Matthew Payne, Catalyst at Healthtech-1, NHS Youth Board member

Matthew Payne, Catalyst at Healthtech-1, NHS Youth Board member

Author: Host Sandra F June 21, 2025 Duration: 50:39

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 and of getting involved in new things at university. He runs through ideas for what might happen later in his career and emphasises the importance of getting young people's voices into the places that matter. 



Mentioned in this podcast

Links

Healthtech-1

Sustainable Recruitment Alliance

Y Combinator

Science and Tech investment to ignite UK Growth 

Do you need a degree to work in tech? (BBC)

Student Minds




Worcester University

Reading University 


Other episodes you might like to listen to

Laura Yeates and Leora Schlasko – Sustainable recruitment alliance S1 E3

James Adeleke – Founder and CEO of Generation Success. Equality champion S4 E5

Maddie Booth – Sustainability consultant, educator and speaker S4 E6

Stuart Goldsmith – Climate comedian and podcaster S5 E2


About ProGRESS:

Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible jobs, courses or activities and asks for real-world insights into the pathways and careers that led to them. 


Subscribe and find out how they got there and how you can too.


Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcast

Original content © Sandra Kessell 

Original music © Lyze Kessell

Email: hello@mypro-gress.co.uk

Progress's guests talk about their pathways to a career in a values-led job.


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Host Sandra F guides ProGRESS, a podcast built on conversations with people who have chosen to align their work with their principles. This isn't about generic career advice; it's a deep dive into the daily realities of building a life in green, ethical, and socially responsible fields. Each episode features a direct, unscripted talk with someone navigating this landscape-from sustainability consultants and environmental researchers to ethical entrepreneurs and conservationists. You'll also hear from voices shaping our world in less expected ways, including city planners, campaigners, architects, and even a philosopher or a comedian, all offering their unique perspective on what it means to work with purpose. The discussions are grounded in personal experience, covering the challenges, breakthroughs, and practical insights gained from their eclectic paths. Listening to this podcast feels like pulling up a chair to a candid coffee chat with someone who's actively building a career that matters to them, offering genuine inspiration and actionable understanding for anyone curious about where their own skills and values might intersect.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

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