🎃 The Weigh In – New Pumpkin King Crowned

Matthew Thomas taking on the annual tradition of painting the trophy (he was the only one in this shop)

Every great rivalry needs its stage — and at Compass Environmental, that stage just happens to be a pumpkin patch.

Now in its fourth glorious year, the Compass Environmental Annual Pumpkin Competition has grown from a bit of workplace fun into a full-blown saga of pride, rivalry, and horticultural heroics. And this year’s contest had it all: fierce competition, impossible odds, and one of the greatest comebacks since Liverpool in Istanbul.

 A Year of Wild Weather

Matthew Thomas with pumpkin in-situ

Growing conditions in 2025 were anything but easy. A record-dry spring left soil parched and growers scrambling for water. Summer brought unrelenting heat — the warmest on record — testing the patience (and irrigation systems) of even the most dedicated gardeners. By autumn, Storm Amy swept across the UK, threatening to flatten anything left standing.

 It was a year that separated the casual growers from the true pumpkin pros — a battle of consistency, creativity, and climate resilience.

 The Rivalry: Matt vs. Harry

At the heart of this year’s drama were two familiar names: Matt Thomas and Harry Ower. They’ve become the stuff of Compass legend — Ronaldo vs Messi, Federer vs Nadal, Muhammad Ali Vs. Joe Frazier.

Matt and the Telford villagers helping to safely secure the prize pumpkin ready for transport.

 Matt took home the inaugural title, but since then, Harry has been untouchable — reigning two-time champion and on the verge of a historic three-peat.

 But 2025 had a twist. Harry’s year was already unforgettable for another reason — his wedding — and between table plans and perfecting vows, there was a sense that perhaps the throne might just be up for grabs.

 Matt saw his chance.

 The Great Pumpkin Comeback

Matt approached the season like a man possessed. He battled through the heatwaves, shielded his vines from scorching winds, and doubled down on watering during the driest spring in a century. The result? A pumpkin of truly mythic proportions.

 When harvest day came, witnesses say it took four people to lift the monster into his car — and even then, fence panels had to be removed just to get it out of the garden. By the time it reached the weigh-in, jaws were already dropping.

A trip over the weigh bridge confirmed it: the heaviest pumpkin ever recorded in the history of the competition. A comeback for the ages.

 The Result

In one of the most hotly contested finals yet, Matt Thomas reclaimed the crown, ending Harry’s two-year streak and etching his name back into Compass folklore. From first champion to fallen rival and back again — a story worthy of the sporting greats.

“Four years ago, I set out with just a seed and an ambition to become the greatest pumpkin cultivator in Compass Environmental history.

Today, not only have I achieved that ambition for the second time, a new all-time record has been set.

Thanks to Mike, Ben and Corbin for assisting with the heavy lifting and a special thanks to Ben for allowing me to take down the garden fence to get this thing out of the garden!”
— Matthew Thomas, Compass Pumpkin Champion 2025

Matthew Thomas reunited with the trophy he had painted for himself…

“It’s clear to see that pumpkin growing conditions in Newbury this year were poor; mistakes were made along the way, from the late planting of a single seed to getting caught up with wedding planning. Distractions have devastated this year’s yield, giving my arch pumpkin nemesis Matt Thomas the chance to steal the pumpkin crown and prevent a third victory.
 
We will have to do some serious growth analysis and learn from these mistakes; we will be back stronger next year.
”
— Harry Ower, Arch Rival and Second Place

 Legacy of the Patch

Matthew Thomas receiving the coveted Compass Pumpkin Trophy from founder of the competition, Stewart Ower

 So, as the soil settles on another year of fierce (and friendly) rivalry, one thing’s certain: the Compass Environmental Pumpkin Competition has outgrown its roots. What started as a bit of fun has become a tradition — a celebration of persistence, teamwork and a little bit of pumpkin madness.

 Here’s to next year — when Harry will no doubt be out for revenge and Matt will be defending his hard-won title under whatever wild weather 2026 brings.

Could newcomer Simon Ward make a bigger impression next year? Will Oisin finally be interested in vegetables? Will Tom shock everyone and actually plant a seed?

Stay tuned.

