Acrastyle Limited

21/05/2026

In a world where job-hopping is the norm, spending 47 years at one company feels almost legendary.

But at Acrastyle Limited, people tend to stay when they find work, and teams, worth staying for.

After more than four and a half decades of solving problems, mentoring colleagues, sharing wisdom, and probably knowing the business better than most of the instruction manuals, Kevan Dell has officially retired from his role as Senior Mechanical Engineer.

Over the years, generations of employees have relied on Kevan not just for his technical expertise, but for his calm presence, sharp thinking, and dependable nature. The kind of person every workplace hopes to have — and never really wants to lose.

While we are not entirely convinced he won’t still turn up with advice every now and then, one thing is certain: Kevan leaves behind an incredible legacy and a standard that will be hard to match.

Thank you, Kevan, for 47 remarkable years of dedication to Acrastyle. Wishing you a long, happy, and well-earned retirement.

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15/04/2026

The Great Grid Upgrade marks one of the most significant modernisations of the UK’s electricity transmission network in decades. As renewable energy capacity grows, strengthening the grid is essential to ensure clean power can move reliably from where it’s generated to where it’s needed.

This shift is accelerating investment across the electricity network and increasing the demand for specialised engineering expertise in power transmission and protection systems.

At Acrastyle Limited, we remain focused on supporting resilient and reliable power networks that will help enable the UK’s transition to Net Zero.

07/04/2026

Acrastyle Limited is hiring across multiple roles.

We are looking for people who take ownership of their work, pay close attention to detail, and enjoy being part of a team that delivers to a high standard.

Current openings in production include:
* Test Engineer
* Functional Testing Engineer (FAT3)
* Electrical Mechanical Fitter
* Mechanical Fitter

Interested? Send your CV to [email protected]

25/03/2026

Chris Low joined Acrastyle Limited in 2006 at 17 as an electrical engineering apprentice. No grand plan, just a young lad hitting the ground running, starting on the shop floor as a wireman, picking up supply chain knowledge in the stores, and steadily building a real understanding of how the business works from the inside out.

That foundation carried him through. A move into the contracts department eventually led to Contracts Engineer, Project Coordinator, Lead Project Coordinator, and three years ago, Projects Manager. It wasn't a mapped-out career path, it grew through experience, reliability, and a willingness to take on whatever came next.

Today Chris sits at the centre of it all, connecting customers, engineering, and production teams. He's known for keeping things calm and on track, but what really defines his approach is how he leads people. He believes projects are only as good as the teams behind them and that shows in everything he does.

Ask him what's kept him here for nearly two decades, and the answer is simple: people matter at Acrastyle. It's a close-knit place where contributions get noticed and trust is built over time. The company gave him room to grow, and he's given it consistency and ownership in return. Nearly 20 years on, that relationship is still going strong.

16/03/2026

Meet Jonathan Duckworth, Supply Chain Manager at Acrastyle Limited.

Fondly known as Jonny across the business or, as he likes to call himself, a “North English Nomad” — Jonathan’s career path has been anything but conventional. He began in hospitality, moved into the motor trade, and built experience across a range of hands-on roles along the way. Before joining Acrastyle, he was working as Parts Manager at Mercedes-Benz.

At Acrastyle, Jonny leads the supply chain team and is responsible for sourcing everything the business needs to run day to day. Simple to explain, not always easy to deliver. Getting the right items, at the right time, and at the right price plays a critical role in keeping operations efficient and the business moving. It’s a role that demands adaptability, foresight, and quick decision-making, all of which Jonny brings to the table.

Outside of work, cycling has long been a big part of his life. His interest in motor vehicles hasn’t gone anywhere either, although these days it’s more about rebuilding and fixing than driving. More recently, most of his free time is happily spent with his one-year-old daughter, Ivy, who has quickly become his main priority.

What Jonny values most about working at Acrastyle is how welcoming the team has been since day one, helped, of course, by a pretty great view from his desk!

27/02/2026

24/02/2026

We are pleased to unveil the refreshed digital home of Acrastyle Limited. With a cleaner design, the platform reflects who we are today, a trusted engineering partner with over 60 years of excellence.

