MPG staff spotlight: Mark Smedley
Here at MPG, we’ve been taking great pride in the work we do within the waste, minerals, environmental, and town planning sectors for over 25 years.
And it’s thanks to our talented team of experts that it’s all possible – no matter how complex the project!
In a bid to get to know the people behind the brand, we’ve launched our employee Q&A series – so you can find out more about the MPG family.
Next up in the hot seat it’s our senior minerals, waste, and environmental consultant, Mark Smedley.
1) Summarise your role at MPG in one paragraph:
I’m a minerals, waste, and environmental consultant at Yorkshire-headquartered MPG, which means I’m responsible for making planning and permitting applications for minerals and waste sites.
Day to day, you’ll find me carrying out a whole host of tasks relating to quarry restoration design, quarrying and biodiversity, planning and permitting applications, environmental protection and mitigation measures, planning policy, and compliance issues.
2) What’s your favourite part of the job?
I love the variety of work, but I quite like carrying out tasks that involve drawing and design – particularly restoration schemes, as there is an opportunity to be a bit artistic, but still be based on science.
3) How would you describe MPG’s company ethos in three words?
Clear, efficient, and teamwork.
4) Tell us about one of your favourite projects:
I’ve got a lot of favourites but if I have to pick one… We had a site where there was a requirement to change the restoration scheme through a Section 73 application, but the location had, historically, sold off all of the stripped soils. We therefore had to carefully design a biodiversity-led restoration scheme that would be successful without soils. This involved extensive research into other sites with the same problems and historic spots that have never formally been restored.
Once we had this insight, we were then able to use examples of where natural regeneration in areas where no soils were present had been successful, to design features that would best achieve the biodiversity net gain aim of the revised restoration scheme.
5) Who or what sparked your desire to work in the sector?
My academic background is in geology, and I love problem-solving, so I knew the minerals, waste, and environmental sphere would be a great fit.
6) How would your colleagues sum you up in one word?
Honest.
7) What does it take to be a great environmental consultancy partner?
Critical thinking, an openness to adopt different approaches to problems, and a broad knowledge base!
8) What is one of the biggest challenges facing the minerals, waste, environmental, or town planning sector over the next 12 months?
Changes to the planning system, and the way in which the minerals sector seems to be ‘left behind’. Central government needs to make the link between economic recovery and new development, and the raw materials required to achieve this.
9) You receive an email from your dream client… who would it be and why?
I really can’t see this one happening but… A client with a quarry that wants to restore it to a mountain bike park. There are several bike parks in former quarries, so it’s not impossible!
10) What are your hopes for MPG over the coming year?
I’m looking forward to exhibiting at both RWM – you’ll find us on stand 5-U124 – and Hillhead, and excited that we are growing by taking on new staff. I’m looking forward to seeing how this may increase and diversify our capabilities, too.
If you’d like to get in touch with our friendly team of professionals, give us a call on 01274 884 599, drop us an email at headoffice@mpgyorks.co.uk, or connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn.