Meet Steven, Business Architect and a key member of the British Engines Group Business Systems team.
Despite experiencing a life-changing spinal injury at the age of 21, Steven has achieved a number of remarkable academic and professional accomplishments. Holding a PhD in Industrial Statistics, Steven has used insights from his research to introduce innovative process control systems across the group, bringing about transformative change.
Steven tells us more about the impact of his accident and his proudest professional achievements…
Tell us about yourself and your role within the company
I’m a Business Architect, which means I help the businesses across the British Engines Group to make better use of our ERP software platform, IFS.
I also mentor a team of Business Analysts who work to resolve business issues by using software solutions. Working closely with teams from across the group, the analysts implement software solutions, or collaborate with developers to design new solutions. They’re all relatively new to engineering, the British Engines Group and IFS, so I’m helping them to learn the ropes.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
My current role allows me to work with all of the businesses across the group so there’s a lot of variety and I get to see their similarities and differences, which I find interesting. Seeing an improvement as a result of a process I’ve implemented is really satisfying.
When did you start working for the group?
I started working with group company, Rotary Power in 2015. At the time I was on a Knowledge Transfer Partnership employed by Durham University, but based full-time at Rotary Power. It was a joint funded project between Innovate UK and Rotary Power.
In 2017, Rotary Power offered me a Senior Quality Engineer position and in 2020 I got promoted to Business Improvement Manager before spending more time working with the group Business Systems team in 2021. I was then offered the role of Business Architect in the Business Systems team in 2023.
What attracted you to the company?
Initially I didn’t know a lot about British Engines, but my university supervisor had worked with the group getting student placements and mini projects. He thought my PhD research would be a really good fit, so we wrote the funding application together with the senior leadership team and the rest is history!
What research were you doing at university?
My undergraduate degree is in Mechanical Engineering, my Masters is in Quality Improvement Methods and my PhD research focused on industrial statistics and process control. In broad terms, I was using statistics to analyse data produced by machines and then using the analysis to investigate ways to improve the machine’s future results.
Can you tell us about the accident that led to your being a wheelchair user?
I have a C6 spinal injury which happened when I was playing rugby at university aged 21. It’s quite a high level injury so it affects all four of my limbs meaning I’m tetraplegic, rather than paraplegic. I was in hospital for six months following the accident and then a nursing home for another six months after that, so it was a yearlong recovery process.
The accident happened during a scrum. I wasn’t ready when they called it so my head hit the other prop’s shoulder and I heard the snap, it was like a shotgun going off in my head. Whilst in hospital, I had a 16 hour operation to repair the damage to my bones, but my spinal cord was inoperable. After the operation I was in an induced coma for two weeks to stop me from moving and give my bones a chance to heal.
I would say try not to sit at home, you’ve got to try and do something constructive. It’s definitely a difficult position to be in, but you’ve got to get out of the house and just keep going.
How do you feel the company has accommodated you?
There have been a few small adaptations like changing desk heights and providing me with a specially adapted computer mouse. Most sites have a lift and they’ve trained my colleagues to use an evacuation chair to get me down the stairs if there’s a fire. I’m able to work remotely if I want, but I prefer to be out of the house so I can keep work and home life separate. The company is also flexible when it comes to my hospital appointments, which I have quite a lot of!
I need help with several health related things throughout the day, so I have two personal assistants, Craig and Peter, who come to the office to assist me.
How do you think companies could better support people with disabilities?
I think most companies are supportive of people with disabilities. At the end of the day, if you’re capable of adding value to a business, they’re going to find ways to make it easy for you to do that. Often the hardest thing is getting the initial opportunity. I was fortunate that I knew someone who knew someone, not everyone is in that boat!
What advice would you have for someone else in a similar position?
I would say try not to sit at home, you’ve got to try and do something constructive. It’s definitely a difficult position to be in, but you’ve got to get out of the house and just keep going.
What are your aspirations for the future?
I tend to see where life takes me but my big goal is to help the group improve and keep adding value. My job title is less important to me, as long as I’m useful, that’s what motivates me.
What’s your proudest career achievement?
In 2015 we designed a new self-inspection system at Rotary Power which is still used to this day. Before the system was implemented, parts were measured to check conformity but the measurements weren’t recorded. The self-inspection system collects measurements and flags if the part is non-conforming, removing the need for an inspector to come round and re-measure. This has helped tighten up quality processes, reduce waste and lessen the likelihood of defective parts reaching customers.
We used formulas from my PhD research to build the programme. The calculations display as a traffic light system which will show red, green or amber based on measurements taken. Red means the part is out of specification and unusable, green means it’s near target and amber means it’s just within specification but action should be taken.
What motivates you?
I’m quite a self-motivated person, I really enjoy solving problems and coming up with innovative, logical solutions that improve efficiency and accuracy. I find that really rewarding.
What do you like to do outside of work?
I live with my partner, Lucy, who was a microbiologist before having our four year old son, Toby. We met in 2004 at university while doing our undergraduate degrees. I try to get out with them both at the weekends to do something fun. We went to see the Flying Scotsman recently which Toby really enjoyed.
I try to keep myself fit by doing physiotherapy and exercises at home and I enjoy watching the football or rugby when the Six Nations or World Cup are on. I’m a big Newcastle United supporter!
Thanks so much for talking to us Steven, we wish you the best of luck with your future projects across the group.