Health & Safety Excellence!

We are proud to announce that Operations Director Matthew Thomas has officially achieved Chartered Membership of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (CMIOSH), recognising his commitment to the highest professional standards in health, safety and wellbeing.

This prestigious chartered status is the gold standard for health and safety professionals, awarded only to those who demonstrate exceptional competence, experience and continuous professional development within the field.

“Matt has played a pivotal role in driving Compass Environmental’s operational excellence and embedding a strong culture of safety across all departments.

His achievement reflects both his personal dedication and Compass’s ongoing commitment to maintaining the highest standards of workplace safety.”
— Stewart Ower, Managing Director

Our HSE Solutions package can assist your business in ensuring compliance with UK Health, Safety & Environmental legislation. Whether you are looking for advice on a one off project or requiring long-term support, we can help.

Compass Turns 8 Years Old!

A Round-Up by Stewart Ower

When we set out on this adventure 8 years ago it was from a standing start.  An unplanned opportunity to do something for ourselves, scary and exciting in equal measures! 

We had enthusiasm and confidence that we could create something special and different. It had to be different, or it was not worth doing. It also had to be enjoyable for all concerned, able to make decisions and take calculated risks free from the restraints of the corporate world.

We deliberately set out to create a family run, customer focused, boutique business with high calibre colleagues who would put their trust in our vision and ability to provide them with long term security and job satisfaction.

8 years, 3 family weddings and a house move on and we are proud to have built a thriving and growing business.  We are joint creators and owners of Oilshield and Tankershield with clients we count as friends; we are ISAS accredited Spill Managers & Consultants managing spillage incidents alongside our trusted contractor network, protecting the environment and managing all actions and costs; we believe we deliver more spill responder training courses than any other organisation in the UK in conjunction with our training partner. What next? More innovation!

Part of our success is that we have been selective in the work we do, we only do what we can do well, and we do it well.  It has also been a great privilege, and a lot of fun, to work alongside our family and the superb team at Compass.

Finally, a huge thank you to our customers for your ongoing support, we will never take you for granted.  If you are not one of our customers, why not give us a try, we would love to hear from you. Here's to the next 8 years!

Compass Re-accredited for Constructionline Gold & Acclaim!

We are proud to announce that we have successfully been re-accredited with both Constructionline Gold and Acclaim, for the third time!

This rigorous process has taken a lot of effort and is a testament to our dedication to not only meeting, but exceeding our duties under health and safety law.

These accreditations help keep our team safe, and assure our clients that we are committed to the highest levels of safety and compliance. Here's to continuing to work safely, and to a future where health and safety remain our top priority!

Compass Environmental Consultancy Becomes A Newbury Soup Dragon!

We are proud to announce that Compass Environmental Consultancy has become a Newbury Soup Dragon!

For a number of years Compass has been supporting Crisis at Christmas by donating money to provide a meal at Christmas for those less fortunate – 1 x meal for each Compass staff member.

It is perhaps at this time of year that we realise just how fortunate and privileged we are.  Sure we all have issues and challenges in our lives from time to time but hopefully not to the extent where we find ourselves homeless, no job, sleeping rough, vulnerable and with little hope.  I am sure we have all seen individuals in need of help, support and a few kind words – these people are in need 365 days a year, not just at Christmas.  We may not know their names, but they are someone’s son, daughter, dad, mum, brother or sister. As a close-knit family business it seems incomprehensible how relationships may break down to the extent that you find yourself alone and on the street.

We have been looking for a good cause to champion for some time.  Perhaps fund some barn owl or bat boxes in our local community to help protect these vulnerable species.  But at the end of a recent night out in London enjoying some pre-Christmas corporate hospitality we came across a group of people, of all ages, laying out newspaper and cardboard and bedding down for the night beside a platform at Paddington Station.  It hit home hard and was literally a very sobering experience – vulnerable humans.

Time to act.  We pitched it to the Compass team and with their wholehearted support we started to make some enquiries.  It was at this point we came across the Newbury Soup Kitchen, a local voluntary organisation founded by Meryl Praill and supported by her team of volunteers – “Nourishing Hope, Rebuilding Lives”.  The NSK takes an holistic approach addressing not only physical hunger but also the emotional and social needs of each person they encounter.  Treating each as an individual with dignity and compassion regardless of their circumstances.

