My journey from cadet to CEO: Mathew Baxter

In the final instalment of our interviews to mark National Apprenticeship Week, we speak to Echelon Group CEO Mathew Baxter, about his experiences in the Property Services Agency cadet scheme.

Mathew had dreamt of a career as an architect but although he was fairly handy with a ruler, he struggled with freehand drawing art, so decided to switch career paths.

Following his GCE ‘O’ Levels (which included Technical Drawing, but definitely not art!) and CSEs, he completed a BTEC Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in Building Studies.

This gave him enough points to apply for Higher Education and he moved on to a Building Studies degree at Essex Institute of Higher Education.

The course included work experience, and a stint as an Assistant Site Manager in East London ignited his passion for construction. He decided not to complete his degree, opting instead to pursue a vocational BTEC Higher National Certificate qualification.

But when the next site position required a long commute to Essex, Mathew, who was living in Wiltshire, opted to look for opportunities nearer home.

He saw an advert for a cadet scheme with the Property Services Agency, which is responsible for construction and maintenance within the MOD estate and applied for a place, on the basis he could complete his HNC and then go on to complete Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) Part One and Part Two qualifications, part-time as part of his cadet scheme, working towards full membership of the CIOB.

The rest, as they say, is history, and Mathew recalls that he learned an incredible amount in the first year alone, interacting with some amazingly knowledgeable people throughout the programme.

In your opinion what are the benefits of apprenticeships compared to other educational paths?

We’re seeing this debate a lot around whether it’s better to go to university and study full time for a few years for a degree or to do a part-time qualification and get three years’ experience.

I think the honest answer is it depends on what you want to do at the end, and if you are going to be something like a doctor or a vet, then clearly classroom study is really important but I think for anything construction-related, be it physical construction, services, or design, my personal view is that you learn more in the field than you do in the classroom. You learn the theory in the classroom, but it’s only when you get out on site and see things for yourself, that you really learn.

What impact has it had on your career development?

It taught me not to be afraid to ask questions, and to learn from the people around you. But, also how even a little word of guidance can be really important because not everybody is willing to ask. So, just to be supportive and patient with people.

With family, friends, and peers whose children have gone through apprenticeships, some successfully, some unsuccessfully, the differentiator always seems to be the level of support that the employer provides to that apprentice.

Can you share any memorable experiences or challenges you faced during your apprenticeship?

In terms of challenges, when I was working in my first placement for the cadet scheme, at a base on Salisbury Plain, there was an older trade supervisor who really didn’t like me (he wasn’t the first, and I am guessing not the last), and there was a bit of a clash of personalities but he knew a lot, so, there was a lesson there in terms of interacting differently with people and learning adaptive behaviour.

Later, when I was working at another military establishment there was an attack on two employees outside their homes, which led to security being massively ramped up. I was given the opportunity to project manage a significant part of a fast-track project, which included new roads, infrastructure and security. It put me right in the eye of the storm and I loved it – I think the level of trust my boss had in me and the level of responsibility I had really helped me on my path.

I guess another, academic, highlight was when I received a “Student of the Year” award from Salisbury College for my results in my CIOB exams. I don’t think I would have achieved this without the support of my employer, who fully endorsed my academic studies. This was also particularly poignant for me as it was the year before my father passed away, so one of the last pictures I have with my dad is me with my trophy and him beaming ear to ear.

What advice would you give to anybody considering an apprenticeship?

Take a step back, weigh up the pros and cons of a vocational qualification versus a purely academic one. How much is it going to cost you if you do a full-time degree, and what do you get at the end of it? Is it really going to open more doors than a cheaper, similar qualification with three years’ experience?

My one piece of overarching advice is to ensure you really understand an organisation’s culture before signing up to the apprenticeship. What level of support are you going to get? Is there a guarantee of a job at the end, or are they just ticking boxes? I would also ask to speak to current and recent apprentices, about their experiences.

I am also a firm believer in mentoring and have been fortunate to have some amazing mentors throughout my career, so if you get the opportunity to have someone mentoring you, grab it with both hands!