Technical Manager for Esh Construction's affordable housing team in Yorkshire, Matthew Bland has added a Construction Management degree to his growing list of achievements after graduating with First Class Honours this summer.

Having already built a successful, 20-year career in construction, Matthew returned to university to strengthen his skills while continuing in his full-time role at Esh.

For Matthew, the decision to study wasn't about starting over, it was about continuing to develop and preparing himself for the next stage of his career.

"Going back to university was never about starting again," he explained. "It was about adding another dimension to the experience I'd already gained and demonstrating my commitment to professional development in an industry I love being part of."

Completing a degree alongside a demanding role was no small task, particularly as Matthew also became a dad during his studies, with evenings and weekends often dedicated to coursework and assignments.

"It was tough at times," said Matthew. "There were sacrifices along the way, but it taught me resilience, time management and how to prioritise what really matters."

Throughout his studies, Matthew received support from colleagues across the business, including the flexibility to attend university one day each week.

"My line manager, Simon Woodward, was brilliant throughout and Esh gave me the flexibility I needed to make it work," he said. "Without that support, balancing everything would have been much more difficult."

Alongside his studies, Matthew continued to play a key role in delivering projects for Esh, including the Ripleyville development in Bradford, a complex brownfield regeneration scheme involving extensive ground engineering and remediation works.

"Looking back, I'm most proud of the resilience it took to manage several complex projects while completing my degree," he said. "Ripleyville stands out as a real highlight because of the technical challenges involved and the joint effort needed to make it a success."

When graduation day finally arrived, it marked the culmination of years of hard work and determination.

"The overwhelming feeling was relief," Matthew said. "Crossing the finish line and having the degree in hand felt like everything had finally come together."

Now that the hard work has paid off, Matthew hopes his experience encourages others to continue investing in their own development, regardless of career stage.

"Experience doesn't mean you stop learning,” said Matthew. “It's never too late to invest in yourself and continue developing. Esh is a business that supports people to achieve their ambitions, and that's made a huge difference throughout my journey.”