 It is our privilege to be able to support Meryl and her team by becoming a Newbury Soup Dragon, one of over 20 local companies that provides monthly financial donations in support of the soup kitchen, allowing it to provide over 60 meals a night to the homeless and vulnerable in the Newbury area.

Launch of our new Chemical Hazard Awareness Training

We’re excited to announce the launch of our latest training course to be added to our Responder training suite: Chemical Hazard Awareness Training.

This program, which we’ve worked hard to develop, has just been approved by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), a huge achievement for our team and a mark of the course’s high quality.

Our goal with this training is to equip professionals across various industries—whether it’s manufacturing, healthcare environmental management, or any other industry —with the essential knowledge and skills they need to manage chemical hazards in the workplace safely. The course covers everything from understanding chemical behaviours and reactions, interpreting Safety Data Sheets (SDS) as well as having an appreciation of the complex world of chemical safety regulations. It's designed for anyone who deals with hazardous substances in the workplace, and it's structured to be both informative and practical.

As a team, we believe that chemical safety is critical not just for protecting employees but for safeguarding the environment as well. By offering this course, we hope to empower professionals to take a proactive role in managing chemical risks, ensuring compliance with regulations, and making their workplaces safer for everyone.

“When delivering our Spill Responder training courses, I would often be asked if we ran any courses specifically on general chemical safety awareness. This course has been developed to answer that need and is designed to provide a general awareness of hazardous chemicals in the workplace.

It is recommended for anyone who handles, stores, or otherwise works with hazardous chemicals and needs to know how to reduce associated risk to themselves, others, and the environment.”
— Johnny Catchpole, Head of Training Division

We can deliver this course at your premises or offer an enhanced version of this course at our specialist facility in Cheltenham which includes an interactive laboratory session.

For more information or to book a space on one of our upcoming courses, click on the button below!

FIND OUT MORE

The Weigh In - Compass Pumpkin Competition 2024 🎃

The infamous Compass Pumpkin Growing Competition made its return for a third year with all eyes on who would take this year’s crown.

Matthew Thomas’s Seedlings

Off the back of last year’s shock loss, Matthew Thomas was on a warpath to reclaim the title from his fiercest rival, Harry Ower.

Preparations began in early Spring where seeds were distributed amongst the team and plots were being mapped out to enable maximum growth.

Contestants were treated to a year of mild weather and record amounts of rain that pushed our growers right to the edge!

After a house move last year, Stewart and Helen Ower had acquired a vegetable plot that was ready to go! A strong start was soon disrupted after deer invaded the garden and ate everything, bringing their competition to an abrupt end.

The plucky rookie, James Harrington made an impactful debut in the competition by forgetting to plant his seeds at all. He received an automatic disqualification when he suggested purchasing a finished pumpkin from the local Supermarket.

Johnny Catchpole didn’t fare much better with a no-show from him due to sharing a garden with his neighbours - in a statement from him, he told us that “it would be selfish of me to take over the entire garden with a behemoth pumpkin and I don’t want to receive an eviction notice.”

Tom Ower kept his cards close to his chest not revealing any information until the time was right.

Months of exchanged WhatsApp messages were shared updating the team on each contestants progress until the final weigh in took place the day before Halloween. Seven contestants started, three made it to the finish line, but there was to be only one winner.

Harry’s Pumpkin Compared to a Brick (Summer 2024)

Once all produce was placed, the scales determined the final winner:

1st Place - Harry Ower

2nd Place - Matthew Thomas

3rd Place - Tom Ower with a prized Pineapple

Harry continued his winning streak with style, becoming the first person in Compass history to achieve two wins in a row. Commenting on his victory, he said:

“I like to compare my relationship with Matthew to some of histories greats, Mr Miyagi and the Karate Kid or Obi Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker.

In all great stories we know there comes a time where pupil becomes master, today is that day with a second historic win in the greatly anticipated Compass pumpkin growing competition.

