UK Testamonials - Steve Newman

Steve Newman - Manager, Continuous improvement team, Test gear team, Qualification team - UK Engineering

I started at Megger as an Apprentice Technician some four decades ago, (it was called AVO back then). Like today, an apprenticeship provided a great starting place for a life in engineering. Post apprenticeship, I briefly became a technician with the Engineering department. The job only lasted six months because, like today, Megger (which was called Megger Instruments at this time) provided opportunities for employee progression. I was duly enrolled on a four-year sandwich course at Bradford University as a sponsored student. Being a “thin sandwich” course, I attended university for 6 months of the year and the remaining half was spent at an industrial placement in Dover, where I spent time in most of the departments. This experience was, again, similar to our training programs today in that it provided valuable experience for the future. The industrial periods were fully recorded and used to support my IEE (now IET) training program on the road to becoming chartered. This process continues to assist our graduate engineers today. 

After completing four years, I emerged with an electrical and electronic engineering degree. This achievement was only made possible with the various opportunities afforded me by a good employer.

Post graduation, I started working as a Graduate Hardware Engineer in the Research and Development department of what, at this point, had become “AVO International Ltd”.  

Many well-known projects followed and further career opportunities occurred. During my employment as a Project Engineer, I finally reached the required standard to attain Chartered Engineer status. 

Next opportunity was a move into management as a Project Manager. During this phase of my career, key projects were MIT400 and later the updated MIT400/2 range. Also the very successful MFT1700 series. 

With all my historic project knowledge and past experience, a move over to head up the Continuous Improvement team was a natural direction to take. 

Latter responsibilities for Training, Test Gear, and Product Qualification teams were added as departmental rationalisation took place.

My history clearly shows that Megger is a great company, particularly for providing upskilling opportunities for its people to achieve their aims and ambitions. 

In closing, while the company provides great opportunities, it is the people working here that actually make it a successful company and great place to work.