What made you choose Arbtech?
After finishing a degree in Environmental Conservation at university, I continued my career as a tree surgeon for a further two years, but I was looking to change my career and take a route into consultancy work.
I had researched a few companies within the local area, and Arbtech stood out, particularly as it was a nationwide company with big ambitions.
After meeting Rob and the team, I knew I wanted a career here and was elated when I was offered a position.
What do you love most about the company?
I love being able to manage my own time at Arbtech, which gives me a fantastic work-life balance.
The team are great and there is always someone around to provide advice when needed.
I could not speak any higher of the unlimited budget for personal development. The company have provided more training than I have had anywhere else, and it speaks volumes that they put such an emphasis on investing in every member of staff.
What do you do when you are not at Arbtech?
Having recently started a family with a second on the way, much of my personal life is dedicated to them. We enjoy meeting with friends in the evenings and playing board games (risk is my personal favourite).
I spend many evenings riding on Zwift and playing computer games with mates.
I love to get out on the mountain bike – mainly at Cannock Chase and Sherwood Pines, or at the locally built trails in the surrounding woodlands. I also enjoy going on long walks around the local stomping grounds, in the Peak District and National Trust sites.
What is your biggest tip to achieve the most in life?
Everyone interprets achievements in their own way.
I would rather not advise anybody on how to get the best out of life from my perspective.
Instead, I would simply recommend that everyone lives their life how they wish.
What is the best social you’ve been on at Arbtech?
In my opinion, the best social at Arbtech so far has been the Porsche track day at Silverstone.
Where do you want to travel to next?
My next trip abroad will be as part of our first family holiday together.
I haven’t considered going away with the family at this point. And with another one on the way, it won’t be until another year at the least.
Selfishly, I’d like to go riding across Les Gets in France at some point in the near future.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time?
At the moment, I am taking every day as it comes.
That said, in five years, I hope to be living in Nottingham but in a more rural location.
Professionally, I am loving the arboricultural side of things and would like to progress further in that area.
What is a goal you have for the future, in or out of work?
I have done a couple of sections of the Great North Trail but would like to eventually do the entire trail in one attempt sometime in the future.
Likewise, I would like to do the Dragon’s Back Race in Wales.
I am also looking at getting back into my road bikes. Doing a few unplanned tours in Europe would be cool, so I hope to do a fair few of those eventually.
Matt joined Arbtech in April 2018.
Robert Oates, managing director says:
Matt is a super-star. When we took him on, he was the second candidate in our “hybrid experiment”. It’s not as sinister as it sounds, actually. It just means he was concurrently trained in arboricultural consultancy, as well as ecology and protected species surveys. This took a long time, but the wait was worth it. Matt is one of the very few people in the UK that can save clients buckets of cash, by going to a site to undertake a BS5837 survey, at the same time as a preliminary ecological appraisal and a bat survey.. all in one hit. He’s also a really fun bloke to have around on socials… especially when the dance moves come out. I can’t wait to see Matt develop and prosper at Arbtech, which I hope will be his home for a long time to come.
