Life’s biggest moments deserve meaningful support: Meet Matt

Becoming a parent changes everything. Alongside the excitement and joy comes a new sense of responsibility, a shift in priorities, and the challenge of balancing work with family life.

For Matt Hinton, Group Partnership Director at SMG, becoming a dad for the first time was both incredible and instantly life-changing.

After taking four weeks of paternity leave and two weeks of annual leave, Matt spent his time focused on supporting his wife, Helena, and getting to know life as a family of three.

In fact, returning to work was harder than he expected for one simple reason.

“If anything, I didn’t want to come back. I was so content in my new role at home, looking after my girls.”

Returning to work brought a new adjustment as Matt settled into life as a working parent.

What made the transition easier for Matt was the support and flexibility he received when returning to work. Knowing he was trusted to balance his responsibilities as a new parent alongside his role helped him settle back into work with confidence.

That flexibility started before his daughter was even born.

Throughout Helena’s pregnancy, Matt was able to attend every scan, allowing him to be fully involved from the beginning of the journey.

And after returning to work, one particular benefit has made a lasting impact.

“The additional Fridays off have been a real highlight. They’ve given me uninterrupted time to just be a dad – whether that’s heading to Chester Zoo, going to the park, or simply spending time together as a family of three.”

Those extra days have created opportunities for moments that might otherwise have been missed during the early months of his daughter’s life.

Like many working parents, Matt’s role involves balancing professional commitments with family responsibilities. Travel can sometimes mean missing milestones and everyday moments at home.

To make the most of the time he does have, he’s become more intentional about how he structures his day.

“The biggest example is mornings – being able to get my daughter up, change her, feed her. Those small, everyday moments have become really important. They’re where a lot of the bonding happens.”

When working from home, Matt can be part of that routine every day. When travelling, he tries to schedule meetings slightly later so he can still be there for those important moments before the day begins.

Becoming a father hasn’t changed his ambition, but it has changed how he defines success.

“You start to think more about what really matters and how you spend your time. Success isn’t just about progression anymore – it’s also about being present at home and not missing the important moments.”

What has reassured him most is knowing he doesn’t have to choose between the two.

“The flexibility and trust at SMG mean I can still grow in my role while being the kind of dad I want to be.”

For Matt, meaningful support has been about creating the space to embrace fatherhood without putting his career on hold. Having the flexibility to be present for everyday moments, alongside opportunities to continue growing professionally, has made all the difference.

Supporting parents isn’t just about time away from work. It’s about helping them stay connected to the moments that matter most when they return.