It clearly showcases our integrated design-and-build capabilities, in-house manufacturing, and comprehensive factory testing, all anchored in our vision to be a leading provider of Protection and Control solutions in the UK and global export markets.

As a subsidiary of S&S Power Switchgear Limited, we continue to combine local expertise with global engineering strength to deliver quality, knowledge, and long-term value to our customers. The new platform reinforces our promise of Excellence in Electrical Engineering. Explore more at https://acrastyle.co.uk/

29/08/2025

After more than 7 years of dedicated leadership, we bid farewell to our MD & CEO, Steve Smith, as he steps into retirement.

During his time at Acrastyle Limited, Steve has been a guiding force, bringing wisdom, clarity, and a steady hand that shaped both our people and our business. His professionalism was always matched by kindness and good humour, qualities that left a lasting impression on everyone he worked with.

As he now looks forward to perfecting his golf swing, cheering for Stoke FC with his season ticket, and spending more time with his grandchildren, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for his many contributions.

A special word of thanks to Mrs. Julie Smith, who was an indispensable partner in this journey with Acrastyle.

Thank you, Steve, for your commitment and leadership. You’ll be greatly missed, and we wish you and Julie the very best for the next chapter.

08/08/2025

A milestone moment for Acrastyle.

We are proud to share that Acrastyle Limited has been awarded Silver Channel Partner status by Hitachi Energy, a recognition that reflects our unwavering commitment to Excellence in Electrical Engineering. The certification was presented to Steve Smith and Nick Dunn during a visit by Mayowa Aberibigbe, Russell Clayman, and Alexandre P.L. Zehnder from Hitachi Energy to our office on July 24, 2025.

For over 63 years, Acrastyle has been designing and delivering high-voltage substation protection and control solutions across the UK and internationally. This partnership underscores the strength of our legacy, and the trust placed in us by our customers and partners alike.

This recognition also reaffirms the deep technical capabilities of our team, the robustness of our processes, and the quality we consistently deliver. As the UK navigates the global "energy trilemma" of balancing energy security, affordability, and decarbonisation, partnerships like this are crucial for driving meaningful progress.

31/07/2025

Steve Harris joined Acrastyle Limited in 2000, he was 25, fresh out of the Royal Navy after five years as a ship's electrician, carrying stories from around the world and a solid grounding in electrical work that began with an apprenticeship at the local shipyard when he was just 16.

Twenty-five years later, Steve is our Engineering Manager, leading a team of twelve engineers. But his journey here wasn't mapped out in some grand career plan. It happened the way many of the best things do – through people, conversations, and being in the right place when opportunity knocked.

He started as a wireman on the shop floor. Eight months later, curiosity got the better of him and he moved to the test squad. Then the drawing office caught his interest. Applications engineer followed, then lead design engineer, and eventually – about three years ago –the Engineering Manager role opened up.

What strikes you about Steve isn't just his technical knowledge – though after moving through every department, he can troubleshoot problems from the shop floor to the most complex schematic designs. It's his approach to leadership. His door is always open. When his team faces challenges they can't solve, they know they can come to him without judgment.

The company has supported this growth every step of the way. Management courses, leadership training, international travel to work with the engineering team in Chennai, building relationships and ensuring that the global team feels connected.

But ask Steve why he's stayed 25 years, and he doesn't talk about career ladders or development programs. His answer is simple: “You’re not just a number here. You’re a valued member.”

At his first job in a shipyard, Steve worked among 10,000 people. No one knew his name. In the Navy, he was a part of a team, but still part of a large system. But here, we’re close-knit enough that everyone knows each other—across departments. The company reflects this in ways both big and small. Monthly gatherings where everyone shares pie and peas at lunch. Lunchtime walks around the canal for fresh air and informal conversations. Weekend hikes where families come along and even dogs join the trek.

In a world of rapid job changes and corporate buzzwords, Steve's story feels refreshingly authentic. It's about a company that helped someone grow from the ground up.

Twenty-five years. Same company, ever-evolving role, deepening relationships. In Steve's journey, you can see what's possible when a company truly invests in its people, and when those people invest themselves back in the company.