5 minute read
The Big Interview
UWL supports innovation and enterprise
Matt Snowden has spent the last two-and-a-bit decades in the fast-evolving higher education sector, which is a world away from his initial career choice.
“When I was five, I wanted to work in a tomato sauce factory,” says Matt, who currently holds the dual roles of Dean of Academic Partnerships (UK) and Director of Research and Enterprise Operations at the University of West London (UWL). “My career didn’t quite turn out like that but that’s probably a good thing!”
Matt grew up in Walsall “at the edge of the black country” and studied philosophy, politics and economics at university. After that he worked in various roles in the public sector, including a job in the careers service where he managed a database that provided people with information on a wide range of training opportunities. He then went to the former Training and Enterprise Council where he landed a job advising people on apprenticeship opportunities.
Matt moved into higher education in the late 1990s and in 2005 joined Stafford University as director of business development and resources, where he was responsible for growing new revenue streams and increasing entrepreneurial activity at the organisation. After a six-year stint there, he moved to UWL and has been there for almost a decade.
Matt says: “Part of my role involves working with other organisations to support the delivery of training programmes and broaden our reach into different communities. I’m also responsible for generating alternative revenue streams – from research opportunities and apprenticeships, for example. We’ve grown our apprenticeship provision and its now worth around £4.5 million a year to the university.”
UWL is a long standing Patron of the Chambers and is renowned for its high-performing School of Law. Its law courses are recognised as being the top in London for satisfaction in the Guardian Good University Guide 2022 and top in London for teaching quality in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022. UWL also has within its stable the London College of Music, which is the largest specialist music and performing arts institution in the UK.
Matt says: “About one third of what we do is not related to teaching. We’ve bought a small acting school in London and Ruskin College in Oxford, which provides learning and career opportunities for people from a range of different backgrounds.”
Also central to UWL’s work is its relationships with employers. UWL works with companies to find out what their needs are – both now and in the future – and tailors its learning provision to suit.
Matt says: “We want our graduates to be employable when they leave us. We ensure that they acquire softer skills – skills that they can take into life and employment. The whole purpose of a degree is to give people a range of critical skills that are valued by employers.
UWL has also established a centre for levelling up to discuss key policy issues and explore how education can support social mobility.
“There are huge inequalities in London, as well as in other parts of the UK,” says Matt. “We want to make sure that all people across London get fair access to learning and career opportunities.
“We have three core missions at UWL. Firstly, there’s the creation of knowledge via our research; we ensure that staff who want to contribute to our research portfolio get the time to do so. Secondly, we try to impart this knowledge to students through our teaching.
“The third mission is to use our knowledge base to support employers and drive innovation and economic wealth. We encourage academics to engage with the outside world and come up with solutions to real-world issues.
“We also want to fast-track the next generation of entrepreneurs. Our incubator hub supports about 20 start-up businesses at any one time. Small businesses of today might be the big businesses of tomorrow. Starting a business is now seen as a viable career. People want more control over their lives and being your own boss makes that possible.”
Matt Snowden: the inside story
Favourite food? I love food so it’s hard to list a single favourite! I bought a pizza oven in lockdown so that would probably be the one food I could never give up.
Favourite tipple? Whiskey (Bourbon in summer, single malt in winter and a Manhattan if it’s a cocktail).
Favourite holiday? Not camping…I go each year but it feels more like hard work! I love sun so Hawaii would be a place I’d definitely go back to, although I’d try not to break my toe surfing again!
Describe your family life? Dog-centric. We have two retired greyhounds so we try to find interesting places to take them for a walk, or enclosed areas so they can have a run (and not disappear at great speed over the horizon).
How do you spend your downtime?
Cooking, dog-walking and trying to finish my doctorate!
What are your key strengths as a
manager? I don’t believe in micromanaging people. I provide the space and trust to allow people to do their jobs. I find that this gets the best out of them and allows them to develop new skills and take ownership of what they do.
And your limitations? I guess I’m not great at saying no or turning down opportunities; I thrive on new challenges. This tends to mean I end up taking on a lot (but that’s where having a great team to support me helps).
Best thing about doing business in the
borough? Hounslow is such a vibrant place, with a broad range of different businesses from the very large to micro. It’s a very creative borough and that shines through in its innovation and entrepreneurialism.
Famous person you’d most like to spend
dinner with? Great question…national treasure Stephen Fry.
Most interesting fact about yourself? I make great sushi as well as pizza.
