Please tell us about what you do on a day-to-day basis.
Day-to-day does vary but I try to start jobs 8 am- 9 am as I like to get going early. As a sole trader, I am taking phone calls about work while I work! You have to be organised and to be able to keep on top of work you're going to quote for as well as continue concentrating on the job you are actually doing! The jobs can finish at any time as working for yourself there are no 'set hours'! It's for your benefit to get the jobs completed and move onto the next one. The evenings are usually sat at the laptop with the TV in the background while I do invoices, quotes and e-mails to customers etc.
How did you get into your line of work?
When I left school I became a professional footballer and continued to earn my money from football until I was in my late 20s. It was at this point I knew football would not last forever so I asked around for any opportunities.
I got a call from a guy called Alan Carey, who was the manager of Bodmin Town FC, who wanted to sign me as a footballer but he also said he would employ me as a trainee electrician as he ran his own electrical company. I owe him a lot for giving me the opportunity and I enjoyed it from day one and my desire and competitiveness from being a footballer drove me on to become an approved electrician.
What qualifications are required?
To be a recognised approved electrician through the proper route, you need to complete a college course in City & Guilds, NVQ Level 3, AM2 assessment and City & Guilds Testing and Inspection. It takes years to become a confident electrician with experience and every day is a school day! You can't do a six-week course and class yourself as an experienced electrician!
What kind of person would this suit?
As you're dealing with different people day in day out it helps to be a friendly person who can deal with the public. In my experience, people like dealing with people. You also need to be a practical person who is comfortable with tools and can problem-solve under pressure.
Are there any challenges involved that people should be aware of – late nights etc.?
Late nights are the norm if you want to complete jobs and not have to return the day after… if your customers are understanding and keep you supplied with coffee! Obviously, safety is a priority so this is only done if you are feeling fresh and still have good concentration.
As for running your own business, you need to be ready for lots of organising, lots of paperwork and thinking about work 24/7…but I wouldn't have it any other way as I love it! I know how to relax and tuck work away when I need to!
What are the best parts of your job/most enjoyable aspects?
The best part is seeing people happy with your work. Some people save up to have an electrician in to do work so when it's completed and they are happy it's a nice feeling. The difference in running your own business to working for someone else is that you have your own identity and it's great. I had been thinking of starting RC Electrical for some time and it was only working for a bad boss that pushed me into it quicker!
What advice would you give to those who are embarking upon their electrotechnical careers?
Work hard, learn from the experienced guys, read books, make mistakes and learn from them. It's a long road and only experience makes you a confident electrician. I still learn and the electrical world is always developing and changing with new products etc. As professional electricians, we need to keep up-to-date and provide our customers with a first-class service.
Are there any skill gaps at the moment, which more young electricians should aim to fill?
The skills gap will be in the more advanced electrics like home automation. Things like heating, CCTV, etc. are already being controlled by smartphones and tablets and things are moving quickly. I'm currently involved in a home automation project and nearly all heating, CCTV, and intruder alarms installs I do are controlled/monitored through the internet. However, you still need to be an electrician before you can get into these aspects so do your time and then evolve how you want to!