The Rev Dr John Scott.

Workplace Matters (WM), a charity which has over 50 years’ experience of taking Christian values into the workplace, including providing chaplaincy to a wide range of organisations within the private, not-for-profit and public sectors, has appointed the Rev Dr John Scott as its new Executive Director. Dr Scott will take up his new post in October.

For the last three years, John has been the chief executive of the Daylight Christian Prison Trust – which supports ex-offenders and establishes links with prisons, among other things providing chapel services and Bible Studies for prisoners.

A native of Northern Ireland, John studied at Queen’s University in Belfast, obtaining a BSc and, later, a PhD in engineering before becoming managing director of a manufacturing company. During his time in industry, John served on several British Standard and European Committees as well as being a technical advisor to the European Commission and Oftec, the oil industry standards body.

Sensing a call to Christian ministry, John completed an MA in theological studies at the Reformed Theological Seminary in Florida, USA. He is currently completing a second PhD – this time in divinity with the University of Edinburgh.

Comment: There is evidence that chaplaincy is becoming increasingly prized by those workers who are exposed to it. This may be the result of personal pressures brought on by the current economic climate or the sort of trauma that those in the emergency services deal with on a daily basis.

This not only means that WM’s expanding services are being increasingly sought after but it also makes it an exciting and challenging time to be involved with a charity operating in this space. John Scott will not be short of opportunities once he takes up his new post. Indeed, neither will his colleagues at WM.