Ground and Project Consultants

What is Ground and Project Consultants?

Ground and Project Consultants (GPCL) is a specialist geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering consultancy founded in 2014, based in Altrincham, Greater Manchester. The company provides expert ground investigation services, contamination assessment, foundation design, and geoenvironmental reporting for construction and development projects.

GPCL has been a pioneer of the 4-day working week, having adopted the model back in 2019 — well before it became a mainstream conversation. The company demonstrates that even in technical, site-based engineering work, a reduced-hours model can deliver excellent results for both clients and employees.

Where will I work?

Ground and Project Consultants is headquartered in Altrincham, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom. As a geotechnical consultancy, work involves a mix of office-based design and reporting alongside fieldwork at various project sites. The Altrincham office serves as the base for the team, with site visits to client locations across the region as required.

What is the team like?

With approximately 8 employees, GPCL is a small, specialist team of geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineers. The compact size means every team member has significant responsibility and direct client contact. The team combines technical engineering expertise with practical field investigation experience.

Having run a 4-day week since 2019, the team has years of experience operating efficiently within a compressed schedule, and the model is deeply embedded in the company culture rather than being a recent experiment.

Work-Life Balance

Ground and Project Consultants has been operating a 4-day working week at 32 hours with full pay since 2019, making it one of the earliest adopters in the UK engineering sector. The company has demonstrated over multiple years that technical consultancy work — including fieldwork and client-facing projects — can be delivered effectively within a 4-day framework.

Perks and Benefits

• 4-day working week at full pay (32 hours) since 2019
• Professional development and CPD opportunities
• Varied work across office and field settings
• Small team with direct client engagement
• Established 4-day week culture (not a trial)