Former electrical installations student Kyle met our team to discuss his new role at The Lighting Industry Association in Stafford Park, Telford.
Previously a student of Hadley Learning Community, Kyle first studied construction at Telford College, before moving on to the electrical installation course.
The LIA (The Lighting Industry Association) is the largest lighting trade association in Europe dedicated to serving the UK lighting industry and its supply chain. At the heart of the lighting industry, The LIA promotes good practice, shares information and knowledge, and provides a wide range of services for its members and the industry.
“A lot of my friends and family all went to Telford College before me and it seemed like it was the logical next step.” says Kyle. “I’ve always liked hands-on work, and I liked the idea of construction as a base skillset.
“After the first year, I wanted to specialise in electrical, I like the technical aspect of the work, so for me it was the right decision. I liked the practical work in the course, we created lighting circuits, gained an understanding of wires, outlets and regulations vital to the industry.”
“I was doing a practical exam on the course and Luke Foster, who wasn’t my tutor, walked past and saw my work each day. He said, ‘you’ve done that really well and in a timely manner’. At the end of my course, he mentioned that he’d heard of this opportunity and recommended I should go for it.”
Kyle’s current role at The LIA is as a trainee technician. “I help out conducting a lot of partial testing, as well as the accompanying paperwork, but when I’m a fully qualified technician I can do full safety assessments and tests.”
“I really enjoy the practical work here at the company, it’s that same hands-on style of work like I experienced at college. I don’t mind doing the paperwork too, the balance is really manageable, and I enjoy it.
“I’d like to work towards becoming an engineer, then look to find a specialisation to cement my place in the company. I’d recommend to any students to work towards the career you want to do and stay focused on what you’ve got to do to get there.”
Melissa Duckett, Finance & HR manager at The LIA, says: “We knew we were looking to hire for a new trainee technician, we decided to speak to the local colleges to see if there were any talented individuals who’d be interested.
“I contacted Luke and he recommended several students, off the back of the interviews and we were impressed with Kyle’s abilities, so we decided to hire him.”
Laboratory Manager Jack Adams added: “I had trepidation at the start, the idea of bringing in someone a bit younger and seeing how they’d fit in the team, but I couldn’t be happier with how he’s settled in.”
“When Kyle first came in, we set him an assessment task and he passed it with flying colours. He knew how to use all the equipment he had all the practical knowledge he needed to hit the ground running in his role.”
“He’s very good at problem solving; Kyle’s very proactive at trying to find a solution and following guidelines and he’s great at following and understanding instructions.”
“Kyle’s also a really nice person, he has a great sense of humour, and he’s fitted into our small team really well. 11 years ago, I was sat in Kyle’s seat and I’m now managing the laboratories. There’s no limit to where Kyle can go, he could be travelling the world writing international standards or even managing. It depends on what he wants to do with his future.”
