MATTHEW HIGGS - Assistant Business Manager

Summary

Accomplished HSEQ leader with a proven track record in managing HSEQ infrastructure during periods of significant revenue growth. Expert in IMS governance, overseeing the full lifecycle management of ISO 9001, 14001, 44001, and 45001 standards. Skilled in driving safety culture transformation and fostering behavioural shifts in high-risk environments. Adept at leveraging ISO 44001 to enhance commercial synergy and secure collaborative relationships. Demonstrates operational excellence through process optimisation, high-volume management, and P&L expertise. Experienced in board-level reporting with a focus on designing data-driven risk and ESG frameworks.

Overview

2027

years of professional experience

1

Certification

Work history

Assistant Business Manager

MCDONALD’S UK

Cannock

Operational Leadership: Managed all aspects of a multi-million-pound turnover restaurant, leading diverse teams of 50+ staff in a high-pressure environment.
Systems Excellence: Mastered industry-leading operational systems, focusing on rigorous Health & Safety compliance, food safety standards, and global quality control.
P&L & Performance: Held full accountability for budgets and labor costs, consistently exceeding KPIs for profitability and service standards.
Talent Development: Acted as a mentor for entry-level staff, fast-tracking high-potential employees into management roles, mirroring my own rapid career ascent.
Rapidly promoted to Assistant Business Manager within 24 months of university graduation
11-Year Tenure

HSEQ Director

Highway Traffic Management

Birmingham, UK

2018.04 - 2026.02

Strategic Scaling: Spearheaded the HSEQ strategy that supported the company's growth from £7M to £25M turnover, ensuring safety systems evolved to meet the demands of major infrastructure contracts.
Integrated Management Systems (IMS): Directed the implementation and maintenance of four major ISO standards (9001, 14001, 44001, 45001), maintaining a 100% compliance record.
Team Leadership: Direct and mentor a multi-disciplinary team of 5, fostering a culture of professional development and accountability through high-performance coaching.
Safety Innovation: Re-engineered the organizational safety mindset focusing on discipline, accountability, and behaviours.
Reporting Frameworks: Developed internal auditing procedures providing the Board with real-time safety data, significantly reducing incident rates while the workforce tripled.
Due to success in each role rapidly progressed from initial role of Executive Assistant when joining the business to HSEQ Director within 7 years.

Education

Bachelor of Arts - Sports Studies

Staffordshire University

Skills

Strategic HSEQ Leadership: Managing HSEQ infrastructure through 250% revenue growth
Ability to use legislation to utilise practicable safety controls and measures
Root cause analysis and lessons learned approach to accident investigation and to develop pragmatic and thought out actions
Improve Safety Culture at a rapid pace
Ability to communicate and build relationships with stakeholders, whether it be colleagues, clients or authorities

IMS Governance: Full lifecycle management of ISO 9001, 14001, 44001, and 45001
Safety Culture Transformation: Driving 'top-to-bottom' behavioral shifts in high-risk environments
Commercial Synergy: Utilising ISO 44001 to enhance and secure collaborative relationships
Operational Excellence: Expert in process optimization, high-volume management, and P&L
Board-Level Reporting: Design and implementation of data-driven risk and ESG frameworks