By Stan Millar, Marketing & Communications Intern
Recently, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Matt Edwards for a really inspiring conversation about business, resilience, and giving back.
Matt is the co-owner of a small family business, which he runs alongside his wife and daughter. They support small and medium-sized businesses with card payment solutions, helping owners save both time and money while building stronger foundations for growth
But Matt’s story is about much more than finance – it’s about purpose, people, and perseverance.
A Lifetime in Banking
Matt’s career began in 1987 when he joined the Halifax as a cashier/receptionist
What’s remarkable is that he stayed with the same employer all the way through to retirement in 2021. Over the years, he progressed into mortgage advising, became an area manager, and later a regional business manager supporting SMEs across the South East of England
He achieved something many people only dream of – working for the very organisation he had admired since childhood. His mum opened a Halifax account for him when he was born, and from that moment he knew he wanted to work there one day
That childhood dream became a lifelong career.
Facing Life’s Challenges
Matt also shared some deeply personal experiences. In 2017, during a particularly challenging time for his family, he struggled with his mental health
Later, in 2021, he became seriously unwell and his family were told his condition was life-limiting
Thankfully, that situation resolved, but it became a life-changing moment.
It forced him to reflect. Retirement followed – but Matt quickly realised his brain still wanted to work. More importantly, he wanted to use his decades of experience to help small businesses thrive
One piece of advice he shared really stood out:
“If you enjoy what you do, then work becomes so much easier.”
Supporting Business Owners the Right Way
Now self-employed, Matt coaches and supports business owners, helping them build strong foundations and structure within their businesses.
He emphasises discipline, organisation, listening carefully to problems, and understanding financial figures properly.
He plans his own week using a time-blocking system, organising his schedule in 15-minute chunks and setting clear objectives for each day
His aim? To have three meaningful conversations every day – and I’m proud to say he described our chat as one of those great conversations.
Matt understands that growing a business isn’t just about money. It’s about discipline, service, and teamwork. At Lily’s, we couldn’t agree more. Great service is just as important as great food.
Giving Back to the Community
After everything his family went through, Matt made a conscious decision. His priority isn’t earning huge amounts of money – it’s helping as many business owners as possible
He provides devices free of charge and keeps costs as low as he can because he wants to see businesses grow and succeed
We talked about how important it is to strike a balance – yes, businesses need to make money, but there is something incredibly powerful about feeling satisfaction from helping your local community.
That’s where Lily’s and Matt align so strongly. We both believe customer service and supporting people matter deeply.
Mental Health, Golf and Finding Strength
One of the most powerful parts of Matt’s story was how he found support through golf. During a difficult period in 2017, his GP prescribed something unexpected: “Find a new hobby – play golf”
That prescription proved life-saving. Golf gave him space, connection, and the chance to open up around others with shared interests
It’s a reminder of how important it is for men’s mental health to have outlets and community.
And on a lighter note – just two weeks ago, Matt achieved a hole in one!
Final Thoughts
What I took away from my conversation with Matt is this: resilience, structure, and heart are a powerful combination.
He combines corporate-level experience with real-life understanding. He knows what it’s like to manage big teams and budgets – and now he understands firsthand the challenges of running your own business without a boss or team behind you
Most importantly, he genuinely cares.
At Lily’s Social Kitchen, we love meeting people who are passionate about helping others grow. Matt is certainly one of those people.
Thank you, Matt, for sharing your journey – and for being one of my three worthwhile conversations of the day.