Qualifications:

Bachelor of Engineering (Electronic Engineering) with Honours - University of Liverpool, 1977
Masters in Business Management with Distinction - Manchester Business School, 1992
Postgrad Diploma in Law (Common Professional Exam) - Manchester Metropolitan University, 2001
Postgrad Diploma in Legal Practice - University of Staffordshire, 2003

Professional Societies:

Member of Institute of Electrical Engineers - 1986
Chartered Engineer - 1986

Professional Experience:

Steve has over 25 years experience in the software and electronics industries.  He began his career as an electronics design engineer in 1977 with Ferranti where he progressed into system design before taking up his first project management role in 1986. He subsequently managed projects of increasing complexity and value, eventually being appointed as programme manager with responsibility for a business unit delivering defence systems to the MOD for use by the Royal Navy. During this period Ferranti sponsored his master's degree in 1990-92.

He sat on several appeal panels as an independent arbitrator in 1990/91 when Ferranti made thousands of employees redundant and many appealed against their selection.

Between 1993 and 1996 Steve was a consultant providing project management skills into companies such as BAe SEMA and Cray Systems. In 1996 he joined GenRad (now Teradyne Diagnostic Solutions) as programme manager and, latterly, he was a business unit manager with responsibility for a business unit delivering bespoke software and hardware solutions to major automotive OEMs.  During this period he was also responsible for contract preparation, contract negotiation and the preparation of software licensing agreements, working closely with Teradyne's legal department in the USA and external counsel specifically with regard to protection of IP and software licensing.

In August 2004 Steve made the transition from industry into the legal profession and is now with Hammonds in Manchester.