Meet Matthew Lomax, a valued member of the Derbyshire Support and Facilities Services (DSFS) team. After successfully completing his Level 3 Team Leading Apprenticeship, Matthew has progressed into a new role as Car Park Co-ordinator (Security Support) – a fantastic example of how development opportunities can lead to career growth.

Matthew’s day now begins with managing car park operations and supporting staff and visitors with their parking needs:

“My duties include organising staff permits and assisting with any parking queries.”

This role is all about ensuring smooth access across the hospital site, helping colleagues and visitors navigate parking, and maintaining a safe and efficient environment.

Although his focus is now on car park coordination, Matthew still works closely with the security team to keep the site safe:

“Security has this reputation about throwing people out of places, but here at the Trust, there’s a much bigger picture. We’re here to de-escalate and keep people safe. It’s always a last resort to get hands-on – none of us are here for that.”

When asked which DSFS value resonates most, Matthew says: “I’d say responsive. We always make sure we’re available when needed.”

Why Matthew Loves His Role:“The main thing I like about this role is no two days are the same. You never know what’s going to happen. When it’s quiet, you catch up on everything. When it’s busy, time flies before you know it.”

Matthew’s apprenticeship gave him the confidence and knowledge to take on this new challenge: “The learning has provided me that base level and confidence to go further. Management have helped build that up. When I showed them the projects I’d done, their response gave me more confidence to progress.”

Matthew’s journey shows how DSFS supports colleagues to grow and thrive – and how every day in his role is about care, safety, and teamwork.