- What is your name and what is the name of your business?
My name is Matt Bridge. I am a freelance management consultant and take the role of board advisory for several companies. I specialise in utilities companies – people like EDF, Siemens etc – and generally provide advice on big issues and transformations.
- What does the business do and who are your customers?
I am brought in to assist with significant changes within large utilities companies such as digitalising their platforms, big IT deliverables or implementing new billing systems. It is often IT based but part of the transformation is taking people on the journey from ‘this is how I’ve done it for twenty years’ to understanding the benefits of doing things a different way and getting them on board.
- What’s the history of the business & what’s your role within the business?
I am all of the business, it’s just me! I have been doing it freelance for 25 years. Contracts can last anything from three months to five years depending on the size of the programme, what advice people require and whether they need me to take a role in delivering it as well. I work on full time contracts as well as advisory roles where I am brought in for specific meetings and workshops. I have not been out of work during those 25 years unless I have chosen to take a break, and I don’t advertise – it is all word of mouth and I’m lucky that people in the industry now tend to know who I am and my areas of expertise.
- How long have you had an office here at Freshmill and why were you looking for a space like this?
I have been at Freshmill for approximately three years and I started coming because it gives me a place to ‘go’ to work – which is a mindset thing. It puts me in the right frame of mind. Also, I have two small children at home so it means that I can have important meetings without the risk of someone running in!
- Why does Freshmill work well for you and your business?
I am on a flexi package (60-hours a month) which suits me, as I am often on-site with a client 1-3 days a week so it gives me to flexibility to be in Freshmill, or not. And if I don’t use it for a week or two it isn’t a great expense. Also, if I get two or three month off I can suspend my package and then reinstate it when I am ready and so there is no ongoing cost, which there would be if I had a permanent office.
- What is the most important lesson you have gained from your career so far?
I think consistency is very important. I have been in the same industry and in similar roles for a long time, so I have developed a very consistent view and approach to things which I know works. I think when people are looking for someone to fix a broken programme or whatever their issue is, knowing that I have that consistent approach has served me well and meant that people will contact me to help them.
- Where do you hope to be in 5 years’ time?
Retired! Fifty-Five is my goal. I want to travel the world for my retirement so if I am away for 3 or 6 months and then home for a while, I can perhaps pick up a bit of work at times – I want to be able to pick and choose and be very choosy! I don’t want to have to need to work, I want to pick the odd job based on whether I feel like it, and if or when I get bored.
- What advice would you give your younger self just starting out?
I think it would be the same advice that I give to my children which would be do something that you enjoy and makes you happy. It makes working life much easier!
I fell into my career. My plan was to go to Uni to study law. I went travelling around the world on a gap year and when I came back my partner at the time was working in Nottingham and so I thought I would get a temporary job nearby at Eastman’s Electricity. It was testing software which wasn’t something that I had done or that I thought I was interested in, but I really enjoyed it. That led to a permanent job at Siemens and soon after I went freelance.
- What is your favourite quote/mantra?
My favourite quote is ‘Never show surprise, never lose your cool’. It is from the film ‘Cocktail’ with Tom Cruise – it was one of ‘Coughlin’s Laws’ who was a character in the film. It was mine and my sister’s favourite quote because we loved that film, but actually, it is so relevant to business! When you are on a high-stress project, or you are in board discussions, if things start to escalate, it is much better to stay quiet and observe the situation before speaking.
- If you could, who would you switch places with for the day, and why?
I would probably switch places with my kids just to see what life is like through their lens. I would really enjoy that feeling of having no responsibilities, your main worry is what is for lunch today or what is the next cartoon on the tv!
