Master of multiple trades
Self-employed electrician and general contractor Ivan Woolley is based in the Scottish Highlands. He joined the IET as a Technician Member (TMIET) in 2020.
There’s an adage that certainly applies to Ivan: if you want something done, ask a busy person. He started his career as a general builder in 1990, then qualified as an oil-fired boiler engineer in 2012 and as electrician in 2018. He now runs a business spanning electrical services, building and engineering, and building consultancy.
The delivery of electrical services takes up most of Ivan’s working week. He said: “I carry out domestic and commercial installations, as well as domestic, commercial and light industrial inspection and testing works.
Passion for learning
Ivan went on to gain an EAL Domestic Electrical Installer qualification that permits him to work on systems up to 100 amps and 1,000 volts. Acutely aware of the need to adapt and to keep up with the times, he has become accredited to install electric vehicle charging supply equipment and is currently applying to become an MCS-certified installer for solar PV (photovoltaic) and battery storage systems.
To support his business, Ivan has also gained qualifications in plumbing, roofing and electrics.
Challenging projects
Ivan learned a tremendous amount while working with a fellow electrician on a 32-bedroom Victorian hotel on an island in a remote part of the west of Scotland. They were tasked with completing an Electrical Installation Condition Report and carrying the subsequent remedial works.
“The project afforded enormous learning opportunities and vastly increased experience, due to the complexities of the system,” he said. “Working with another electrician who had an eye for detail and a desire to ‘do it right’ greatly enhanced my understanding. The strong focus on good practice throughout the project was very beneficial for both of us.”
Ivan’s biggest achievement to date is undoubtedly building his own four-storey house, complete with a tower! He was able to make excellent use of the construction-related knowledge and skills acquired during his career, including electrical installation, plumbing, heating, roofing and general building.
The ambitious self-build project gave Ivan important new insights and practical experience in all aspects of construction. He now applies these learnings to his day-to-day work.
Professional approach
Professional qualifications and membership of professional bodies such as the IET are proving invaluable to Ivan.
They enable him to keep expanding his knowledge and skills, while also providing essential guidance. Ivan said: “I work to the BS 7671 IET Wiring Regulations in all my electrical works. This IET publication, along with the associated guidance notes, ensures that all the works I carry out are compliant.”
Ivan’s IET membership also provides strong evidence to customers of his professionalism and technical competence: “For me, the primary benefit of joining the IET has been the recognition by others of my professional membership. It has changed their attitude towards me.
“In my experience, people value your opinions more when they know you’re a member of a professional institution. IET membership has definitely opened up opportunities that would not otherwise have been available to me and I’m very keen to progress from TMIET to MIET.”
Giving back
Continuous improvement is part of Ivan’s DNA.
It’s why he has set his sights on joining an electrical industry steering group. He’s particularly interested in energy efficiency in relation to heat pumps and wastewater heat recovery systems. He said: “In five years’ time I hope to be part of the team responsible for steering the strategic goals and aims of the electrical and mechanical engineering sectors.”
Clearly, Ivan is a man who sets himself stretching goals and goes all out to achieve them. He said: “I’ve always been open to challenges, opportunities and ideas – it’s amazing how your life changes when you just say ‘yes’!”
Watch this space.