We're the only ecology consultancy that will refund your money if you don't get planning based on our advice (terms apply)

Our Team

George Collier-Smith

What made you choose Arbtech?

When I started out in ecology after I finished my master’s In 2021, I worked as a subcontractor for Arbtech along with a few other consultancies.

From my first survey, I was treated like I had been a part of the team for years. Everyone was kind, friendly and approachable.

Unlike what I had experienced with other consultancies, everyone on the Arbtech team acted like I was their equal, and there were no hints or tones of professional hierarchy.

The environment created on every survey by the full-time Arbtechers was the main reason that I kept signing up for more surveys.

Nicole – who was the first person I met – took the time and effort to train me up as a surveyor when I had little to no previous experience, and she even took me to shadow some of her daytime surveys when she learned that I was considering getting into ecological consultancy.

She constantly went out of her way to help me, even though she had only met me a few months ago. The willingness to go out of their way to help others is something I have come to realise is a quality everyone at Arbtech has.

Over the season, I kept hearing everyone talking about what a great place it was to work, so when I learned that they were looking for graduate ecologists, I jumped at the chance to apply and, thankfully, was successful.

What do you love most about the company?

Firstly, the autonomy and control over my own schedule.

In a job and company that doesn’t have set start and end times for the working day – especially during bat season – the flexibility that this brings allows me to be a productive member of the company while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

At Arbtech, we don’t have timesheets – just a monthly and annual billing target which depends on your salary and role. I personally find that my billing target acts as a healthy way to keep me motivated.

Secondly, it may sound cliché, but we really are a family.

Considering that we are spread out all over the country, the closeness and willingness of each and every one of the team – no matter their role or position in the company – to go out of their way to help one another, makes Arbtech a truly unique and rewarding place to work. The culture and environment at Arbtech are a true testament to our captain Rob and the type of qualities he values in a person.

Finally, Rob is the most generous person I have ever met.

The perks of working at Arbtech are second to none, and he brings us together as a group and motivates us to work even harder.

What do you do when you are not at Arbtech?

Outside of work, I like to keep myself as busy as possible.

Sport is a huge part of my life and has been since I was young.

I started rowing at university, and it is something that I have continued after graduating. Currently, I am a member of Broxbourne Rowing Club and my main goal for this season is to row at Henley Royal Regatta in the summer.

My friends and I also play football in a six-a-side league every week.

Music has been a big part of my life since I was in school. I have played the trumpet since I was eight years old and got my grade 8 when I was 16.

I have played in jazz and swing bands, concert bands, orchestras, and pit bands for musicals.

My grandad used to play me his old jazz and swing records when I was a child, which is where my love for music started!

What is your biggest tip to achieve the most in life?

Everyone is motivated by different things and works in different ways.

Find what makes you happy and give it your best – what’s the worst that can happen?

You don’t have to dedicate hours a day to something, but you’ll be surprised at what you can achieve by committing a little of your time a day to something you care about.

30 minutes a day adds up to a lot of time over a year!

What is the best social you’ve been on at Arbtech?

Austria 2023!

A week of skiing and Brazilian jiu-jitsu in the Austrian alps was the best way to start 2023.

It did not feel like a work trip – more like I was on holiday with a large group of friends.

Even though my phone is still somewhere on one of the mountains and I came home with more bumps and bruises than I can count, it was one of the best weeks I have ever had.

Not to mention it was all paid for! Just another example of Rob’s amazing generosity.

Additionally, we have an annual Christmas party every December in Chester. It’s always great to see everyone and enjoy dinner and drinks. This year, a number of us went out clubbing afterwards, which was great fun.

Where do you want to travel to next?

Thanks to our recent trip to Austria, I have caught the bug for snowboarding badly!

I am already planning my next boarding trip(s), and I would like to go and board in as many places as I can. The current shortlist includes – but is not limited to – Canada, Japan and France.

I am also massive foodie. Italy and Vietnam are two places that I would love to visit, not only because of their food, but I would be lying if I said that it wasn’t a major factor!

Where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time?

It’s a good question.

Professionally speaking, I am still relatively new to the field of ecology.

I am currently working hard to develop my knowledge and understanding of the field, which will in turn allow me to be a better ecologist.

To be more specific, In five years time, I would like to have my class two licence for bats and great crested newts and also have Improved my botany skills.

