Stewart Duffus

A highly focused and driven professional with a strong specialism in management and leadership. Proven experience overseeing operational and training portfolios in line with MOD commitments. Passionate about workforce development, consistently investing time in supporting others to achieve realistic and measurable goals.

Highly experienced in technical project planning and needs analysis, with a track record of delivering to exceptional standards in high-risk environments while engaging effectively with key stakeholders. Very competent in identifying and the management of Health & Safety risks. These capabilities have been honed over an exemplary 23-year career in the Corps of Royal Engineers, including recognition with a Commendation on the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in 2022.

Technical Trainer & NVQ Assessor

(2024)

• Delivery of a variety of NPORS & company bespoke H&S courses.
• H&S Management and implementation of standards.
• Assessment of operator competency levels.
• Conduct regular performance reviews and provide constructive feedback, facilitating continuous improvement and ensuring compliance with quality standards.
• Coach and mentor new starts into the Power, Transmission and Distribution industry.
• Training path planning and implementation.
• Analysis of training delivery and results statistics.

Training Warrant Officer (Training Manager)

(2021 - 2024)

Army wide subject matter expert on water development within the MOD. Identifying innovative ideas on improving capability and employability. Responsible for the review and reconstruction of the Well Driller training course in accordance with Defence Systems Approach to Training requirements and OFSTED legislation.

• Evaluate training, design, content and delivery.
• Knowledgeable of the 4 pillars of DSAT; Analysis, Design, Delivery and Assurance.
• Budget management.
• Management of Service Personnel careers.
• Project planning of worldwide construction tasks.
• H&S compliance management.
• Recruitment of volunteers for specialist role.
• Career management of 40+ Service Personnel.
• Risk analysis.

Senior Mitigation Advisor for Chemical, Biological and Nuclear

(2018 - 2021)

Employed as a senior management within high profile UK Operations, with the main focus of mitigating against the effects of a CBN device functioning. Working in highly pressurised environments and with limited time. Responsible for maintaining 365-day readiness by ensuring currency and competencies of the Operators. Key planner of role specific training programmes.

• Provide mitigation advice to the Home Office for CBRN incidents.
• Ensure Unit readiness is maintained in the event of high profile taskings.
• Training design and execution of bespoke training objectives and KLP’s.
• Career management of 50+ Service Personnel.

Senior Manager of Well Drilling Capability & Training

(2017 - 2018)

Management of task delivery in austere environments ensuring quality and control is maintained. Day to day management of service personnel during normal routine in the UK and whilst deployed overseas.

• Control of qualified Well Drillers within a bespoke Unit.
• Project planning of technical borehole construction and leak detection tasks.
• Appraisal writing for employees.
• Senior equipment management of all the niche well drilling equipment.
• Interaction with industry partners in implementation of innovative ideas.

Operational Instructor

(2015 - 2017)

Responsible for training delivery to support the deployment of Service Personnel to austere environments. Instructor in a variety of specialist areas; First Aid, Communication Negotiation Behaviour Detection & Explosive Ordnance lessons.

• Delivery of bespoke military lessons for service personnel deploying on worldwide operational deployments.
• Ensuring that all tutorial policies and guidance are adhering to OFSTED compliance.
• Supervisor of instructors, validating their delivery and providing advice and guidance in ensuring suitable level of instruction is achieved.
• Assessment of Service Personnel and their ability to level to deploy.

Lead Driller & Junior Manager

(2011 - 2015)

Lead planning and designing lead authority on specific water development task in inhospitable conditions worldwide.

• Compliance of Health & Safety regulations on task sites.
• Ensuring that the quality and control of borehole development is maintained throughout the construction period.
• Fleet management, responsible for the inspections and maintenance, auditing of driver’s hours, planning driver training & maintaining currency and competencies levels.

Plant Operator Mechanic/ Well Driller

(2000 - 2010)

• Maintenance and servicing of heavy plant.
• Operating a variety of heavy plant (bucket loaders/excavators/backhoes/dump trucks).
• Operating of truck mounted drilling equipment in the construction of boreholes worldwide.
• Low level planning of construction and borehole tasks.

GCSE – Grades B-D (1992 - 1992)

Keys Skills – English Level 2 (2012 - 2012)

Key Skills – Maths Level 2 (2012 - 2012)