% – put another way, they’re saving up to 3 hours – each and every day.

So, if you were looking to invest in some new kit, it’d be well worth making the investment before the 31st March deadline.

Why not complete the form below, for a call back from our friendly team?

Who's eligible?

There are some basic eligibility requirements to qualify for the scheme;

• You incurred the expenditure before 1st April 2023
• You must be a UK registered company, that is subject to corporation tax
• You did not buy the plant or machinery due to a contract you entered into before 3rd March 2021

If you're a sole trader, you can't use the Super Deduction scheme, but there is a simpler scheme you can take advantage of - find out more about this scheme, here

What else do I need to know?

For more information on how the Super Deduction scheme works, take a look at the gov.uk site on Super Deduction - via this link

All information on this page was correct at time of publication - 13 February 2023

Please note that the Super Deduction scheme is only available to UK companies - businesses should consult their professional tax adviser for full details of the scheme