Personally, I just want to be happy. I would like to have a healthy work-life balance and still be enjoying the work that I do.

What is a goal you have for the future, in or out of work?

I have many goals for the future, both professionally and personally.

I am pretty new to the ecology industry, so a lot of my goals include building my knowledge, enhancing my experience and developing my skills to progress as an ecologist.

In the future, I would love to be better at snowboarding and start learning some ground and freestyle skills. I also aspire to qualify and race at Henley Royal Regatta.

In addition to that, in the next few years, I would like to have moved out of my parents’ house.

George joined Arbtech in October 2021.

Job Title

Consultant Ecologist

Qualifications

  • MSCi Hons Wild Animal Biology, Royal Veterinary College

Professional Experience

  • Ecology

Specialist Areas

  • Biology

Hobbies

    Rowing, Football and Music

More Arbtechers

Meet the other members of our leading ecology and arboriculture team.

Julia Clague-Robinson

Julia Clague-Robinson

Sales Manager
Scott Warren

Scott Warren

Finance Manager
Andy Ward

Andy Ward

Marketing Manager
Craig Williams

Craig Williams

Principal Ecologist & BNG Lead
Natalie Evans

Natalie Evans

Principal Ecologist & Bat Licence Lead
Jonathan Stuttard

Jonathan Stuttard

Principal Ecologist & Herpetofauna Lead
Nicole Gullan

Nicole Gullan

Senior Ecologist
Mel Reid

Mel Reid

Senior Ecologist
Josephine McCarthy

Josephine McCarthy

Senior Ecologist
Fay Brotherhood

Fay Brotherhood

Senior Ecologist
Elen Griffin

Elen Griffin

Consultant Ecologist
Beth Ellison-Perrett

Beth Ellison-Perrett

Senior Ecologist
James Fielding

James Fielding

Consultant Ecologist
Matthew Middle

Matthew Middle

Principal Arboriculturist & BS5837 Lead
Jon Hartley

Jon Hartley

Principal Arboriculturist & Employee Development Lead
Aran Nearn

Aran Nearn

Commerical Lead
Alan Thompson

Alan Thompson

Senior Arboriculturist
Matt Edwards

Matt Edwards

Senior Arboriculturist
Emily Kempson

Emily Kempson

Senior Arboriculturist
Jim Green

Jim Green

Consultant Arboriculturist
Charlie Moore

Charlie Moore

Consultant Arboriculturist
Chris Wren

Chris Wren

Consultant Arboriculturist
Clare Swinburn

Clare Swinburn

Office Manager
Sally Parry

Sally Parry

Senior Sales Advisor
Emma Gray

Emma Gray

Finance Administrator
Donna Swinburn

Donna Swinburn

Administrator
Charlotte Calvert

Charlotte Calvert

Administrator
Ann Balshaw

Ann Balshaw

Administrator
Chris Jarvis

Chris Jarvis

Finance Administrator
Rob Lambert

Rob Lambert

Editor
Gill Broad

Gill Broad

Editor
Harriet Paul

Harriet Paul

Finance Administrator
Hannah Bramley

Hannah Bramley

PA to Robert Oates
Alan Smith

Alan Smith

Consultant Arboriculturist
Michelle Huang

Michelle Huang

Consultant Ecologist
Josie Cooper

Josie Cooper

Consultant Ecologist
Annabel Sharpe

Annabel Sharpe

Consultant Ecologist
Dean Meadows

Dean Meadows

Principal Arboriculturist & Tree Risk Lead
Sally Hall

Sally Hall

Consultant Ecologist
Jessica Sibley

Jessica Sibley

Consultant Ecologist
Rhiannon Jensen-O’Brien

Rhiannon Jensen-O’Brien

Consultant Ecologist
Romany Poole

Romany Poole

Graduate Ecologist
Tom Ramm

Tom Ramm

Arboricultural Surveyor
Marlies Brenninkmeyer

Marlies Brenninkmeyer

Administrator
Abby Smith

Abby Smith

Administrator
Lyric Palmer

Lyric Palmer

Bat Survey Coordinator
