Matt Chilcott

Creative, resourceful and astute strategic manager with expertise in sustainability, decarbonisation, smart renewable energy systems and innovation.

Sustainability & Decarbonisation Consultant

September 2024 - Present 

Working with organisations to generate commercially viable Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility strategies which maximise a company’s positive community and climate impacts. Assessing and reporting on energy performance and developing energy decarbonisation strategies aligned with investment in green technology solutions and energy consumption reduction initiatives. Evaluating company data to create Carbon Reduction Plans and decarbonisation KPIs. 

February 2024 to September 2024

I led a start up company on a fixed term basis. Responsibilities included directing the delivery of multiple decarbonisation smart renewable energy projects and securing Industry National Awards in recognition of their quality, compliance and impacts. I led the team of ten staff, managed project budgets, opportunities and risks, & led successful commercial tenders and public sector framework bids. I prepared the Company's Sustainability and Carbon Reduction plans. My role involved considerable stakeholder management with businesses and Local Authorities with a focus on ‘Decarbonisation Thought Leadership’ with the media and clients. 

May 2021 to January 2024 

I led strategy, innovation, the opportunities pipeline, risk management, & commercial and public sector tenders and bids. My role entailed working directly to the CEO alongside collaboration with the Board of Directors to set strategic direction, support financial planning and resource allocation, formulate and implement a long-term sustainable business plan, develop and maintain effective partnerships to bid for innovation grants, lead author commercial proposals and manage client and investor stakeholder relationships. 

April 2018 to April 2021

Working directly to the CEO my role focused on account managing the group's external stakeholder relationships and managing the company’s extensive digital projects and fibre broadband opportunities pipeline. I managed business and public sector relationships, including UK Government, Welsh Government, Cardiff Capital Region City Deal, Cardiff Airport & Local Authorities. Following a successful bid to Welsh Government I project managed the complex UK first Trunk road concession to deliver a new commercial full-fibre broadband network infrastructure across the region of south Wales (value: £1.6 million) ensuring effective collaborative working and accountability, meeting financial deliverables and obligations. 

April 2016 to March 2018

Managing the Welsh Government owned company's opportunities pipeline, working with innovative businesses on multiple and complex grant applications and funding bids. I project managed the Innovate UK funded IoT Accelrator Wales, the first equity backed accelerator in Wales (value £1.1 million), ensuring a large cross sector partnership meet their contribution commitments and the project was delivered on time, on budget in accordance with the grant funding scheme’s expectations.

October 2014 - April 2016 

My Consultancy firm offered expertise in research, digital strategy and formulating, project managing and evaluating digital innovation and inclusion initiatives. I served as a Digital Innovation and Inclusion Advisor for the successful Cardiff Capital Region’s City Deal proposal submission to the UK Government. I led Smart Communities and Digital Access strategic and operational support for Monmouthshire County Council; including project managing the £850,000 UK Government BDUK funded Superfast Wireless Rural Broadband Commercial Innovation pilot. I provided consultancy for Newport and Monmouthshire Councils managing a successful bid to the UK Government's Super Connected Cities programme, leading to investment in free Public Wi-Fi on Train and Bus networks. 

March 2011 to October 2014 

Leading the delivery of digital innovation and inclusion projects for CMC² C.I.C. (part of Monmouthshire County Council’s NESTA Creative Council initiative). Activities included working with the Local Authority, the community and local businesses to develop Monmouth as Wales' first free Wi-Fi town and contributing expertise to the MonmouthpediA digital social innovation project which created the World’s first WikipediA Town. I oversaw CMC2’s engagement with the Nesta led Digital Social Innovation EU programme and participated in the Welsh Government facilitated Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Industrial Liaison programme.

January 2006 to March 2011

Managing the Institute’s project portfolio, financial, opportunities and risk management I led the Institute's Digital team of ten staff undertaking applied digital innovation projects.

My research activities included working with third sector organisations and isolated communities testing digital inclusion and ageing well methods. Professional activities arising included advising on digital inclusion public policy for both the Welsh and UK Governments.

January 2004 to January 2006

September 1997 to January 2004

July 1993 to September 1997

Masters in Business Administration, University of Wales, Newport

BA (Hons) Environmental Geography & Sociology, University of Liverpool

NVQ Level III in Business Administration

NVQ Level III in Customer Service