Development Manager, Urban Regeneration
Matthew graduated from Aston University with a degree in Business Management. He joined Barratt in 2007 and, since completing the Graduate Programme, has taken up a role in Barratt’s specialist regeneration division.
“Prior to joining Barratt I had no construction knowledge whatsoever, so it’s been a steep learning curve. But Barratt has been really supportive – in fact, they were sending me newsletters and making me feel part of the company even before I joined.
The graduate programme is very well structured. The six two-monthly rotations gave me an understanding of all departments, roles and responsibilities, and each time I moved into a new department I could apply my knowledge from the previous rotations. It was a great tool for my learning. The programme has also enabled me to view the whole process of housebuilding, from acquiring a piece of land through to the sale of the house and after-sale customer care.
I spent my second year on a placement with Barratt Urban Regeneration. My first year’s experience came in extremely useful here as I had an overall appreciation of the pressures on each department and how Barratt operated as an organisation. I was quickly given responsibility, and was pushed hard - which has been great for my personal and professional development.
In addition to the rotation plan, the graduate programme also offers additional learning courses. These have been informative and rewarding, and demonstrate the commitment that Barratt has to its graduates. One particular highlight for me was the Project Management module. This involved working with a team of other graduates to come up with a business improvement suggestion. We then had to present this to a Dragons Den panel and subsequently the Executive Board. It was a brilliant experience that I’ll never forget.
Overall I’d recommend the graduate scheme to anyone who’s interested in a career in housebuilding. The support I received throughout the scheme was excellent and there are real opportunities to progress in the company.”