Nicholas Metivier
Director of Operations
nick@terrainsurveys.co.uk“Pretty much ended up here by accident — but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
When Nick first stumbled into the world of surveying, he was fresh out of college, full of energy and definitely not keen on sitting behind a desk all day. An apprenticeship advert for a trainee surveyor popped up (back when these things were still on real noticeboards) and he thought: why not? Fast forward nearly 20 years and Nick’s still here — and he still wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Today, as Director of Operations, Nick’s role is all about keeping the Terrain machine running smoothly. He’s the safe pair of hands making sure every survey team has what they need, every brief is crystal clear, and every unexpected problem gets tackled with practical know-how and a grin. If there’s a surveying challenge no one else can crack, chances are Nick’s already halfway to a solution.
Problem-solving is his favourite part of the job — along with mentoring the next generation. If you ask him, the two most important traits for any good surveyor are attention to detail and flexibility: “You can’t show up expecting today to be like yesterday — it won’t be.” And he’s always there with an arm around the shoulder (or a firm nudge) to help the team get the job done right.
For Nick, Terrain’s culture is all about teamwork, trust and keeping things down-to-earth. He’s proud that, even as the company grows, it still feels like a family where everyone knows each other — and the door’s always open for a chat (football talk included).
Tech-wise, Nick’s a self-confessed laser scanning geek — still blown away by what the kit can do, and always the first to experiment with the next bit of clever tech. But he’s just as keen to remind everyone: the best equipment in the world is only as good as the surveyor using it. “Anyone can press the play button, but it takes experience to get it right.”
When he’s not solving survey headaches, you’ll probably find Nick on a golf course (though he still misses the changing room banter of proper team sports). Or maybe planning the perfect ribeye steak dinner — ideally shared with Ricky Gervais and Mike Tyson, if he ever gets his dream dinner party.
Favourite film? Step Brothers for laughs, Dead Man’s Shoes for grit — a combination that pretty much sums Nick up: straightforward, fun, and not afraid of a challenge.
