Our Team

Matt Edwards

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.

Qualifications

  • BSc (Hons) Environmental Conservation, Nottingham Trent University

Professional Experience

  • Arboriculture
  • Ecology

Specialist Areas

  • Tree Surveys for Planning and Development
  • Arboricultural Impact Assessments
  • Tree Protection Plans
  • Tree Risk Assessment
  • GIS Mapping

Hobbies

    Spending Time with Family, Meeting Up with Friends, Playing Board Games and Computer Games, and Riding Mountain Bikes

More Arbtechers

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Scott Warren

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Andy Ward

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Craig Williams

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Natalie Evans

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Katy Perry

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Jonathan Stuttard

Jonathan Stuttard

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Nicole Gullan

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Mel Reid

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Josephine McCarthy

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Fay Brotherhood

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Elen Griffin

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Merry Anderson

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Beth Ellison-Perrett

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James Fielding

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George Collier-Smith

George Collier-Smith

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Matthew Middle

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Jon Hartley

Jon Hartley

Principal Arboriculturist & Employee Development Lead
Aran Nearn

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Principal Arboriculturist
Alan Thompson

Alan Thompson

Senior Arboriculturist
Emily Kempson

Emily Kempson

Senior Arboriculturist
Jim Green

Jim Green

Consultant Arboriculturist
Charlie Moore

Charlie Moore

Consultant Arboriculturist
Chris Wren

Chris Wren

Consultant Arboriculturist
Thomas Parkinson

Thomas Parkinson

CAD Technician
Clare Swinburn

Clare Swinburn

Office Manager
Sally Parry

Sally Parry

Administrator
Emma Gray

Emma Gray

Administrator
Donna Swinburn

Donna Swinburn

Administrator
Charlotte Calvert

Charlotte Calvert

Administrator
Ann Balshaw

Ann Balshaw

Administrator
Chris Jarvis

Chris Jarvis

Finance Administrator
Rob Lambert

Rob Lambert

Editor
Gill Broad

Gill Broad

Editor
Morgan Bold

Morgan Bold

Social Media Executive
Harriet Paul

Harriet Paul

Finance Administrator
Hannah Bramley

Hannah Bramley

PA to Robert Oates
Alan Smith

Alan Smith

Consultant Arboriculturist
Michelle Huang

Michelle Huang

Consultant Ecologist
Josie Cooper

Josie Cooper

Consultant Ecologist
Ben Newbery

Ben Newbery

Consultant Ecologist
Annabel Sharpe

Annabel Sharpe

Consultant Ecologist
Dean Meadows

Dean Meadows

Principal Arboriculturist & Tree Risk Lead
Sally Hall

Sally Hall

Consultant Ecologist
Jessica Sibley

Jessica Sibley

Consultant Ecologist
Rhiannon Jensen-O’Brien

Rhiannon Jensen-O’Brien

Consultant Ecologist
Romany Poole

Romany Poole

Graduate Ecologist
Tom Ramm

Tom Ramm

Arboricultural Surveyor
Marlies Brenninkmeyer

Marlies Brenninkmeyer

Administrator
Abby Smith

Abby Smith

Administrator
Giorgina Shaw

Giorgina Shaw

Graduate Ecologist
Shaun Rowe

Shaun Rowe

Graduate Arboriculturist
Charlie Drapala

Charlie Drapala

Graduate Ecologist
Phil Gower

Phil Gower

Consultant Arboriculturist
Rob Dennis

Rob Dennis

Arboricultural Surveyor
Olga Hermann

Olga Hermann

Ecological Surveyor
Jamie-Lee Anderson

Jamie-Lee Anderson

Graduate Ecologist
Chris Poplett

Chris Poplett

Arboricultural Surveyor
Anthony Jones

Anthony Jones

Consultant Arboriculturist
Fearghus Gage

Fearghus Gage

Senior Arboriculturist
Chantae Wells

Chantae Wells

Consultant Ecologist
Alexie Jenkins

Alexie Jenkins

Graduate Ecologist
Hannah Upshall

Hannah Upshall

Graduate Ecologist
Emma Platts

Emma Platts

Graduate Ecologist
Millie Holland

Millie Holland

Graduate Ecologist
Nick Smith

Nick Smith

Graduate Ecologist
Georgia Knight

Georgia Knight

Graduate Ecologist
Jeremy Grout

Jeremy Grout

Consultant Ecologist
Maddy Carter

Maddy Carter

Graduate Ecologist
Kayleigh Davies

Kayleigh Davies

Graduate Ecologist
Anna Dolby

Anna Dolby

Graduate Ecologist
Georgina Rennie

Georgina Rennie

Graduate Ecologist
Tom Baron

Tom Baron

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Harley Stone

Harley Stone

Consultant Ecologist
Leah Cook

Leah Cook

Consultant Ecologist
Jade Lemm

Jade Lemm

Consultant Ecologist
Oliver Bevilacqua

Oliver Bevilacqua

Consultant Ecologist
Robbie MacKenzie

Robbie MacKenzie

Principal Ecologist
Jamie Bolton

Jamie Bolton

Finance Administrator
Annalea Moulton

Annalea Moulton

Administrator
Codie Schofield

Codie Schofield

Administrator

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