DDC Engineering came to Denbighshire County Council with a great reputation for delivering professional, accurate, honest and reliable highway drainage survey services. This reputation has now proven itself to me, my organisation and my clients on many occasions. I found the personal responsibility taken by Managing Director, Dean Whitbrook, carries right across DDC, so I’ve enjoyed the kind of open and honest communications you get with a senior team that delivers a conscientious, face-to-face, hands-on and personal service that’s second to none.

DDC Engineering has carried out drainage surveys for the South Wales Trunk Road Agent for many years, both as a sub-contractor and main contractor. Dean, and the entire team show real expertise and experience in this field and never leave us disappointed. Some of our drainage systems are historic, installed years ago and can be some of the most challenging and testing drainage surveys possible, but they somehow manage to fathom them out and achieve our desired result, and on time too. All their staff seem to have a ‘can do’ problem solving attitude, resolving issues with experience and gumption. They bring a very professional, friendly and responsive attitude, are competitively priced, realistic about deadlines, fair and open about what they propose and are clearly committed to providing a quality and cost effective service.

When DDC say they can achieve a specific drainage surveying distance per day they always achieve or exceed it. I always like to check the robustness and reliability of every tender, which helps me, in advance, see whether a contractor’s time estimates are too ambitious and a very expensive mistake is waiting to happen. DDC’s tenders always effectively pass that test, with their realistic and honest appraisals of what’s required. I definitely find them the ideal company to work with, as I’m particularly impressed with the tenacity and enthusiasm of their surveyors in uncovering both the drainage assets and chasing the system, as far as possible, to outfall. Similarly I’m happy with the post processing, data management and service/structural grading given to the assets, which demonstrate their great accuracy and they’re never too conservative.

Having worked with many other drainage survey contractors, you soon pick out the one with the more professional attitude, and that’s DDC Engineering. DDC’s commitment to the job comes combined with taking the time to really understand what you want and consistently keeping you informed throughout. For us, at Powys, they bought a drainage CCTV process and technology which was new and unfamiliar but they soon helped us feel comfortable by educating us to its advantages. DDC go way beyond your expectations, especially with things not stated in the brief, but having recognised their importance they just do them anyway and, in our case, at no extra cost. We particularly liked that DDC were always prepared to travel for face-to-face meetings rather than just purely email or phone. They’re certainly difficult to fault.