Meet our Alumni: Graduate Construction Project Management, Matt Toone

Why did you join the UTC Sheffield City Centre?

Back at Ecclesfield School, I did a Level 2 in Engineering, and it felt like the obvious next step was to move on to Level 3. At that point, I wasn’t really inspired to go on to do just A-levels alone. I knew I wanted to keep learning, but I wanted it to be more hands-on, more focused on what I actually enjoyed, which was Engineering.

At a careers event, I approached the UTC stand and got talking to Nadia Barratt (Learning Manager). She told me all about the UTC specialising in engineering, and it was exactly what I was looking for – a place that wasn’t just about sitting in a classroom all day but getting stuck into real engineering work.

What Made UTC Stand Out?

I really liked having the freedom to use the Engineering equipment.

The workshops were well-equipped, and I had so much more opportunity to use the tools compared to other colleges I’d visited.  The UTC seemed much more advanced when it came to technology.  They had 3D printers and an amazing student-to-equipment ratio. Unlike other places where you’d have to wait to get hands-on experience, here you could use the equipment regularly and build real skills.

Competing at the WorldSkills UK competition

One of the biggest highlights of my time at UTC was competing in the WorldSkills UK competition on the 24th of November 2015.

Only eight students were selected, and we had to go head-to-head using mechatronics equipment – not just against other colleges, but also universities and even Toyota and BMW workers with a lot more experience than us.

We won bronze in the mechatronics skills competition, beating some seriously skilled competitors, which was really challenging.  I recall feeling ecstatic to have our names called out and everyone in our team winning a medal.

One person who played a massive role in making this happen was Alex Reynolds, the Assistant Principal at the time.

Alex was really hands-on in supporting students and played a huge part in making sure students had everything they needed to succeed.  He was very approachable and you knew you could go to him, and he’d take the time to help. Having that kind of support made a real difference.

Can you tell us what you are doing now?

I’m currently working as an Assistant Project Manager in Construction, with City Building Engineering Services (CBES). My job involves overseeing various projects, from planning & scheduling, budget management, team coordination, compliance and safety, to quality control. No two jobs are the same and every project brings a new challenge, meaning I never get bored. There’s a huge variety in what I do, and I love the problem-solving aspect that Engineering brings.

Do you use anything you’ve learnt from the UTC now?

Everything I learned at UTC was useful for university, but at the time, I was really motivated to start working instead. I wanted to apply my knowledge practically rather than academically, so I went straight into a job instead of going to university right away.

After three years in the industry, I wanted to move into Project Management, but to do so, I needed to go to university, but this time, I studied part-time over five years while working.

Doing my degree later was the best decision for me. By that point, I had some good experience, had the right mindset and I could connect what I was learning to actual projects.

What’s been your biggest achievement?

Studying part-time while working wasn’t easy, but it was worth it. My biggest achievement so far has been earning a First-Class degree from Sheffield Hallam University, graduating in 2024 in Construction Project Management.

Do you have any advice for younger students about to study Engineering?

Don’t be afraid to ask questions!

It’s easy to sit quietly and assume everyone else knows what’s going on, but most people are just afraid of looking daft, so they stay quiet.  The ones who ask questions are the ones who learn the most.

The more you ask, the more you understand. And the more you understand, the more confident you become. No one expects you to know everything.

What do you want to do in the future?

Right now, I’m gaining more experience in my current role, building a good foundation for the future, but my goal is to move into a full Project Manager role.

At CBES, there’s a clear Career Path in place, which is one of the things I really value about working here. I have an Independent Development Plan with specific tasks and milestones set over the next three years, giving me the structure I need to progress.

Beyond that – who knows!