Career changing accident energises career pathway

Matt Jones 

A life changing accident has mapped out a journey for one Ruthin man for helping to learn how to improve energy consumption, lower costs and give back to support to the environment.

Carbon Reduction Project Officer Matt Jones’ career pathway was destined to develop in the world of joinery until one fateful day pushed him onto a different road which is ultimately benefiting Denbighshire residents.

County Voice sat down with Matt to find out how he reached the step to his current role

Matt, a keen mountain biker, went from Ysgol Brynyhyfryd to Coleg Llandrillo in Rhyl and then onto Rhos-on-Sea to do a Building Craft Foundation course, incorporating several hands-on skills.

He explained: “So we did a little bit of plumbing, electrical, joinery, plastering. Then I went on to do joinery, started doing wood occupations…then I broke my ankle. That’s when everything started changing.

I was out biking, I was going over a jump and my foot came off the pedal, I landed foot first before the bike and thanks when my ankle broke…

“I went back and finished the course, got an apprenticeship, and got a job with the same company. But because of the troubles I got with my ankle, I got osteoarthritis, I had a few operations and had to leave joinery and site work in 2015. I suppose it was life-changing,”

“Because I broke my ankle halfway through the year, I went back and finished the year and received an outstanding achievement award from the college.”

Matt had worked on heritage joinery projects including at Conwy Castle, Beaumaris Castle and Denbigh Castle.

“I did quite a lot of interesting stuff, I enjoyed it. But because of the roofing work involving scaffolding and ladders with my ankle I couldn’t keep doing it.”

Following this I then received further operations with ankle arthrodesis (ankle fusion) being the last one almost 10 years ago.

After this a part time job at Cysgod y Gaer residential home run by Denbighshire County Council came up and Matt decided to apply.

“It was a handyman/gardener’ job, that was part time which was perfect for getting back into work as I didn’t know how my ankle would perform. After a few years there I took on a second cleaning role at County Hall.” 

From there another Matt took on another post with the Facilities team at County Hall and then a job came up for an Energy Officer and he embarked on a HNC supported by the Council at Coleg Cambria in Wrexham.

Denbighshire’s Energy Team has managed projects across all Council buildings, to improve building energy efficiency and reduce emissions and usage costs over the longer term.

This ongoing work is part of the Council’s drive to address the climate and nature emergency declared in 2019 and reduce its own carbon footprint.

Matt added: “Then my current role came up, Carbon Reduction Project Officer and the low carbon energy degree apprenticeship and that’s where I am now. So, there’s been quite a lot of steps in my career. People have always supported me here in Denbighshire with career progression, they funded the HNC to help me progress and the degree apprenticeship in Wrexham university is funded by the Welsh Government.

His role is termed as a career grade role, enabling people to jump on to a career that was otherwise exclusively for those already qualified. Career wise, Matt’s role is designed to break the barriers to entry and enable career progression. In the Energy team the Energy Officer role is now also career grade.

“The degree I am doing now, which I have just started my second year, is a Low Carbon Energy Efficiency and Sustainability degree, so it wraps around perfectly what I’m doing here in this role with the projects we are working on.”

Working on projects including installing solar panels to improve energy efficiency at Rhyl High School, Dolwen care home and even working at Cysgod Y Gaer where it all started, sustainability had always been in the back of his mind.

“I’ve always loved been outside and loving nature and having been cycling and mountain biking around Ruthin and the Vale of Clwyd. I suppose I’ve always had that awareness of sustainability.”

“When you start to see the data coming through and monitoring that… its good. I think that’s why am so passionate about it now because I enjoy it. This is now the career I am focused on improving in, whilst one I enjoy at the same time. Every job I’ve had, especially for the Council, I’ve always enjoyed doing it. I’ve only taken that step as a career progression.”

And Matt’s advice to anyone facing a life changing career moment as he did?

“Don’t give up I suppose, just keep going and keep working hard, I think that’s the one thing I’ve always done. I knew I couldn’t be running around sites, I couldn’t be labouring and really enjoying it. I had to work out where I was going to go academically, and I’ve found that place.”