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Still in his early twenties Matthew Payne parked his career plans and degree course to work for a tech start-up to try, as he puts it, to fix the National Health Service.
Matthew was due to finish his final undergraduate year and had ticked all the boxes to make himself a good candidate for a well-paid traineeship in corporate law.
So what drives a person to work in a tech start-up facing such a tricky task – risky even if you believe in its products, the founders and can see that it might be going places?
The answer, in part, lies in Matthew's strong ethical values, his sense of social responsibility and his push for sustainability.
With more than 1000+ GP practices in England signed up for Healthtech-1's support, the firm is already making a difference and is looking to expand and improve its offerings.
Listen to the podcast to hear Matthew's thoughts on taking on voluntary roles, the benefits of part-time work, of getting involved in new things at university and the importance of young people's voices in the places that matter.
It's a reason that Matthew has said yes when opportunities come his way and why he became NHS Youth Board member.
It is also why, during the Covid-19 pandemic, Matthew worked organising vaccination clinics across GP practices and then trained as a vaccinator, and has been a patient safety partner for an NHS trust. Besides taking on internships in law firms, he entered mooting competitions and was on the board of trustees for Worcester Students' Union.
But Matthew's interest in finding a fix for the NHS stems from having family members working in primary care. A spring and then summer internship with Healthtech-1's founding team sparked his decision to drop out of uni, something his parents doubted was wise.
What might lie in the future – a return to his degree, a move into politics or maybe another field? Who knows – Matthew says he may take on all of these and more. Whatever he does, Matthew wants to be sure his career aligns with his values and shares lots of wisdom about how he plans to do that.
Healthtech-1
Sustainable Recruitment Alliance
Science and Tech to ignite UK Growth
Do you need a degree to work in tech? (BBC)
Student Minds
Worcester University
Reading University
Season 1 Episode 3: Laura Yeates and Leora Schlasko, Sustainable recruitment alliance
Season 4 Episode 5: James Adeleke, Founder and CEO of Generation Success. Equality champion
Season 4 Episode 6: Maddie Booth, Sustainability consultant, educator and speaker
Season 5 Episode 2: Stuart Goldsmith, Climate comedian and podcaster
