Steve Croot

Qualifications, courses and abilities

Initial and Fundamental Inspection and Testing (2394)
Periodic inspection and testing (2395)

City and Guilds 17th Edition Full 2382-12 IET level 3.
2382-101 Requirements of BS7671:2008.
 
Guildford College of Technology: June 1986
Electrical installation work parts 1 and 2 - JIB /CITB Approved
C&G 2361 and 2362  - Achieved Credit/Distinction

ECS Electrotechnical Certificate (CSCS) card

IPAF 1b, 3a 3b
 
Offshore Yachtmaster Skipper (The commercial endorsement has now expired)    
 
Secondary education: June 1984
Design and Technology O Level grade A                                English Literature CSE grade 4
Art O level grade C                                                                              European Studies CSE grade 4
Geography CSE grade 3                                                                    English Language CSE grade 3
Mathematics CSE grade 4
 
First hand knowledge of business start-up, promotion and advertising.
Stock control and ordering processes.
Team management, project management, costing and estimation.
Budget control and finance projections.
 
Computer literate, including extensive experience using
Excel, Webplus X4, Cybermotion 3d CAD system, MS  Office, Javascript, Quickbooks, GNUcash, Adobe Premier Elements 12, ExpressPCB, Tinkercad3d, MIT Android App Creator
 
Experience building custom PC systems

Career History

July 2023 to present day.

• Freelance Mechanical, Electrical and Electronics Engineer.  Special Effects and Props

2022 -2023 (18 months)  Head of Technical Developments. Senior Mechanical and Electrical Engineer at Cod Steaks

• Designing and building all manner of practical, mechanical, electrical and electronic effects for worldwide projects.
• Themed installations for Warner Bros Harry Potter Studio Tour, Toyko          www.wbstudiotour.jp/en/
• Interactive installations for Eureka Discovery centre, Liverpool     www.eurekadiscovery.org.uk/

2016 - 2021 Freelance Special effects engineer.    

•     Designing and building bespoke special effects for the TV and live event industry
•     Diagnosing and repairing industry standard effects equipment
•     Bespoke electrical and electronic based effects
•     MTV Europe awards, Bilbao, Spain, Hailee Steinfield      www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPqe4CJWJ8g
•     Electric flowers and fruit lowering winch rig – Lana Del Rey live 2019      www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GxUqcgsxzY
•     Smoke filled bubble generators - Christina Aguilera Vegas residency 2019
•     Univision's 'Premios Juventud’ latin awards, Miami. Various stage flame effects and pyro-technics
•     Adele USA tour 2017
•    Black Sabbath Tour 2017 – Designed and built safety control system for Flame bars.
•    Bespoke 5 finger flamethrower effect for War of the Worlds Live tour UK

2013 – 2016   JSC Electrics LTD
    Site isolations and electrical engineer for FujiFilm UK, Billingham
    Site electrical installations engineer for Johnson Matthey, Billingham.

    Electrical installations for commercial and domestic clients   
    Laboratory and  high risk environment site refurbishment
  
    Digital RAKO lighting systems.  PC based lighting and motor control.
    Wireless and wired intruder alarms.
    Wyrestorm network TV distribution systems (Video and audio over Cat7e)
   
    Commercial and domestic CCTV installations
    SONOS sound systems (wireless and wired)
 
2009 – 2011  Hadley Developments Ltd
    Took an 18 month temporary contract as Site Manager and one third company
    director of a 700k property renovation on the Isle of Man. Controlled all aspects of the construction.
 
2005 – 2009  The Enchanted Forest.  Personally owned construction company
    Designing and constructing children’s bespoke playground equipment.
    Domestic electrical installations and bespoke electronic projects for display purposes.
    Water features, hard landscaping and garden design.

2003 - 2004  Chief engineer.  112’Super Yacht ANEMOS
    Sole engineer aboard a Swan 112’ yacht. 
    Full experience maintaining and repairing:
    Marex engine  control systems,    
    MTU power plant, twin Northern lights 35KW generators
    550 Litre per hour watermaker
    400 litre hydraulic system driven by dual DC pumps and 3 PTO‘s
    Sophisticated electronic computer controls, PLC systems, air conditioning,
    pneumatics and 4500 Ampere hour battery bank and inverter system.
 
2002 – 2003  Global Risk Management (Electrical and security).
1995 – 2002  Rotary Southern Electrical Contracts (Military)
1992 – 1995  Electrical contractor. (Qualifications now 17th Edition 2382-12 IET level 3 )
1987  - 1992  Plancraft Marine, Guildford, Surrey.

Further skills
 
Fully competent with all aspects of electrical installations, both industrial and domestic.

• Controlsoft door access systems
• HIK CCTV + generic IP based surveillance systems
• CAME access control and automated gate systems
• Wireless networking and infrastructure
• Single and 3 phase distribution
• HV Busbar systems
• Trunking, tray & conduit (metal and PVC)
• LV and LED lighting
• Alarms, shutters and gate access systems
• CAT5/6 data including server systems
• Boiler control systems.
• Circuit design, costing and site plans

Experienced carpenter and joiner. This includes all types of timber construction and fine woodwork.
Extensive plumbing, landscaping, brickwork, decorating and kitchen installation skills.
Metalworking and some Arc welding experience

Model and prop making.

Hobbies and interests

3d printing on my Flashforge Creator Pro and RoStock Max V2.
Tinkering with my home-made CNC machine.

Designing and constructing bespoke electronic circuits and systems.
Microprocessor programming, including Arduino (Pro, Mini, Uno and 2560p), ESP8266, Picaxe.
Programming of custom LCD and Oled displays including Nextion touch screens.
Currently learning Python programming and teaching myself Java and HTML.
 
Other interests encompassing electronics:
 
            Bespoke security equipment
            PCB designing
            Radio control
            Customisation of my 2012 Ford Ranger 4x4.
 
As noted above, owner of a kit constructed and improved 3d printer (RoStock Max V2), with E3D V6 hot end upgrade.
Learning 123D CAD design for printing my designs. Already using the lesser capable but useful TinkerCAD.
Planning to produce custom parts, enclosures, bearings etc for my projects.
 
Prop building for commercial display, bespoke requests and home display.

Career Progression
 
My ideal work environment would be somewhere I could be allowed to use my creative and lateral thinking.
Where problems need to be solved quickly and efficiently, using the most suitable materials available and within the budget constraints of the project.
 
This could possibly be within the special effects field, prop and set building or creative stage lighting installations.
 
I believe my extensive electrical and electronic background, coupled with my construction skills would make me a useful member of installation teams or as a sole engineer.

 
Personal Aims
 
Becoming an indispensable asset to my employer and work colleagues.
To progress upwards and set myself interesting challenges using my varied experience and knowledge to my advantage in my work.