ECON is an independent well-respected ecological consultancy based near Norwich, Norfolk. Founded in 1990 by its Director, Dr Martin Perrow, ECON became a limited company in 2008. The business is housed in our eco-friendly ground-source heated office set in estate parkland in Little Plumstead
Our aim is to bridge the gap between academia and consultancy by providing expert ecological services and solutions that combine clear strategic thinking with practical skills, experience and understanding. Our passion is to provide a scientifically rigorous and holistic approach to ecological work driven by the needs of sustainable development and conservation. We have remained true to our academic roots, and our work is published regularly in peer-reviewed journals. Dr Martin Perrow has held positions as an Honorary Research Fellow at both the University of East Anglia and University College London.
Our team is highly experienced, with all staff educated to degree level and 40% educated to PhD level. With 25 years experience in ecological consultancy, we are a 'one-stop-shop' for ecological projects of all descriptions in all locations. We undertake all types of work including survey and monitoring design, data gathering, analysis and interpretation, technical and non-technical reporting and client representation to both development and conservation led projects of all sizes. All work is carried out according to CIEEM's (Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management) standards.
Our team structure is shown below. In addition to the core staff, ECON also employs a number of other specialists on a freelance basis as and when required. All of ECON's freelancers work regularly with us, and many have done so for a considerable period of time. We also has have established links with a variety of other individual experts and consultancies, who have complementary skills and we may bring into projects we are managing. Further details are provided on the survey & monitoring page.
Over the past 17 years at ECON Mark has led 25 field-based projects, most notably fisheries surveys using nets, traps and electric fishing in lakes, rivers and streams. His personal tally of individual surveys now extends to >430 individual surveys in freshwaters, although he also occasionally provides support to boat-based marine work.
Mark has excellent data management skills and manages all of the major office databases that are gathered and maintained in confidence for several large development companies. It is testament to his organisation of these databases that we are often asked by former and current clients for help in tracing important data that we have held on file. He is also skilled in analysis and graphical data representation.
Andrew holds a degree in marine biology and earned his PhD in fisheries science, investigating the relationships between otolith (ear bone) formation, growth and environmental variations in North Sea cod. Having spent a large amount of time working at sea, he is familiar with shellfish surveys, benthic trawls, day grabs, ground discrimination equipment, Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) and various water quality monitoring techniques. In relation to the latter he organised and undertook an important study to link primary productivity of surface waters with the distribution of seabirds.
We were very pleased to welcome Lorraine to the ECON team at the beginning of 2015. She is an ornithologist with over 15 years experience, particularly of seabirds, initially undertaking PhD studies on the foraging ecology and reproductive success of Kittiwake, Guillemot and Razorbill.
We have successfully completed around 600 projects with individual costs from £100's to £1.2 million, for statutory government bodies, non-government bodies, developers, utilities, other consultancies, universities, private companies and individuals. Our business is underpinned by an infrastructure of policies designed to protect our clients, staff, the public and the environment. The following provides a flavour of important elements that in-combination allow a rapid assessment of our organisational credentials.
Public and products liability - £10,000,000
Copies of certification are available to our potential and confirmed clients.
We have measures in place to ensure the quality of the services we provide is consistent and always of the highest standard. With each and every project we assess the best way to ensure and maintain quality suited to each client and the project requirements. We maintain a quality management policy and a range of quality control procedures on the various services offered.
We are committed to promoting sustainability. Concern for the environment and promoting a broader sustainability agenda are integral to our professional activities and the management of the organisation. We aim to follow and to promote good sustainability practice and to reduce the environmental impacts of all our activities. We maintain an environment policy that focuses on product sourcing, reduction of consumption and minimisation of waste, active promotion of recycling and reduction of our carbon footprint.
ECON Ecological Consultancy Limited © 2014 | Registered in England & Wales Company No. 6457758 | Updated 01/04/2014 | Privacy policy
