15 Years of Growth: The Making of a Construction Director, Matthew Stowe.

At 37, Matthew Stowe stands at the top of his profession as a Construction Director for one of the UK and Europe’s leading developers. His journey is a powerful testament to what can be achieved through self-belief, resilience, and people-first leadership especially when the path isn’t traditional. 

Starting Out Lost.

Matthew left school at 16 feeling completely adrift. "I had no idea what I wanted to do. All my friends were off doing A-levels. I felt lost," he recalls. But while browsing his local college website, something stood out: a course in construction management. "It just grabbed me. I couldn’t explain why, but I knew I had to try it." 

A Leap of Faith.

He enrolled and never looked back. He threw himself into learning, earned top grades, and gained a place at university. But before jumping straight in, he made another bold choice: to travel the world. 

For several years, he explored different cultures with close friends, soaking up life experience. “Meeting people from all walks of life: rich, poor, educated, uneducated; it taught me the most valuable lesson in business: how to speak to anyone with respect. That’s the real foundation of leadership.” 

Breaking into Construction.

When he returned, he joined the University of Leeds to study Construction Management, a four-year degree including a crucial placement year. Out of 30 students, Matthew earned a placement with Interserve at RAF Brize Norton, working as a site engineer on the high-profile AirTanker project. 

“That year changed everything. I worked under seasoned professionals on a major defence project. It gave me an early taste of high standards and real pressure.” 

After graduating with a 2:1, he returned to Interserve full-time. By 23, he had become a Chartered Construction Manager with an NVQ Level 6 in Site Management, a milestone many don’t reach until much later. 

His rise was rapid, but not without cost. In Birmingham, he found himself commuting two hours each way to a demanding site, working from 7am to 8pm, often in the dark, and managing more responsibility than most young professionals could bear. “It broke me at times. I remember driving home in tears. I was exhausted and overwhelmed, but I learned so much. That pain shaped me.” 

Rising Through the Ranks.

He transitioned into the industrial and logistics sector, managing four major projects before joining Buckingham Group, where his first job as a Project Manager was a £100 million engine test bed for Rolls-Royce - the largest in the world. 

“It was intense. Constant audits, media scrutiny, technical complexity—it was make or break. But I delivered. I matured into someone who could lead big teams and make tough calls.” 

That success led to his current role as Construction Director with Chancerygate, where he now helps shape how some of the UK and Europe’s most complex developments are delivered. His focus is on building strong supply chains, improving quality and safety, and being the go-to leader who can solve problems quickly and collaboratively. 

Matt first came across innDex during his time as a Senior Project Manager at Glencar Construction, using the platform to digitise manual processes on site and seeing its benefits around Workforce Management and Health & Safety firsthand. Now at Chancerygate, he champions its use by encouraging contractors to integrate the platform into their delivery. From inspections to project KPIs, Matt backs digital solutions that provide visibility across the supply chain and help maintain high standards on every scheme.  

He’s now a familiar face across the country and abroad, representing not just his company but a mindset: one that values integrity, resilience, and relationships above all. 

A Mindset That Matters.

His message to young people unsure of their next step is direct and heartfelt: 

“Don’t be scared if you don’t know what to do after school. I didn’t. I was unsure and intimidated. But there are so many paths out there, find the one that feels right. Trust your instincts. The world values hard work, emotional intelligence, and character. If you focus on that, you’ll go far.” 

Fifteen years on, Matthew Stowe is living proof that you don’t need to follow the crowd to become a leader. You just need the courage to follow your own path.