MEP Tenant Spotlight shines on O’Sullivan MacFarlane
Established in 2016, OSM Environmental Consulting are leading environmental consultants. They combine regulatory and private-sector experience to accurately assess clients’ sites for all types of environmental implications, specialising in waste management and contaminated land and flood risk assessment. Through their public-sector experience, they are trusted to produce science-based results and are able to cleanly and efficiently navigate the regulatory system on behalf of their clients.
Who makes up the OSM team?
Micheál O’Sullivan
Director and Senior Environmental Consultant, specialising in waste management and flood risk assessment. Following several years spent with NIEA, Micheál transitioned into private sector consulting before founding OSM Environmental Consulting in 2016 with business partner, Frank Macfarlane. Alongside his consultancy work, in office Micheál mentors OSM’s junior staff members.
Frank Macfarlane and Micheál O’Sullivan co-directors of OSM Environmental Consulting
Frank Macfarlane
Director and Senior Environmental Consultant, specialising in contaminated land assessment. Frank has worked in private environmental consultancy from graduation, alongside studying for his masters, before co-founding OSM in 2016. Frank oversees OSM’s contaminated land assessments as well as managing OSM’s business operations.
Peter McConvey
Senior Hydrogeologist. Peter has led a notable career in Hydrogeology, leading teams responsible for implementing various classifications used by hydrogeologists and regulators in Northern Ireland to this day. Peter has also guest-lectured for Environmental Engineering students at QUB.
Leanne Leonard
Environmental Consultant. After publishing an award-winning thesis in her masters at IT Sligo, Leanne joined OSM in 2018. She specialises in Noise Impact Assessments as well as field assessments.
Lachlan Mackey
Placement Student and Geography student at UU. Lachlan is spending his placement year at OSM, assisting across all projects and learning valuable skills to take forward into an environmental consultancy career.
Georgia Galway
Marketing Consultant and Digital Marketing Masters student at UU. Georgia works with the OSM team to head promotion of OSM on a freelance basis.
What is your greatest business achievement to date/what are you most proud of?
Being able to bring on new talent to our company was a fantastic achievement. It had showed that our hard work paid off in our decision to work for ourselves ; so much so that we were able to provide employment for others in our sector too. Since day one, we resolved never to become ‘a jack of all trades’ consultancy and only ever provide expert assessment to our clients. Over the years, we have been careful to pick out the brightest talent and it’s been fantastic to add to our specialisms which has allowed us to diversify our business further, while continuing to ensure excellence for our clients.
Your business has survived a global pandemic. What has been the most valuable business lesson you have learnt from Covid-19?
The importance of always moving forward. Having looked at the recession of 2008, it was shown that the businesses who failed more often than not focused solely on survival rather than opportunities and ways to expand and grow. From this, we decided to take a proactive strategy during the pandemic and seek to build our market.
A core activity of Mallusk Enterprise Park is supporting aspiring entrepreneurs. What would be your “top tip” for anyone considering setting up their own business for the first time?
Determination, a firm grounding and clear goals. Both Frank and Micheál built up a varied experience in environmental consulting in the public and private sector in order to proficiently provide OSM’s services to our clients. Although it was hard going at first, determination kept the business driving forward towards their goals of creating a successful environmental consultancy that dealt fairly and expertly with clients and regulators. OSM has thrived through satisfied clients giving us repeat business and referring us on to their counterparts, which is a great boost to morale knowing we are serving our clients well.
Do you currently have any new product / service announcements or any special offers running at present?
We are looking to expand into the Southern Market.
