How did you get into your line of work?
I studied Creative Music & Sound Technology at university but after doing some sound and lighting work in my placement year I applied to both sound and lighting companies and got a job at PRG Lighting.
From there I moved into a technical position at White Light in the Moving Light department and progressed down that path for several years gaining more and more knowledge. I now work in the Technical Services department at White Light.
During my time at White Light I have studied for the following electrotechnical qualifications:
| City & Guilds 2330 Electrotechnical Technology Level 2 | (Part Time – 2009-2011) |
| City & Guilds 2330 Electrotechnical Technology Level 3 | (Part Time – 2011-2012) |
| City & Guilds In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment | (Short Course – 2012) |
| City & Guilds 7909 A&B Temporary Electrical Installations | (Short Course – 2015) |
| City & Guilds 2395 Periodic Inspection & Testing | (Short Course – 2016) |
| City & Guilds 17th Edition Wiring Regulations Incorporating 3rd Amendment 2382-12 / 2382-15 |
(Short Course – 2016) |
What qualifications are required?
None specifically, but a basic understanding of circuits and a good level of fault-finding are required in my current role. My electrical training has helped me immensely with this, enabling me to use standard electro technical methods and techniques in what can be some very specialist applications.
What kind of person would this suit?
A hands-on person who has a passion for learning how things work and using those skills to repair equipment, maintain systems and advise customers.
Are there any challenges involved that people should be aware of – late nights etc?
Working in the theatre industry brings with it some very tight deadlines and working timeframes. The ‘show must go on’ mentality means that there are many high-pressure situations where it can be easy to make mistakes.
What are the best parts of your job/most enjoyable aspects?
My job enables me to use my electrical skills to both solve problems and help customers at the same time. This is hugely satisfying and very rewarding when you can walk away from a job knowing the client is happy.
What advice would you give to those who are embarking upon their electrotechnical careers?
Never think that something you are learning isn’t relevant. Working in a specialist industry such as theatre will invariably throw up problems that you won’t always come across in standard domestic installations and for this reason always try to take on board anything that is being taught to you, no matter how ‘overly-technical’ or trivial it may seem at the time.
Are there any skill gaps at the moment, which more young electricians should aim to fill?
I think a working knowledge of data systems such as DMX is a huge benefit to the young electrician. As technology advances and equipment becomes more and more ‘intelligent’ with regard to our interaction with it, electricians with knowledge in these areas will become much more sought after.