Inspiring the Next Generation: How Leica’s Lauren Holland Is Reimagining Geospatial Education

At a time when the geospatial and surveying industries face one of the most significant skills shortages in decades, one woman has quietly set about rebuilding the education pipeline from the ground up. You only need to speak with Lauren Holland for a split second and you will realise her love for the survey industry runs deep. 

As Business Manager for Education and Research at Leica Geosystems, Lauren has free rein to boost education initiatives within the survey industry. Her approach is transforming how people encounter, experience and ultimately enter the profession. 

It’s a mission rooted in connection, collaboration, and, as Lauren will happily tell you, a fair bit of modern technology magic.

Closing the Skills Gap by Connecting the Ecosystem

The skills gap in surveying is well known, but the root cause often gets overlooked: young people rarely know the profession exists. Even geography students, arguably closest to surveying, often struggle to explain what a surveyor actually does.

Lauren is changing that. Rather than relying on traditional outreach or equipment donations, she has built a relationship-driven education strategy that connects the entire ecosystem: colleges, local survey firms, professional bodies and the wider geospatial industry.

Her refreshingly long-term goal is to develop a sustainable talent pipeline for the UK that will help boost the number of professionals coming into the industry, and thus, close the pesky skills gap. It’s important to note that for Lauren, selling equipment is not the point. Leica Geosystems is not hiding product sales by packaging them up as education initiatives; the goal is pure and simple: to inspire the next generation to take up careers in surveying. To do this, Lauren gives students real-world experience with professional tools, bridging the gap between education and employment and showing them the variety of career opportunities available.Through strategic partnerships, Lauren connects a wide network of professional bodies, including CICS, the Survey Association, AGI, RICS, DEC, and Get Kids Into Survey. Organisations that once worked in isolation now collaborate, such as uniting CICS and RICS on education initiatives, achieving connections that were once considered nearly impossible.If you can imagine a tug of war, these bodies no longer pull against each other; they pull the industry forward together.

Making Surveying Cool Again for the New Generation

The Technology Incentive

For a generation raised on tablets, smartphones and instant connectivity, traditional surveying methods can feel slow or even outdated. Lauren has tackled this challenge head-on by reframing the profession as a tech-driven, sustainable and future-focused discipline with limitless applications, whilst also emphasising the importance of learning the fundamentals.

When it comes to inspiring the next generation, Lauren’s show-stopper examples include technology used in:

• 3D modelling and digital twins
• Crime scene investigation
• Movie set production
• Smart cities and urban digitalisation
• Green Cubes 

Central to this strategy is giving students hands-on experience with industry-leading tools. Equipment such as the new Leica TS20 total station, with built-in AI, automatic prism detection and seamless cloud data transfer, shows students firsthand how rapidly the profession is evolving.

One of the strongest illustrations of this impact comes from workshops where students initially show little interest in surveying. After just a short session using the latest technology, such as the Leica BLK2GO or Leica BLK ARC, there’s often a clear “aha” moment. Within hours, their conversations about future careers start to shift, revealing new enthusiasm and curiosity about the field.

For Lauren, these moments aren’t just heart-warming; they’re proof that modern technology can unlock opportunities for young people who may never have previously considered surveying as a viable or exciting career.

The Sustainability Incentive

For a generation increasingly driven by sustainability, Leica Geosystems’ education strategy also emphasises how modern geospatial technology can directly reduce environmental impact, another strong attractor for young talent. By equipping students with advanced survey tools, Lauren demonstrates how digital workflows minimise human error, streamline fieldwork and significantly reduce the need for repeat site visits.

Fewer return journeys not only improve efficiency but also lower carbon emissions, positioning surveying as a career where technical innovation and environmental responsibility go hand in hand. For young people seeking purposeful work, the message is clear: surveying isn’t just about measuring land, it’s about shaping smarter, greener and more sustainable communities.

Paving the Way for Women in Surveying

Lauren discovered surveying almost by chance. As a geography student, many of her tasks were survey-related, but it wasn’t until her career advisor suggested Land Surveying that she realised it could be a career. After a few work experience placements, she began as an Assistant Surveyor and is now one of the UK’s leading voices in geospatial education.

“One of my biggest career wins is simply being here, being a woman in construction and surveying. At university, people told me construction was a ‘man’s world,’ and it was discouraging. But I loved the work, and I stuck with it. Now, when I visit colleges and see more young women choosing this path, it’s a real highlight. I want them to see someone who looks like them, someone building a career while raising two kids and know they can grow, thrive, and stay in this profession. They belong here and I’m proud to help show that,” Lauren commented.

As Business Manager for Education and Research at Leica Geosystems, Lauren has built the company’s education strategy from the ground up. Her mentor, John Fraser, has been instrumental in her growth.

“John gave me the trust and encouragement to shape our education-focused, relationship-driven approach. He’s never made me feel alone and has been incredibly supportive, especially when I returned to work after having a baby. Even recently, in a quick chat, he encouraged flexibility and genuinely cared about how people thrive. That kind of leadership is rare and I’m grateful for it,” Lauren explained.

Lauren’s story shows that surveying can be a career where personal and professional lives grow together. Leica Geosystems’ flexible approach has helped her balance motherhood with a high-profile role. By being visible and vocal about work-life balance, she is paving the way for more women and all parents in surveying, proving the industry can be both viable and empowering.

Building an Ecosystem for Global Survey Education

One of Lauren’s proudest achievements is fostering collaboration across previously fragmented professional bodies and educational institutions. A notable example is Leica Geosystems’ support of the Cornwall School of Mines, providing equipment on loan to save a course and preserve one of the UK’s few pipelines for future tunnelling surveyors.
Looking ahead, Lauren envisions a connected ecosystem that elevates the geospatial sector worldwide. While her focus remains on strengthening the UK talent pipeline, she sees potential to replicate this model internationally, with pilot countries adopting structures that have succeeded in the UK.

A Shared Mission for the Future

Lauren’s work is more than an education programme; it’s cultural change. By combining modern technology, meaningful partnerships, and genuine human connection, she is reshaping how people discover surveying and what a career in the sector can look like.
Under her guidance, Leica Geosystems is not just addressing the skills gap, it is building the next generation of confident, capable and inspired geospatial professionals.

Would you like to support geospatial education initiatives?

If you're looking to contribute to geospatial education or need support with an educational project, Lauren is here to help. She can assist you directly or connect you with the right organisation or individual to make a meaningful impact. Please find contact information below. 

Connect on LinkedIn.
lauren.holland@leica-geosystems.com