STEVEN THORNTON
Plymouth,UK
Summary
Experienced Health & Safety professional with 20 years in safety-critical engineering environments and a NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health & Safety – Distinction. Expertise in identifying risks, maintaining safe practices, and coordinating corrective actions in demanding settings. Seeking a Health & Safety Advisor, HSE Officer, or SHEQ Advisor role to leverage engineering experience and NEBOSH training for fostering a proactive safety culture.
Overview
1
1
Certification
12
12
years of post-secondary education
24
24
years of professional experience
Work history
LECTURER – MARINE ENGINEERING
City College Plymouth
Plymouth
01.2025 - 04.2026
- Delivered practical and theoretical marine engineering training to 1st and 2nd year apprentices within regulated educational and workshop environments.
- Embedded practical safety principles into engineering instruction, enhancing workshop practice and learner understanding.
- Mentored and coached apprentices, supporting technical competence and safe working behaviours.
- Promoted health and safety awareness, reinforcing safe working practices during practical engineering activities.
- Applied extensive industry experience to develop awareness of engineering risk and safe operation.
- Maintained compliant learning environments, ensuring adherence to safety regulations and standards.
- Maintained CPD in health & safety, workplace safety, safeguarding, mental health awareness and equality & diversity.
- Key achievement: Transferred extensive safety-critical engineering experience into education and training, strengthening communication, coaching and people-development skills.
TEST ENGINEER / SECTION LEAD
Princess Yachts
Plymouth
01.2014 - 10.2024
- Led and coordinated engineering teams during construction, testing, commissioning and sea trials within highly regulated, safety-critical environments.
- Coordinated 4–5 engineering teams to ensure thorough testing and commissioning of complex systems.
- Conducted detailed quality, safety and compliance inspections across complex mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, HVAC and plumbing systems.
- Completed approximately 3,000 quality and compliance inspections per vessel, identifying defects, issues and non-conformances requiring corrective action.
- Identified and resolved 100+ defects and non-conformances, facilitating timely operational acceptance.
- Led MCA and RINA sea-trial demonstrations and supported safe operational readiness.
- Accumulated approximately 2,880+ days conducting sea trials, working in demanding operational environments with responsibility for safe testing and commissioning.
- Acted as Yacht Master with responsibility for crew safety and operational readiness during sea trials.
- Investigated complex technical faults and applied structured problem-solving to identify causes and implement corrective action.
- Contributed to 100+ safety improvements, enhancing safe working practices and operational standards.
- Maintained compliance with operational and health & safety procedures throughout vessel build and commissioning programmes.
- Led teams of up to approximately 40 personnel on land/in build and approximately 12 personnel at sea, maintaining focus on safe and effective operational delivery.
- Coordinated cross-functional teams and stakeholders to deliver safe, compliant and efficient project outcomes.
- Applied practical engineering judgement to identify potential risks associated with complex equipment and operational activities.
- Senior engineering role involving testing, commissioning, compliance inspection, fault investigation and operational safety of complex luxury motor yachts, including vessels of 35m+.
TEST ENGINEER / SEA COMMISSIONER
Princess Motor Yacht Sales
Plymouth
01.2002 - 01.2014
- Conducted pre- and post-launch testing of mechanical and electrical systems to ensure reliability and performance standards.
- Performed sea trials, diagnostics and technical fault investigations on over 6000 Vessels.
- Ensured safe vessel operation throughout commissioning and operational trials.
- Maintained compliance with marine safety procedures and operational standards.
- Supported warranty investigations through detailed technical reporting and compliance inspections to uphold product quality.
- Liaised with engineering teams, clients and stakeholders to effectively resolve technical and operational issues, enhancing communication and collaboration.
- Applied practical engineering judgement to identify faults, operational issues and appropriate corrective action.
- Collaborated in high-value environments with focus on customer service and safety.
- Composed and edited work instructions for quality and test procedures.
- Worked with production teams to facilitate smooth transition from design and testing to full-scale manufacturing.
- Examined project plans and locations to identify and mitigate potential hazards.
- Devised and executed comprehensive test plans for smooth operations in time-critical environment.
- Managed risk effectively throughout project life cycle via proactive identification and mitigation of potential obstacles during testing phase.
- Executed detailed testing routines, improving overall system functionality.
Education
NEBOSH National General Certificate - Occupational Health & Safety
Compassa
Plymouth 10.2024 - 05.2025
Qualsafe Level 3 Award - First Response Emergency Care (FREC 3)
City College Plymouth
Plymouth 04.2025 - 04.2026
City & Guilds Level 3 Award - Education and Training
City College Plymouth
Plymouth 09.2025 - 02.2026
GCSEs - Mathematics
Plymstock Comprehensive
Plymouth 09.1981 - 07.1986
GCSEs - English
Plymstock Comprehensive
Plymouth 09.1981 - 07.1986
Skills
- Health & Safety Compliance
- Regulatory Compliance
- Risk & Hazard Identification
- Safety audits
- Incident management
- Corrective Action
- Nonconformance management
- Quality assurance
- Safe Systems of Work
- Engineering & Workshop Safety
- Mechanical & Electrical Safety
- Emergency response
- Testing & Commissioning
- Process optimisation
- Team Leadership
- Safety coaching
Personal Information
- Title: HEALTH & SAFETY ADVISOR | HSE OFFICER | SHEQ | SAFETY & COMPLIANCE
- Availability: immediate
Certification
NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health & Safety – Distinction | 2025, Qualsafe Level 3 Award in First Response Emergency Care (FREC 3) | 2025, City & Guilds Level 3 Award in Education and Training | 2026, RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore | Advanced Fire Fighting | Elementary First Aid at Work, MCA Proficiency in Security Awareness | MCA Personal Safety Techniques, Electrical Safety & Crimping Certification
H&S VALUE TO AN EMPLOYER
- Safety-Critical Experience: 20+ years working in environments where personnel safety, equipment integrity, compliance and operational readiness were essential.
- Leadership: Proven experience leading teams of up to approximately 40 personnel and coordinating multiple engineering teams.
- Compliance & Inspection: Extensive inspection and compliance experience, including approximately 3,000 inspections per vessel.
- Risk & Corrective Action: More than 100 defects/non-conformances identified and dealt with, supported by structured technical investigation and corrective action.
- Safety Improvement: Contributed to more than 100 safety improvements across engineering operations.
- Formal H&S Training: NEBOSH National General Certificate Distinction, supported by FREC 3, fire safety and maritime safety qualifications.
- Communication & Training: Experienced in coaching, mentoring and developing apprentices alongside extensive industrial leadership experience.
Timeline
City & Guilds Level 3 Award - Education and Training
City College Plymouth
09.2025 - 02.2026
Qualsafe Level 3 Award - First Response Emergency Care (FREC 3)
City College Plymouth
04.2025 - 04.2026
LECTURER – MARINE ENGINEERING
City College Plymouth
01.2025 - 04.2026
NEBOSH National General Certificate - Occupational Health & Safety
Compassa
10.2024 - 05.2025
TEST ENGINEER / SECTION LEAD
Princess Yachts
01.2014 - 10.2024
TEST ENGINEER / SEA COMMISSIONER
Princess Motor Yacht Sales
01.2002 - 01.2014
GCSEs - Mathematics
Plymstock Comprehensive
09.1981 - 07.1986
GCSEs - English
Plymstock Comprehensive
09.1981 - 07.1986