Shaun Rowe

Shaun Rowe

Consultant Arboriculturist
Charlie Drapala

Charlie Drapala

Consultant Ecologist
Phil Gower

Phil Gower

Senior Arboriculturist
Rob Dennis

Rob Dennis

Arboricultural Surveyor
Olga Hermann

Olga Hermann

Ecological Surveyor
Jamie-Lee Anderson

Jamie-Lee Anderson

Consultant Ecologist
Chris Poplett

Chris Poplett

Arboricultural Surveyor
Anthony Jones

Anthony Jones

Consultant Arboriculturist
Fearghus Gage

Fearghus Gage

Senior Arboriculturist
Chantae Bleakman-Wells

Chantae Bleakman-Wells

Consultant Ecologist
Alexie Jenkins

Alexie Jenkins

Graduate Ecologist
Hannah Upshall

Hannah Upshall

Graduate Ecologist
Emma Platts

Emma Platts

Consultant Ecologist
Millie Holland

Millie Holland

Graduate Ecologist
Nick Smith

Nick Smith

Graduate Ecologist
Georgia Knight

Georgia Knight

Graduate Ecologist
Jeremy Grout

Jeremy Grout

Senior Ecologist
Maddy Carter

Maddy Carter

Consultant Ecologist
Kayleigh Davies

Kayleigh Davies

Graduate Ecologist
Anna Dolby

Anna Dolby

Graduate Ecologist
Georgina Rennie

Georgina Rennie

Consultant Ecologist
Tom Baron

Tom Baron

Senior Arboriculturist
Harley Stone

Harley Stone

Consultant Ecologist
Leah Cook

Leah Cook

Consultant Ecologist
Jade Lemm

Jade Lemm

Consultant Ecologist
Oliver Bevilacqua

Oliver Bevilacqua

Consultant Ecologist
Robbie MacKenzie

Robbie MacKenzie

Principal Ecologist
Jamie Bolton

Jamie Bolton

Finance Administrator
Annalea Moulton

Annalea Moulton

Administrator
Codie Schofield

Codie Schofield

Administrator
Abby Pidgen

Abby Pidgen

Graduate Ecologist
Kelly Clarke

Kelly Clarke

Consultant Ecologist
Matt Halligan

Matt Halligan

Intern and BERS Lead
Isla Beech

Isla Beech

Administrator
Kerris Taylor

Kerris Taylor

Graduate Ecologist
Madison Sellar

Madison Sellar

Graduate Ecologist
David Hill-Chambers

David Hill-Chambers

Graduate Ecologist
Carly Preen

Carly Preen

Graduate Ecologist
Katie Whitfield

Katie Whitfield

Graduate Ecologist & Junior QC Specialist
Harry Brindle

Harry Brindle

Graduate Ecologist
Emma Taylor

Emma Taylor

Graduate Ecologist & Junior QC Specialist
Nic Baxter

Nic Baxter

Graduate Ecologist
Amber Williams

Amber Williams

Graduate Ecologist
Arthur Mytum

Arthur Mytum

Graduate Ecologist
Phillip Wooding

Phillip Wooding

Graduate Ecologist
Vicki Breakell

Vicki Breakell

Graduate Ecologist
Harry Switala

Harry Switala

Graduate Ecologist
Callum Taylor

Callum Taylor

Senior Ecologist
Ben Duursma

Ben Duursma

Graduate Ecologist
Ashleigh Domblides

Ashleigh Domblides

Graduate Ecologist
Trystan Figuères

Trystan Figuères

Graduate Ecologist
Rachel Wick

Rachel Wick

Graduate Ecologist
Katie Belbin

Katie Belbin

Graduate Ecologist
Bethany Swain

Bethany Swain

Graduate Ecologist
Victoria Walters

Victoria Walters

Graduate Ecologist
Michelle Walding-Kelly

Michelle Walding-Kelly

Graduate Ecologist
Elodie Noyes-Gouan

Elodie Noyes-Gouan

Graduate Ecologist
Kat Aburrow

Kat Aburrow

Consultant Ecologist
Rhianna Trim

Rhianna Trim

Graduate Ecologist
Akash Barua

Akash Barua

Graduate Ecologist
Becks Gane

Becks Gane

Graduate Ecologist
Dan Crispin

Dan Crispin

Graduate Ecologist
Inez Daly

Inez Daly

Graduate Ecologist
Hayley Roberts

Hayley Roberts

Senior Ecologist
Anya White

Anya White

Consultant Ecologist
Zenobia Hatch

Zenobia Hatch

Consultant Ecologist

Are you sure you want to leave without a free quote?

Get a Quote

No thanks, I don't need a quote