The AGS is a trade association, the twin focuses of which are the commercial and technical interests within the geotechnical and geo-environmental sector of the construction industry. It is a buoyant and very active organisation with 131members, with secretarial support based entirely on unpaid effort and input from our members.
Ken Marsh, the current chairman, says, “The majority of our members provide a technical service on a commercial basis to construction industry clients, e.g. central and local government, developers, utilities, transport etc. In addition, the AGS represents its members on technical committees, meetings and seminars and in commercial areas. It is consulted on many industry proposals and new initiatives, e.g. the Draft National Planning Policy Framework directive.”
Within the AGS there are a number of working groups; their titles indicate the area of interest, namely the Loss Prevention Working Group, Contaminated Land Working Group, Safety Working Group, Data Management Working Group, Laboratories Working Group and Business Practice Working Group. These working groups issue guidance, information sheets and alerts to the members and provide a forum to discuss common issues and offer a collective response to industry/sector proposals.
Recent publications have included The AGS Quick Start Guide to Contaminated Land Investigation; Loss Prevention Alert No 47 – Professional Indemnity Insurance Requirement under the NEC3 Professional Services Contract; Loss Prevention Alert No 48 – Insurance Cover for Environmental “Clean-up Costs”; and Risk Issues for Independent Geoprofessionals.
The AGS supports and strives for technical and efficiency improvements within the industry and therefore fully supports quality standards such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and UKAS accreditation for laboratories. It publishes ‘best practice’ documents for members and clients. In addition, members represent the AGS and, in turn, the industry at sector/industry committees, seminars, standards working groups (BSI/European standards) and support many initiatives that have become a key part of the way the industry operates, e.g. establishing the UK Register of Ground Engineering Professionals was a recent development fully supported by the AGS. Members receive newsletters and regular information updates and are invited to comment on new and/or changes to national standards (BS and EC).
The data format used across the industry for the electronic transfer of data was developed and issued by the AGS.
For further information please telephone 0208 658 8212 or visit www.ags.org.uk.
