surveyor

environmental consultant

consultant

analyst

ecologist

Lucion-Group

During my eight months as a trainee lab technician at Lucion, I was initially enthusiastic about the role, but I encountered several significant issues that made the experience challenging.

1. Lack of Management

There was a complete absence of effective management. Regular one-to-one meetings with new and existing staff were neglected, leading to confusion and a lack of direction in training and day-to-day responsibilities. This disorganization created a chaotic working environment.

2. Inadequate Training

I had four months to prepare for an exam to gain the necessary qualification as a lab technician. Unfortunately, the training provided was insufficient. It was conducted by someone who showed little interest in mentoring and often avoided giving meaningful assistance. This left me feeling unprepared and unsupported.

3. Isolating Work Atmosphere

The work environment was the least welcoming I’ve ever experienced. While the individuals themselves seemed fair, there was no effort to foster a warm or inclusive workplace culture. Without this, it became a difficult and isolating place to work.

4. Exam Mismanagement

By the time the exam approached, management was aware of the poor quality of the training. Despite this, they insisted we proceed. I should have failed the exam, but instead, I was inexplicably given the answers to pass. This was justified as a way to alleviate exam stress for trainees, but it seemed more like an attempt to cover up managerial failures.

Summary

The major issues I experienced stemmed entirely from poor management. Adequate training programs and trainers should have been implemented from the start. Regular one-to-ones and efforts to establish a positive workplace culture are standard practices that were entirely overlooked. When I raised these concerns with my manager, they outright denied the events, refusing to take responsibility or implement any meaningful change.

While I could detail numerous smaller issues, they all trace back to mismanagement. Transparent action and accountability could have addressed these problems, but instead, I was left feeling unsupported and undervalued throughout my time at Lucion.

I have worked for Lucion for around a year now and like most companies it has its positives and negatives. 

The company is large and with a fairly regimented structure meaning it can take some time to get to the right person to deal with the enquiry or issue you may have. Saying that once you do get to the right person they do what they can to help. 

Due to its size the company uses social media and chat platforms to communicate information and keep staff updated - this does lack the personal touch and I have gone weeks without actually speaking to a manager. I'm told that Pre-Covid there were regular team meetings regionally where you could attend and meet others although in these times it's limited to meeting others on 2 man jobs a lot of the time.

I have been in the industry for nearly 20 years now on big and small firms, holding site and manager roles (now back to site based) and have to say the technology and development is second to none here with their own in house software and development team.

The work is varied, interesting and challenging for the most part in my experience thus far although you do find yourself on occasion having a bit of a runaround with smaller jobs. 

In summary, I like working here, the autonomy and lack of micro management suits me as an employee. My workload has at no point been excessive and I have often received more time to complete works where required. There are areas they can improve but from what I have seen they are working on them.

However if you are happier recieving constant individual feedback then it may not be the place for you. 


Mostly I've really enjoyed my time at Lucion, but gradually the environment has became more and more toxic, and the switch was very sudden between loving my job and employer, to resenting my employer and hating my job.

As time has gone on there has been quite an evident power struggle between the senior leadership team, as well as a prominent blame culture when someting goes wrong, or when something hasn't been done (usually because no instruction was made for that certain something to be done, however responsibility was never taken by the responsible party).

The ground level employees (technical support staff and surveyors / analysts) are underpaid and undervalued for what they do. Lucion continues to give substantial salary increases to unworthy members of the 'Senior Leadership Team', leaving behind the aforementioned guys who actually graft hard every day to make Lucion their money.

Personally, suggestions for improvements I have made in the past were listened to and some were implemented before the MD stepped down. Since the change in leadership, acquisition of Askams and the ensuing power struggle suggestions have been shot down to allow for a member of the leadership team's own agenda. And when they have an agenda - that's the way it goes. 

Work life balance for me personally was just right, that I cannot complain about at all. Salaries are low, and recognition is hard to come by - so if money and recognition motivates you then this isn't the place to be.

Lucion is a fast paced company and it does have high expectations from its staff, which is understandable considering we are and want to remain the best in the business.

If you perform well you will be rewarded. You are basically your own manager, receiving information of what job you should be doing from your ops manager, and you are just expected to turn up, do a good job and then move on. If you don't perform well, or you take the mick then you will be managed accordingly. 

