Our Story
Terrafirma was founded in 2015 with a clear ambition, to use our academic background to translate the scientific principles, complex processes and dynamic factors that control ground movement into opinion, advice and intelligent solutions that could enable smarter decision-making and transform ground risk assessment.
We have grown into a company unafraid to challenge the status quo, confident in our ability to positively disrupt and influence regulation, decision-making and business. It is how we became the first commercial company to be licensed to produce an official CON29M report, it is how we became the UKs leading provider of ground risk reports and it is how we continue to push the boundaries of what is commercially possible with geo-science and GeoData.
Our future is one where our innovative and intelligent solutions are at the core of simple, day-to-day decision making. Buying a house, developing land, investing money, planning our towns and cities; all will be influenced by Terrafirma and a better understanding of the ground.
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2015
August
CEO and Founder, Tom Backhouse formed Terrafirma with the ambition to educate the conveyancing sector about mining-related ground stability risk.
August
Tom Backhouse formed Terrafirma with the ambition to educate the conveyancing sector about mining-related ground stability risk.
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2016
January
Tom reaches out to local universities and Terrafirma works with numerous student interns from the University of Bristol’s Earth Sciences department.
July
The TerraSearch suite of searches was launched, bringing Assure, Assess and Action to the market.
January
Tom reaches out to local universities and Terrafirma works with numerous student interns from the University of Bristol’s Earth Sciences department.
July
The TerraSearch suite of searches was launched, bringing Assure, Assess and Action to the market.
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2017
February
Terrafirma launch regulated coal reports utilising licensed coal data and expert opinion.
July
Tom received a special ‘Outstanding Achievement Award’ at the Modern Law Conveyancing Awards 2017 for his contributions to risk assessment in the conveyancing process. The team grows and moves to into offices at Aztec West, Bristol.
May
Terrafirma COO, Danny Powell-Thomas, presents his master’s research on desk-based mining risk assessment at the inaugural Geologist’s Association Student Symposium.
September
Tom stars in Season 1 of Sinkholes on Channel 5, a documentary exploring how the hazard impacts the UK.
February
Terrafirma launch regulated coal reports utilising licensed coal data and expert opinion.
May
Terrafirma COO, Danny Powell-Thomas, presents his master’s research on desk-based mining risk assessment at the inaugural Geologist’s Association Student Symposium.
July
CEO and Founder, Tom Backhouse received a special ‘Outstanding Achievement Award’ at the Modern Law Conveyancing Awards 2017 for his contributions to risk assessment in the conveyancing process. The team grows and moves to into offices at Aztec West, Bristol.
September
Terrafirma CEO and Founder, Tom Backhouse stars in Season 1 of Sinkholes on Channel 5, a documentary exploring how the hazard impacts the UK.
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2018
June
Terrafirma become Executive Member of CoPSO (Council of Property Search Organisations) to help set and improve industry standards.
August
A second series of Sinkholes is broadcast with Tom starring yet again.
November
Terrafirma are ‘Highly Commended’ for Innovation at the Mortgage Finance Gazette Awards for producing the first commercial CON29M, reducing liabilities for lenders and conveyancers alike.
July
Terrafirma becomes the first commercial organisation to be licensed by The Law Society to produce the official CON29M report.
September
Terrafirma launch the Ground Report, a flagship report aimed at providing expert opinion on all types of ground hazard.
June
Terrafirma become Executive Member of CoPSO (Council of Property Search Organisations) to help set and improve industry standards.
July
Terrafirma becomes the first commercial organisation to be licensed by The Law Society to produce the official CON29M report.
August
A second series of Sinkholes is broadcast, with Terrafirma’s CEO and Founder, Tom Backhouse, starring yet again.
September
Terrafirma launch the Ground Report, a flagship report aimed at providing expert opinion on all types of ground hazard.
November
Terrafirma are ‘Highly Commended’ for Innovation at the Mortgage Finance Gazette Awards for producing the first commercial CON29M, reducing liabilities for lenders and conveyancers alike.
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2019
March
Terrafirma host first Advisory Panel meeting - a team of experienced professionals across legal due diligence, geology and mining to explore new ideas and current challenges.
May
Tom features on BBC’s The One Show, explaining sinkholes in the UK, their impacts and links to a changing climate.
October
Launch of the inaugural application of the National Ground Risk Model.
April
Terrafirma expands its Executive, Development and Marketing team and establishes the GeoData division. Terrafirma welcome Chris Milne as Technical Director to the team to bolster the company’s geological and engineering expertise.
September
Terrafirma appoint renowned commercial and legal data expert Lucy Oxer as Chief Data Officer.
March
Terrafirma host first Advisory Panel meeting - a team of experienced professionals across legal due diligence, geology and mining to explore new ideas and current challenges.
April
Terrafirma expands its Executive, Development and Marketing team and establishes the GeoData division. Terrafirma welcome Chris Milne as Technical Director to the team to bolster the company’s geological and engineering expertise.
May
Terrafirma CEO and Founder, Tom Backhouse features on BBC’s The One Show, explaining sinkholes in the UK, their impacts and links to a changing climate.
September
Terrafirma appoint renowned commercial and legal data expert Lucy Oxer as Chief Data Officer.
October
Launch of the inaugural application of the National Ground Risk Model.
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2020
January
Terrafirma appoint Dr Tim Farewell as Science and Communications Director who joins from Cranfield University with a wealth of experience in environmental data science.
January
Terrafirma appoint Dr Tim Farewell as Science and Communications Director who joins us from Cranfield University with a wealth of experience in environmental data science.
2440 The Quadrant, Aztec West Business Park, Bristol, BS32 4AQ United Kingdom
0330 900 7500
|info@terrafirmaidc.co.uk