GC Career Story: Matt Richardson

In 2014, I went to work for a national drug and alcohol charity where I ran a number of nationwide health and wellbeing programmes, both with people who were leaving treatment and the wider public. This is where I became more engaged with the business community, looking at social isolation and reducing absenteeism and work-related ill-health.

It was following this that I moved on to working for the GM Business Growth Hub as a Leadership and Workforce Development Advisor with a focus on wellbeing and social value. This involved supporting businesses to review and develop how they support their employees' wellbeing and maximising local communities' impact through volunteering, community partnerships and wider social action. I supported clients to empower and support their employees, both from a retention standpoint, but also during the recruitment phase by advocating as a good employer.

Through my current role as Head of Leadership, Skills and Social Impact, I help drive the social value and good employment agenda within GC, but also externally through networks, groups, suppliers and partners.

Because of my background working with young people, I became a volunteer Enterprise Advisor with Bridge GM, which now is part of the Careers & Enterprise Company. I’m still involved with some of this work now, working with Oasis Academy in Media City, helping to develop their careers curriculum, bringing businesses in to engage with students but also trying to align what's being taught in schools with what the business community need is within the local area.

What stands out for you the most during your time at GC?  

The reach and scope that the Growth Company has is huge and what stands out for me is just how big GC’s involvement in the direction of Greater Manchester and wider regions actually is, and this provides huge opportunities for colleagues. The things I've been able to get involved in I wouldn't have imagined 4 to 5 years ago. 

Working at GC we also get to meet really interesting people who otherwise you wouldn't get the chance to. People who become mentors not just in work but in life as well. Looking back, I have probably been informally mentored by quite a few different people in this organisation over the years. The variety is the best bit about my role. Being able to meet different people and be involved in different things that make a difference means a lot to me.

What would you say is the most special thing about GC?  

For me, it’s making a difference to people, communities and businesses. That’s the reason I do this job.

I think what sets GC apart is the breadth of things that we are involved in, and the opportunity that brings is massive. You can never know everything that's going on in this organisation, which sometimes is a challenge, but it just shows how much we do. I've been here nine years now and I'll never know everything that the organisation does, but for me, as long as it's sticking to its purpose, mission and values, then I'm all for it.

What would you say to someone who is considering a career at GC?

Grab it with both hands and put your own stamp on it as well. I think the people who've done really well here have taken things and ran with it, perhaps approached it in a new way with a fresh perspective. That's the only way that this organisation is going to grow so... with new ideas and approaches.  

I also can’t stress enough how many opportunities are put in front of you at GC. Whether it’s getting involved in various colleague networks, volunteering, training and development, there is so much to take advantage of during your time here. I've always been one for taking on any opportunity and giving anything a go because you just never know where it might lead.