5 Minutes With… Matthew Summers

When did you join Corps and what does your current role involve?

I Joined Corps Security in January 2019, as Duty Security Shift Manager at Guy’s & St Thomas’ Hospital in Westminster, so I’m still fairly new here. It’s an extremely busy role managing all the varied shift patterns for our team of security officers and dealing with any security related issues that may arise. I also attend back up calls for urgent security assistance around the hospital.

Can you tell us a little about your career background / what was your first job?

Security is all I’ve known since I was 18. I started out as security officer at Lloyds Bank head office. After 26 years of working in corporate security I joined Corps, so coming to work in a hospital was a totally new challenge for me. It’s completely different and you see things that you wouldn’t normally see in your lifetime.

If you weren’t in security, what would you be doing as a career?

I would probably have served in the armed forces – but lucky for me I secured my first security role at 18.

What’s your favourite thing about your job?

I like the hospital because every day is different. The fact that it’s non-stop all day and night means a shift goes very quickly. In fact, there is sometimes not enough time to finish everything before the next shift starts. It’s all go, go, go!

What are the main challenges you face in your daily role?

Working in a hospital means you’ve got to think fast. Because each day is different, I need to be agile and ready to deal with any situation during my shift – from being under pressure juggling multiple tasks to problem solving.

What would you say has been your biggest achievement whilst working for Corps?

I’m still quite new to Corps but integrating successfully as part of such a brilliant team here at the hospital and having the opportunity to work with such great people has been a key achievement for me.

What do you like doing outside of work?

I’m a big family man, so I like to spend time with my wife and daughter outside work. We do lots together from shopping, going out to visit different places and trying new restaurants. We have a lot of fun!

What are your aspirations?

I aspire to become a better person and to grow and develop. I think Corps will give me the opportunity to do this to because I can learn from other people at the hospital and the wider Corps team.