About
Shop floor to classroom, and back.
I’m Stephen Kittner — most people call me Steve. I’m an engineer who teaches. I’ve spent thirty years moving between the workshop and the classroom, and my work now is helping colleges and companies do both better.
The short version
- 1995
Engineering apprentice
EMTA Modern Apprenticeship (NVQ L3) and a BTEC HNC in Mechanical Engineering. Machine shop, fabrication, CNC programming, and project work from family firms to aerospace.
- Industry
Design engineer
At ABT Products: client liaison, SOLIDWORKS assemblies, drawings, BOMs and costings, and laser programming in RADAN — design that went straight to production.
- 2007
Into teaching
Lecturer at the University of Hertfordshire, teaching from degree to PhD level, and course leader at New College Nottingham.
- SGS College
Lecturer, then Head of Engineering
BTEC Level 3 and 4 Mechanical Engineering. Built the Mechatronics Maintenance Technician apprenticeship with Dyson as anchor employer, from 5 to 12 apprentices. Foundation degrees with Nottingham Trent University and the University of Gloucestershire.
- Heart of Worcestershire College
Vocational & Technical Leader · Head of Centre
400+ learners and 20+ staff across engineering, motor vehicle and electrical installation, and Head of Centre for EAL, BTEC and City & Guilds. The best job I’ve had.
- 2020 →
Consultant
Engineering teaching and management consultancy. Pearson Assessment Associate, reviewing BTEC Engineering HE.
- 2026
Author
Published “Human Literacy in an Age of Non-Human Intelligence”, a position paper on what education is for when AI can do routine cognitive work.
What that means for you
- I’ve done the job. I’ve run a department, held a centre through inspection and built an apprenticeship from scratch, so my advice is written for Monday morning, not a slide deck.
- I start from the work. Machine shop first, design office second. Drawings, curricula and tools are judged by whether people can actually use them.
- I teach for a living. Whatever I build, your people should be able to run it after I’ve gone.
- I’ll be straight with you. If I’m not the right person, or the answer is “don’t buy that printer”, I’ll say so.
Qualifications
- MA with Distinction (Bath Spa University) · BSc First Class Hons (University of Hertfordshire)
- BTEC HNC Mechanical Engineering · EMTA Modern Apprenticeship (NVQ L3)
- Certified SOLIDWORKS Expert №4,986 · CSWP-Advanced: drawings, sheet metal, weldments, surfacing
- Award — Innovative Teaching & Learning · Pearson Assessment Associate (BTEC Engineering HE)
- PTLLS L4 · Teaching with Technology L7 (Lamar University) · Microsoft Innovative Educator