After announcing his planned retirement this coming March, we sit down with John O’Neill, NICEIC’s Technical Director, to learn more about his career and his thoughts on what the future holds for the electrical industry.
Q. Firstly, the announcement of your impending retirement is somewhat unexpected news. If you don’t mind us asking, why now?
I’ve been fortunate to enjoy a long and wonderful career. Starting as an apprentice back in 1971 I went on to travel all over the world, working for some of the most prominent global organisations. I also owned and operated several electrical SME businesses, and, of course, for the past 13 years, I’ve been lucky enough to work within the NICEIC family.
As such, it has been a challenging decision in some respects. However, none of us can go on forever and now feels like the right time to step aside and allow fresh blood to come through. As the old saying goes, you should always end things on a high, which is what I am doing. Holding the role of Technical Director at NICEIC has, without a doubt, been the highlight of my career.
Q. Can you give readers a brief overview of your career with NICEIC?
Back in 2010 I received a call from NICEIC asking if I’d like to come in and chat about possible opportunities. Having been aware of the organisation for my whole career, I jumped at the chance.
After the chat, I was offered a role working on the technical helpline, a fantastic experience which ignited my inquisitive nature and thirst for knowledge. Anyone who has ever spent time in this role will tell you that every day is a school day.
After roughly 12 months, I moved into the field and became a NICEIC Area Assessor, another great role which allowed me to meet many professionals, almost all of whom shared my genuine love of the industry.
Four years passed and I progressed into the role of Technical Engineering Manager. Working alongside some exceptional minds, this role taught me a great deal about the technical know-how harnessed within NICEIC. To have access to and to be able to contribute to, hundreds of collective years of experience was truly awesome.
After a further five years, the Technical Director role came up, which was always my ultimate end goal. It was a great day when that ambition became a reality.
Q. What would you say are the most significant changes you’ve seen with the NICEIC over the last few years?
Perhaps one of the most significant advancements witnessed on “my watch” was the work done internally around bringing our core value of technical integrity to life.
It goes without saying that this value underpins everything we do and stand for. However, the challenge was ensuring that all teams, not just our technical customer-facing ones, could clearly see and define how the principle applied to their work.
As Technical Director, it was my responsibility to make this happen, and as I move towards retirement, I do so with a great sense of personal pride as I believe this task has been achieved. Every person at NICEIC thinks ‘technical integrity’ first and understands their role in achieving it.
Q. In your opinion is the industry in a better state now than it was when you started your career?
Now that is a tough one. I guess I would say it is very different. When I started my career, it was much narrower in scope and focused on traditional engineering skills. Fast forward to today, and to say the spectrum has broadened is a vast understatement. The advancements in technology and the race to net zero have resulted in a whole world of new opportunities.
Q. What advice would you have for someone considering a career within the industry?
Easy – do it. If you’re willing to work hard and apply yourself, there’s a wealth of opportunities out there for you. Engage yourself, remain committed, and you can achieve great things.
Q. What advice would you give to an experienced certified contractor currently?
Avoid standing still, stay hungry, and don’t close your mind to opportunities.
Never stop learning. I will forever be thankful for the time I spent on the technical helpline, as it allowed me to challenge my understanding. No longer could I just accept what I’d been told; I had to gain a more profound understanding if I was to apply the regulations to the many queries which came in. I would urge you to follow this rule and challenge yourself daily.
Embrace CPD – I know many of you will see this as a necessary evil but try not to think of it as a chore. Knowledge is power, and becomes even more powerful when you share it.
This brings me to my final piece of advice: take on and nurture apprentices. They’re the future lifeblood, and bringing them on not only helps your business, it also cements the future of the industry. Never forget your roots and the opportunity once presented to you.
Q. Looking at the short-term future – is there anything on the horizon that contractors need to be aware of?
Everyone must understand that when it comes to standards and technical competency, the bar has been well and truly raised, and it will only get higher.
The awful Grenfell tragedy set about a chain of events which will forever change the building services industry. Bringing the importance of professional standards and competency to the fore, it is now more vital than ever that we stand together and by our core values of technical integrity and upholding standards.
Change is inevitable, but rest assured we, along with the entire industry, are working together to ensure any future introductions are both positive and needed to improve safety and push us forward.
Q. If you had to pinpoint a moment in your career which you are particularly proud of, what would it be?
I guess, without wanting to sound too corny, I would say it was how I stepped up when joining NICEIC. It truly was an epiphany for me!
The bar was set pretty high, and despite entering the organisation reasonably late in my career (I was 54 when I joined), to me, NICEIC was the pinnacle and being part of it meant you had big boots to fill. It almost felt like starting again in many ways.
What followed was an amazing journey where I learned more about the profession I had lived and loved for 35 years, than I could ever have imagined was possible.
Q. In your own words, what has your time at NICEIC meant to you?
It has been a privilege and an honour. Knowing that my life’s work led me to become the trusted custodian of technical integrity within NICEIC is really humbling and something I’ll always be proud of and thankful for.
More than just a job, NICEIC is family, and I’ve had the pleasure of working with many passionate, knowledgeable and genuinely wonderful people. I leave with a heavy heart, but can take comfort knowing I’m handing the baton over to the safest of hands.
Q. Finally, what’s next for John O’Neill?
Quality family time, recharging the batteries (pun intended) and keeping a watchful eye over the industry with which I’ve had a lifelong love affair. I may have given up the ‘day job,’ but I will always remain committed to the industry and supporting its growth.
Discover more about NICEIC here
