LDC Top 50 2025
Matt Travis
Managing Director
Enzygo
Matt Travis was studying for a PhD in climate change and water management when he pivoted from academia into business. “I worked for four different consultancies and kept thinking, I can do this better,” he says. In 2008, he co-founded environmental consultancy Enzygo and completed a management buyout in 2023.
Today, Enzygo employs 83 people, advising clients including Hill Group, Whitbread and Park Holidays. As President of Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber of Commerce and former chair of governors at Northern Education Trust, Matt is also committed to supporting the local community. “I’d rather be the most influential entrepreneur you’ve never heard of.”
I’d rather be the most influential entrepreneur you’ve never heard of. I don’t crave recognition, I crave impact.”
Q&A
How would you describe the culture at Enzygo and what sets it apart?
We do some great work, but we also have a lot of fun doing it! We often invite clients to compete in the ‘Enzygo Games’ – bowling, darts, table tennis. Our relationships aren’t just transactional. We’ve grown steadily and today employ 83 staff: 28 per cent have been with us for over five years and 16 per cent for more than a decade. Given we’ve been trading for 17 years, that’s impressive retention! We invest heavily in people, spending £120,000 on training and development this year alone. We also work closely with local schools on enterprise and careers, and we’ve partnered with SFAC, a Leeds-based child protection charity.
How do you support mental health in the workplace?
Two of my close friends took their own lives in their thirties and forties. It floored me, I just didn’t see it coming. Since then, I’ve made mental health a key focus at Enzygo. We have brought in wellbeing consultants like Mike Lawrence and Ches Moulton (aka The Stress Master) to run training, and all staff have 24/7 access to a GP and counselling services. Each office has Mental Health First Aiders, and we hold monthly ‘Time to Talk’ walks.
What role do businesses play in tackling the climate crisis?
At Enzygo, we’re working towards B Corp certification and carbon reduction. I chair Barnsley Council’s Positive Climate Partnership, uniting more than 50 organisations to collaborate on climate action. We created a carbon literacy course for businesses and secured funding to roll it out across the borough. Without education, you can’t drive meaningful change.
