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A commercial electrician specialises in the installation, maintenance, and repair of electrical systems in commercial and industrial settings such as offices, retail spaces, schools & colleges, and other business settings.
It is not the repair or setup of electrical system in a home or residential property - as that is typically saved for domestic electricians or residential electricians who work on smaller scale projects reserved for the normal home.
Commercial electrians are trained to deal with large-scale installation, maintenance and repair in complex environments in a safe and reliable way through consistent training, qualifications and teamwork.
Importance of a Commercial Electrician
Electrical systems are paramount to any organisation as we live in a technology dependent world - and technology depends on electricity! Energy (along with people) is really the lifeblood for all organisations and malfunctions are always a serious issue - no matter the size of the business.
From the lights that turn on in the office, to the computers that are used to run a business, commercial electricians play a vital role in ensuring these electrical systems remain functional and safe.
Imagine walking to your local Sainsbury’s, only for all the lights to shut down, fridges and freezers to turn off and panic to erupt. What would the damage be to the customer? How about the company?
Whether it’s to save customers the stress and anxiety that comes from electrical malfunction, or save your business from a technical blackout, a team of commercial electricians should always be on hand to save you from this nightmare.
It doesn’t matter whether it’s a small scale office setup, or a huge multi-storey supermarket that contains complex challenges and requires expert maintenance from experienced professionals, commercial electricians ensure everything runs smoothly.
What a Commercial Electrician Does Day-to-Day
Every job is different and every commercial electrical company will have different clients.
But here is some of what our commercial electricians at MEL can expect to do from one day to the next:
Call-out to a weir repair on the River Thames
Site meeting with Project Manager to review scope of works on a Grade 1 listed building
Fault finding on control panels at the Deep Sea Adventure ride at Legoland
Making safe the uninterrupted power supply systems at Chelsea Football Club, Stamford Bridge (just before a European Cup game!)
Installation of electric vehicle chargers at the Olympic Rowing Venue, Dorney Lake
Supervising and signing off on the work of an apprentice, supporting them in their NVQ assessments
The day-to-day of the job is always quite different which makes it such a fantastic career; it may be a new complex set of challenges or how to install new efficient electrical systems - in the office or out being hands-on.
Each type of electrician has a different skill set and experience in installation. For example, a residential electrician will have slightly different skills than a commercial electrician.
Not only would a commercial electrician have to work out challenging electrical wiring, but as an added challenge, they'd have to plan around the actual business and operations of the company their working with, ensuring that the business can still run smoothly during the installation, maintenance or repair.
It's essential to have an expert at your disposal.
Here are some of the systems commercial electricians have to deal with:
Breaker panels
Lighting Sources
Electronic power sources
Electrical wiring
Heating systems
Transformers
Whatever it is, becoming a commercial electrician isn't just a career you fall into. It takes a strict work ethic and a hard worker reputation.
How to Become a Commercial Electrician
So, you’ve looked at what a commercial electrician is and what they do each day on the job,
and you're interested in fixing breaker panels, creating beautiful electrical wiring and gaining experience in the electrical world.
Perhaps you’re ready to take the next step but do you have the right qualifications?
Check out what we would accept at Maidenhead Electrical Ltd - a commercial-minded electrical company to consider your application:
Education: Obtain GCSE Grade 4+ certificates in subjects like Mathematics and English (a bonus if you have Science) & one of the following.
Further Training: Enroll in a Level 2 and Level 3 Diploma in Electrical Installation.
Apprenticeship: Complete an apprenticeship to gain hands-on experience.
Certification: Achieve the NVQ Level 3 in Electrotechnical Services and pass the AM2 assessment.
With both in-school / educational learning for you to fully understand the fundamental theory behind electrics and on-site practical experience, you make yourself a great candidate for Maidenhead Electrical.
If you've landed on this page and you're looking to hire a commercial electrician, here are some things you should be mindful of:
The applicant's certificates - what qualifications they have?
References and Testimonials - how are they viewed by their school or previous employment?
Their ethic - how far are they willing to go to get desired results?
Experience - how much electrical expertise do they have?
The best news is that we’re hiring!
Check out our careers page for more information.
Commercial Electrician Salary
Every company is different.
But this is what you’d get at Maidenhead Electrical Ltd.
Maidenhead Electrical Ltd will provide a competitive salary based on a minimum 45 hour week with overtime available, a company van, generous holiday package, performance reviews, support & incentives to climb the career ladder for the right candidate.
We require:
NVQ 3, C&G Inspection & Testing 2391, C&G 18th Edition, full UK Driving Licence
Our benefits
· Company car + fuel card
· Travelling Expenses
· Company Events
· Assistance with Continuing Professional Development
The Scope of Work
A commercial electrician's scope of work covers a wide range of projects tailored to the needs of businesses - so they must be adaptable to any given situation.
Unlike industrial projects - which MEL also facilitate - which focus on large-scale systems like generators and plants, commercial work often involves detailed planning and close collaboration with our clients.
From assessing the project requirements, to anticipating future growth, all whilst ensuring these installations align with business objectives both in the present day, but also for that ever-important future.
One of the biggest requirements of project maintanance, repair and installation is to ensure correct scheduling is in place to minismise any disruptions to the busuiness your working on, avoiding downtime and ensuring you accomodate noise restrictions.
Let's not forget, you're on a business site.
The overall goal of commercial electricians, particularly here at MEL, is delivering a solution that meets immediate needs while preparing the business for future growth.
So, think you're ready?