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Behind the Hard Hat: Meet the leaders of the energy transition
From teaching English in China to leading technical retrofit at Baily Garner, Matthew Allcock is proof that the UK’s energy transition requires more than just technical specifications; it requires a human touch.
Matthew is the Retrofit Technical Lead at Baily Garner, a leading multidisciplinary construction consultancy on a mission to positively impact people's lives. As a Chartered Building Surveyor and trained Retrofit Coordinator, his professional foundation is built on rigorous accreditation. Yet, his journey to this position was anything but linear.
Before qualifying as a building surveyor, Matthew’s background included a degree in English, writing widely-published short stories and poetry, and two years teaching English in China - an experience that honed his ability to bridge cultural gaps and stay open to different perspectives.
Matthew reflects on his past experiences and creative side: “It has necessarily informed who I am and what I’ve become. I feel like I've taken on different attributes as I've developed as a surveyor, but hopefully those sides complement each other.”
His background also means he brings a unique perspective on the role of communication and language in the world of retrofit, where technical findings must be translated into clear and actionable documents for clients and residents. “My English degree certainly allowed me to write a mean building report!” he jokes. “But at the same time, I've learned it's a completely different set of language tools. For surveying, you need to write in a very pared-down, factually precise, non-emotional way, which is different from creative writing.”
Matthew’s career shift highlights a broader truth: the energy transition needs people who can fuse technical data with narrative clarity. The ability to document and communicate is as vital as physical assessments and installation.
As well as reinforcing his love of language, Matthew’s time in China taught him cultural empathy - a trait that isn’t often discussed in the retrofit sector, but can make a huge difference. Retrofitting a home is inherently intrusive; it involves entering a private sanctuary to disrupt walls, floors, and heating systems. Without trust, technical success is irrelevant.
"Soft skills and people skills aren't ordinarily associated with construction but, whether we’re retrofitting occupied homes or providing new homes, we always need to be engaging with people." Matthew notes. "So developing those soft skills is absolutely essential. Whatever profession you're working in within construction, it's going to be a key part of the armoury to make sure projects are delivered successfully."
One of the greatest hurdles in green recruitment is the persistent image of construction as a "grit-and-grime" industry. Matthew is keen to dismantle this perception and make the sector more attractive, especially to young people. While site visits remain essential, the modern retrofit landscape is increasingly digital, data-driven, and intellectually demanding.
"People often associate our sector with cold, wet, dark days on a muddy site, but there's so much more to it than that now, especially with the renewed focus on the environment," Matthew explains.
This aligns with Matthew’s own motivations. “I like the fact that the work we're doing is very important to reducing national carbon emissions as well as improving some of the most vulnerable people's lives. To be part of that and trying to deliver positive change is really motivating. This has been brought into focus in recent years as environmental concerns have come more to the fore, and we’ve recognised the role our industry plays and the huge potential for improving things.”
Matthew’s interest in environmentalism has led him to pursue accreditation as a Chartered Environmentalist, which demonstrates that an individual has been judged by their peers to be working at the highest possible standards in the environmental profession.
As the UK ramps up efforts to decarbonise millions of homes, the pressure on the workforce is immense. Matthew’s advice to those entering the field, especially those entering from non-traditional routes, is to demonstrate self-compassion and perspective over perfection.
“While it’s important to work hard and try to be the best you can, don’t beat yourself up if it gets tricky at times,” Matthew urges. “At the start of my surveying career, I had a demanding line manager and I was also too hard on myself. If you’re starting out in something new or you’re learning new skills, take a breath and trust that the experience and skills will come if you have the right attitude.”
Matthew’s journey reminds us that decarbonising our homes isn't just a physical challenge; it's a feat of communication, one well-written report and one resident conversation at a time.
