Amanda Downey, the National Geotechnical Manager

Meet Amanda Downey, the National Geotechnical Manager at Miers Construction Products. For the past seven years, Amanda has been specialising in providing Geotechnical solutions to a diverse range of our customers and projects.

During this time, she has witnessed the evolution in this relatively new market and the products within it, transitioning from traditional woven and non-woven geotextiles to a wide variety of offerings now available across all seven Miers branches. Miers now provides advice and supplies a range of products, including stocked geotextiles, geogrids, as well as tree root protection and silt protection products. Amanda Downey's efforts have been instrumental in driving our growth of sales in this expanded range of Geotechnical products.

Amanda left school with the ambition to elevate her passion for competitive swimming, especially after receiving an offer to continue her swimming career in the USA. However, life had other plans for her. After completing college, she began working as a Site Secretary for a local construction company. This was the start of her journey into a successful career in technical sales within the construction industry, which began 36 years ago.

As a business Miers is well-known for providing expert advice and a wide range of construction accessory products, including those related to masonry, waterproofing, formwork, reinforcement, and concrete testing. In the past seven years, they have also experienced a growing demand for assistance in the geotechnical field. To meet these sales inquiries, they have relied on the expertise of Amanda.

We may keep it under wraps, but Miers provide geotechnical products for a wide range of projects aimed at stabilising embankments, reducing soil erosion, preventing contamination, and strengthening access roads. Some of these projects involve temporary solutions for large infrastructure developments where biodegradable products are required. Others focus on ensuring that the ground is stable enough to support cranes and other construction vehicles. Additionally, we assist landscape architects who need to protect trees during construction projects.

Amanda is engaged in a relatively new and crucial aspect of the construction market. It is a highly technical sales role, so we first asked her how she describes her work to her friends:

"I am involved right at the beginning of construction projects and often continue my involvement throughout the build. I work with products that reduce the need for extensive amounts of stone and aggregate, focusing on stabilising the earth or embankments to prevent slippage.

We provide solutions for erosion control, which can include geogrids or anchors in rock walls and embankments to prevent rock falls. Our offerings also include gabion baskets for constructing walls, as well as paving systems that consist of grids filled with stone or grass suitable for various settings.

I sell to a range of clients, including groundworkers, landscapers, equestrian companies for horse arenas, and main contractors. We cater to a wide variety of industries, but my approach is simple: I ask the right questions to determine the best direction for providing effective solutions."

Amanda explains the advantage of contacting Miers for a Geotechnical solution:

“The advantage of reaching out to me for advice on selecting a geotechnical product is threefold. First, I have likely faced a similar problem before. Second, I have a solid understanding of the required standards. And third, and perhaps most importantly, I am not limited to recommending specific products.

While we do stock a range of popular geotechnical products across our branch network, that offer everyday solutions, I often receive inquiries about unique challenges. In these cases, I consult with technical experts from our various suppliers to find the best possible solution. This process may involve obtaining detailed drawings to illustrate the proposed solution along with soil reports and other necessary details of the application. Our flexibility sets us apart; we're not restricted to offering only a specific brand or product and whilst I am personally involved in most of the Geotechnical projects, we supply via our 7 regional branches.”

So, if you are looking for help in this arena. Please make contact with our Geotechnical specialist at Miers Construction Products, Amanda@miersconstructionproducts.co.uk