You are provided with all tools and equipment needed to do your role, including van and fuel card, and it's your responsibility to ensure your equipment stays in decent nick. 

Travel time is paid and salary is reasonable. A bonus scheme is in place, and staff will receive a bonus if their region hits target.

Colleagues are pleasant and support each other, although due to the autonomous and lone nature of the role, you don't often get the whole team together,

I think Lucion is a great place to work. It's simple - if you're a slacker you won't enjoy it here, neither will you last. If you're a grafter and you just want a stable, varied role then Lucion is the place for you.

The induction for the job went well with a trip up to Gateshead and Newcastle and the staff at head office were really friendly and helpful.  However, it was apparent we were being rushed into sorting all of our documentation and equipment checks just to rush us straight out into work.  

As I started I was apprehensive as the staff all seemed to be young and less professional than the guys I had worked with previously, then once I started on site it was clear.

I spent a summer on the M25 didn't become qualified and was treated poorly by management who lacked understanding and empathy.

The projects we were working on were money making pointless jobs with under qualified staff and long hours.  

On top of working 18 hour days we were expected to work 7 days a week.  

The manager at the time was forceful, rude and condescending to the staff, who in return all left one by one leaving the particular branch in a completely un-reliable state.

My time here lasted all of about 6 weeks before I had enough and found myself at a better company to actually acquire my qualifications and attain the experience I needed.  

Avoid at all cost.

The work load that the company have is massive and for someone such as myself who wants to put the hours in, I can take home way above my salary. Alternatively if racking up hours isn’t for you then you are able to work a steady day to day routine.

The managment have always come across professional to me with no agendas. All staff have always been friendly and pleasant to work with.

As a lone mobile worker all communication is digital, sometimes you can get slightly detached from personal interaction; however the way the company have integrated social media as a way of running the business keeps you completely in the loop with all company and industry news as well as non-work related social pages.

As a current employee, I’m very happy to work here and wouldn’t want to go anywhere else in my profession at this stage in my career. 

PROS
Great people to work with and social nights out.
LifeWorks platform offers discounts and vouchers.
The internally developed NexGen app and online system.
Can work from home thanks to everything being accessible on Google Drive.

CONS
With career progression, you will gain extra responsibility and work - but your pay won't necessarily reflect this until a few months down the line (if you're lucky!).
Operational changes will be introduced by management/the directors with very little warning or training (i.e. NexPlore, ClickTravel, Management Structures, etc.).
Management will say that "their door is always open" and "feedback will be listened too", but 90% of the time you will be ignored and nothing will change/happen.
Hardworking, competent, experienced, and loyal staff are often either pushed out the door or just allowed to leave to competitors without a counter-offer.

I thoroughly enjoyed working with Delta Simons and their clients. The work was interesting, the staff were great and the work was varied. The only downside for me was the salary and I was approached and offered a job with a much higher salary which was the reason I left.
There was flexibility to work in the office or at home, although a lot to the time I would be travelling to client sites, either by car, train or plane depending on location.
I had some lovely trips to Ireland with some clients.

I also enjoyed doing the H&S side for the business which actually covered land remediation, drilling and ecological work as the teams of staff working in this section were also really good employees to work with.

What is the best part of working at the company?
They don’t care if jobs over run 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The lack of organisation from the project managers , to much emphasis on corporate figures than quality risk management 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Up to regional level it’s pleasant , above that it’s very corporate , cold and lack of respect for the workers below them , won’t even know your name or even attempt to speak to you  if you walked into an office and they were there 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Fairly relaxed but can be hectic when project managers haven’t sorted jobs properly or clients aren’t informed of you coming

I Have been with Lucion for over 5 years now and I have only good things to say about them....well the bad things are small and more procedural and are hi lighted by the workforce on nexgen our all encompassing software and actioned as a result improving efficiency.
I have personally been through bad times in recent years and lucion have supported me through this to a point that I don't think a lot of employers would go to.
The company is fast growing and ever expanding into new fields so positions are always popping up for those who wish to progress their careers.
I'll leave it there but if you're looking for secure employment where you're treated like a valued employee look no further.

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Surveyor 33 salaries reported	£32,218 per year
Environmental consultant 27 salaries reported	£28,143 per year
Consultant 4 salaries reported	£32,750 per year
Analyst 1 salary reported	£35,000 per year
Ecologist 1 salary reported	£40,000 per year

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