Stephen Abrahams

I am a highly motivated professional specialising in Business Improvement, Quality Assurance, and Collaborative Working, known for my pragmatic, analytical approach, and ability to engage effectively at all organisational levels. With a natural flair for building relationships and a good sense of humour, I foster inclusive, high-performing environments that support continuous improvement. Currently, I serve as a Business Partner within the Ministry of Defence, leading the rollout of a major transformation programme in a trials and test environment—driving strategic change and operational excellence.

Prior to this, I successfully ran my own consultancy until January 2024, delivering tailored solutions in collaborative working, quality assurance, and business improvement across diverse sectors. Previously, as Head of Quality for Babcock international including 6,600 employees across three business lines and 350 sites, I led a globally dispersed team in maintaining an integrated quality management system spanning eight countries. Grounded in robust ISO frameworks, we delivered creative, cross-border solutions that strengthened operational foundations and enabled positive transformation at scale.

Alongside my current role, I serve as a Director of the Institute for Collaborative Working (ICW), a respected not-for-profit organisation dedicated to advancing collaborative business practices. I led the design and implementation of a bespoke collaborative working system and framework for Babcock International Group, engaging key customers, suppliers, and external partners. These frameworks continue to deliver measurable business improvements, fostering trust-based relationships and driving performance through structured, well-governed collaboration.

With over 20 years of experience in Quality Management, process improvement, and collaborative leadership, I bring a proven record of accomplishment of embedding collaborative working practices that yield tangible results. My approach is grounded in strong, mutually beneficial relationships and a readiness to challenge legacy methodologies in complex, high-pressure environments. I combine strategic insight with emotional intelligence—empathising with individual and organisational goals to unlock shared success.

My academic grounding in human behaviour, gained through study with Warwick Business School, complements my practical experience across diverse quality and collaboration roles. I am a people-focused leader and motivator, adept at engaging cross-functional teams and business units to deliver aligned, sustainable outcomes that support long-term organisational growth.

My core strengths lie in the practical application of business improvement, leadership engagement, and people development—delivering tangible growth through structured, collaborative processes. I am passionate about enhancing the overall business experience, consistently adding value to client delivery across internal and external interfaces. I thrive on evolving challenges and bring a strong personal commitment to successful outcomes, underpinned by an analytical approach to process improvement that drives performance, quality, and commercial advantage.

I am now looking to further develop my career to an area where I can apply my ability in quality management and collaborative working to influence, negotiate, and advocate within a progressive, likeminded organisation. My ambition is to design and implement distinctive operational initiatives that foster innovative, high-impact collaborative relationships—directly supporting and advancing strategic goals.

A highly motivated business improvement and quality assurance specialist with over 20 years’ experience driving operational excellence and collaborative working across complex, high-pressure environments. Known for a pragmatic, analytical approach and strong relationship-building skills, I create inclusive, high-performing cultures that enable sustainable growth and continuous improvement.

Currently serving as a Business Partner within the Ministry of Defence, I lead the rollout of a major transformation programme in a trials and test environment, delivering strategic change and operational efficiency. My career includes senior leadership roles such as Head of Quality for Babcock International, where I managed an integrated quality management system across eight countries and 350 sites, and successfully ran my own consultancy providing tailored solutions in collaboration and quality management.

As a Director of the Institute for Collaborative Working, I have designed and implemented frameworks that foster trust-based partnerships and measurable business improvements. Combining academic insight from Warwick Business School with practical expertise, I bring a proven ability to influence, negotiate, and implement innovative operational initiatives that align with strategic objectives.

Core Strengths

• Business improvement and process optimisation

• Quality management and ISO frameworks

• Collaborative leadership and stakeholder engagement

• Strategic transformation and change delivery

• People development and cross-functional team alignment

Career Ambition

To apply my expertise in quality management and collaborative working within a progressive organisation, shaping initiatives that drive innovation, strengthen partnerships, and deliver long-term value.

·       Chartered Quality Institute – Degree in Quality Assurance – West Herts College

·       Kingston University – BTEC in Electronic engineering

·       Fellow of the Institute of Collaborative Working