Matt Davies

Why did you choose Solent?

I was contacted by Solent and offered a sports scholarship! When considering my options at that time, the support on offer from the Solent staff (particularly the High Performance Academy team) was a big incentive – everything from strength and conditioning sessions to general wellbeing and help balancing my studies alongside my sporting commitments.

How did you find your course?

The lecturers were very approachable, and the number of students on my course was significantly lower than some other universities. The lecturers got to know us on a one-to-one basis and really made themselves available to support us when needed.

What about the facilities?

The infrastructure, IT, and so on, were all good. From a sporting point of view the facilities improved dramatically over my three years. The new sports centre was completed in my final year, and this not only includes a fantastic basketball hall, but the gym and other equipment are all now at an extremely high standard.

Do you feel your studies helped you prepare for a career in the industry?

I have used the information I gained while studying in both my day-to-day work and the exams I took to complete my training. During my penultimate year, Solent was offering opportunities to gain valuable practical experience in many different fields through its summer intern programme. I was lucky enough to be employed for six weeks in the University’s finance department. Also, I am sure that the help I was given by Solent Futures – the University’s career service – to prepare for the assessment centres and interviews contributed to me getting my graduate job.

What was life like as a Solent student?

Being on the sports scholarship, most of my spare time was spent playing basketball! That did give me my favourite Solent memory, though – winning the BUCS South Premier, beating UEL to win the league.

What did you like best about living and studying in Southampton?

The University, my accommodation, the sports centre, and the town centre were all within walking distance. So whether, like me, you need to use the sports facilities daily, or you enjoy socialising in the city centre, everything is easily accessible.

What came next, after graduation?

In September 2019 I started my graduate job with Deloitte – one of the big four professional services firms – in the audit and assurance service line. After passing my exams and receiving a couple of promotions, I left Deloitte and am now working within the telecom sector for Gamma Communications PLC.

How did you find your graduate position?

At first it was a challenge getting used to working full-time, balancing the workload of multiple clients while studying. However, this enabled me to learn at a fast pace, giving me an understanding of various clients across different industries. As a result, every day was different, and I met a lot of new people. The other great thing about working for a big company was that I was not the only new graduate. We quickly formed into a group that not only supported each other but socialised together too.

Tell us about what you are doing now and what it involves.

In my current role with Gamma one of my responsibilities is working with the management of overseas subsidiaries to align financial objectives with the overall business strategy. I assist with financial analysis and forecasting to enable informed decision-making to drive growth. Through proactive financial planning, performance monitoring and insightful recommendations, I support the subsidiary’s expansion initiatives while ensuring alignment with the broader goals of the organisation.