I cannot thank miracle-gro fertilizer enough for its contributions to the crop produced this year. With the help of Google and some prime chicken manure I hope to make next year another victory.”
— Harry Ower, Compass Pumpkin Champion 2024

Harry Ower with the Compass Pumpkin Trophy, which is hand painted annually by Matthew Thomas

A two week trip to Florida was ultimately Matt’s downfall where his plot remained unsupervised, malnourished and parched. In a tearful statement, Matthew said:

“Competing against a family who’s surname is two letters away from grower is always going to be a challenge.

But combine this with poor growing conditions in Shropshire during 2024 and a poorly planned holiday at the peak of the growing season and it’s a recipe for disaster.

I must do better next year, for my fans. A post incident investigation has been completed and procedures amended to avoid a recurrence.”
— Matthew Thomas, Sore Loser

So there ends another year of pumpkin growing for the Compass team! With just 364 days to the the next weigh in, plans are already underway for next year’s competition.

Will Harry achieve a threepeat?

Will Matt get his redemption?

Will Stewart and Helen unlock their potential?

Will James remember to plant his seeds?

Will Johnny find a suitable space for a plot?

Will Tom actually produce a pumpkin for once?

Or will our new degree apprentice, Oisin, show us how it’s done?!

Tune in next year!

Spill First Responder Training Opens Its Doors!

To date, our Spill First Responder Training course has only been available as a private booking for one company - we are happy to announce that this is set to change!

Our Spill First Responder course is now available as an open course for multiple companies to attend!

“An informative & professional course keeping us all interested with real-life situations & examples. Great knowledge and trainer answered all questions thrown at him.””
— Spill First Responder Delegate

This change allows companies of all sizes and sectors to benefit from the training, making it more accessible for a wider audience. Many companies book as part of maintaining their ISO 14001 Environmental management systems certification and to ensure professional competence and safety when handling emergency spill response situations at work.

The first open course is scheduled to take place at our Theale Head Office on Tuesday 10th December 2024, with subsequent sessions planned for 2025! To book your space on this course, click on the button below or to view any of our upcoming courses, visit our training page where you can find booking information!

Book now

Our New Apprentice!

18 months ago, we received a knock on the door from a student looking to undertake work experience with us.

In the days where online applications and LinkedIn job adverts are the norm, it was refreshing to see somebody so young muster up the courage to try something a bit more personable!

After a brief chat with the team, we decided that Oisin had left enough of an impression on us to give him a chance!

Two sets of work experience later, Oisin expressed an interest in completing an Environmental Practitioner degree apprenticeship with us - a five year course with one day spent at University and four days gaining practical experience with us.

He has been accepted onto the course at Kingston University after his successful A-Level results and joins the team this week to begin his employment with us!

“I am really excited to start my journey with Compass as a degree apprentice. This is a huge step towards my future, and I’m really grateful for this opportunity to learn and gain hands on experience in such a dynamic and supportive work environment. I’m eager to contribute to the team and take on new challenges.”
”
— Oisin O'Shaughnessy, Degree Apprentice
“From our initial meeting, we immediately warmed to Oisin. He is somebody with a can-do attitude who isn’t afraid to get stuck in!

He has achieved all of this off his own back and we couldn’t be prouder to have him join our team as a full-timer!””
— Tom Ower, Business Development & Marketing Manager

Compass Celebrate Turning 7!

Last month, Compass celebrated turning 7 years old with a BBQ in our car park!

The team came together to enjoy some seasonal favourites curated by Kings of the Grill, Harry and Stewart Ower - both were closely supervised by health and safety expert, Matthew Thomas.

In fact, the team enjoyed it so much that we have decided to make it an annual tradition!

Our Managing Director, Stewart Ower marked the occasion by saying:

“The past 7 years has flown by, there is never a dull moment when you are running and growing your own business! We are delighted that our products, services, team and office have all expanded as we have carefully and selectively grown the business.  We have the privilege of working alongside family every day and amazing colleagues who have become like family, whether they like it or not!

A huge thank you to our clients and partners, you have been fantastic – you will never be taken for granted.  In return, we hope you have received a high quality, great value service delivered by personable and engaging people with superb skills and with good humour.  We are all excited to see what the next 7 years brings!”
— Stewart Ower, Managing Director