The Worshipful Company of Engineers’ annual award goes to a versatile engineer who is continually developing his mechanical knowledge.
Steve Williams’ early ambition was to join the Royal Air Force and he became an avionics technician after finishing school in the 1980s. As his role developed – he was mentoring HND students in avionics – and he took on some mechanical engineering responsibilities, he also studied for a HNC in aerospace engineering, which was mechanically biased, to make sure he could fully back up his training position. It’s a feature of his 28-year career, evidenced in the many studies he has undertaken, to add qualifications and experience in his pursuit of mechanical engineering knowledge. He has also demonstrated commercial acumen; and an ability to bring about change in an organisation.
Based at the Air Warfare Centre, RAF Waddington, and currently an Incorporated Engineer (as all recipients of the Baroness Platt award must be) Steve said: “Extending my qualifications makes me more credible. Part of what I do in my current role is coordinating a ‘good ideas’ scheme, which includes proposed improvements, often with a mechanical bias. I carry out research in order to put these proposals to a board of both engineers and non-engineers, so I must be able to explain them fully.”
Steve illustrates the full extent of his work to promote engineering, and the personal commitment he makes to the profession through his own career development, to ensure that he, his fellow engineers, and wider society, derive the best possible value from the industry.
“I am a volunteer Professional Review Panel interviewer for applicants to the Institution for IEng membership, specialising in RAF candidates. As well as undertaking a range of STEM outreach projects for Lincolnshire schools, I mentor and assess 50 RAF students (avionic, mechanical and armament trades) at HNC and HND Levels. Recently I have become involved in RAF Waddington’s ‘Project X’ and will have responsibility for mentoring a school team in designing, building, testing and flying a model aircraft to drop equipment over a designated area.”
Steve’s robust continuous professional development (CPD) plan includes work-based training and engineering developmental courses in ethics, standards, sustainability, problem solving and change management via the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and the IET. He is currently studying with the Open University for a BEng and intends to complete a MEng programme to fulfil the academic requirement for CEng registration on an accredited pathway.
In January, Steve was promoted to an engineering training role, and after about 18 months, he predicts, he will be keen to move into a more hands-on engineering environment. He is looking forward to having more direct engineering experience, not least in order to gain the competences required in further professional registration.
He said: “It’s my ambition to work on some modern platforms, such as the Lightning II, which will bring me into the realm of new aircraft and cutting-edge technologies.”
Steve was nominated – initially without his knowledge – by Simon Balmer, formerly Vice Chair for IEng on the Institution’s Professional Review Committee, who said: “Stephen Williams promotes engineering [in a great many ways] and has broadened his understanding of engineering from purely avionics by successfully diversifying into the wider mechanical field. He has led a team of 32 avionics and electro-mechanical tradesmen from the Typhoon Avionics Regional Centre through an extended period of capability and airworthiness governance change; and continues to provide leadership in engineering practices, welfare and morale through the organisation of training and development activities. He is highly committed to developing as an engineer, aiming for chartership in the future.”
Steve’s feelings, when he discovered he’d been nominated for the award, were mixed: “I was honoured, but shocked, to be honest! I left the interview in London wishing I had mentioned lots of things that seemed to slip my mind! But overall I am very pleased. The recognition enhances my credibility as an engineer and helps me build my future career goals.”
Steve is committed to communicating the importance of engagement with the Institution, to those coming up through the profession: “I think my skills as a professional review interviewer have been in providing a good understanding of RAF candidates and being able to encourage and engage newcomers to the Institution about the ways in which they can add credibility to their careers through professional registration, whether they are at EngTech or IEng level, and looking also to CEng. I believe, and advise, that there is great value in connecting with the Institution, whatever route a candidate may be following.”
The Institution congratulates Steve on his award, and wishes him well at The Worshipful Company of Engineers’ Annual Awards Dinner, which takes place in Merchant Taylors’ Hall, City of London, on 9 July. There, he will receive a medal and certificate in recognition of his achievement as this year’s ‘most outstanding individual registered as Incorporated Engineer’.