10 July 2025
Meet James McGowan, LV Electrician with nearly 20 years in the electrical trade and a trusted member of our team with a passion for mentoring the next generation of electricians.
Can you tell us about your background and what led you to become an LV Electrician?
When I left school, I wasn’t entirely sure what career path to follow, but I knew I wanted to do something hands-on and practical. I decided to pursue a trade and started an apprenticeship with a local company. That’s where I discovered my interest in electrical work — and I’ve never looked back.
I completed my apprenticeship with the support of GTL, a training provider that helped me build the core skills needed to succeed as an electrician. Over the years, I’ve worked with many companies, gaining a wide range of experience and eventually arrived at Green Power in September 2022.
Now, with almost 20 years in the industry, I still enjoy the variety the job offers. No two days are the same — sometimes we’re doing repairs, other times we’re handling full installations from start to finish. I also get to work on exciting projects involving hydro and solar power, which bring a completely different and innovative element to the role.
What makes the job even more rewarding is the team. We’ve got a fantastic group of people, a strong working relationship with the management team, and I’ve had the chance to train apprentices — something I really enjoy. It’s a great environment to keep learning and stay challenged.
What does a typical day look like for you?
On most days, I start with scheduled jobs at one of the sites I cover mainly Derby and Stoke Bardolph. I usually begin by speaking with the site manager to plan how we’re going to approach the day’s tasks. Good communication is key, especially when coordinating work on busy, operational sites.
That said, no day is ever completely predictable. If there’s a fault or a breakdown, that takes priority. For example, if something goes wrong and it affects our ability to process food waste or crop, I’ll be called in immediately to resolve it, getting systems back up and running quickly is critical to keeping operations moving.
Alongside reactive work, I also handle a lot of installation jobs. Recently, we’ve been reusing four large tanks on a site that didn’t have any existing power. That involved planning and installing new cable routes and full power supply systems — a great example of how diverse and hands-on this role can be.
I’m also responsible for ordering materials, making sure everything is on-site and ready so we can get the job done efficiently. Whether it's planned installations or unexpected repairs, the variety keeps things interesting every single day.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
One of the things I enjoy most is the problem-solving aspect. There’s real satisfaction in identifying a fault and knowing that by fixing it, I’ve helped get the plant back up and running. It makes a big difference to the site teams, especially the site managers. If equipment isn’t working, they can’t do their jobs. So being able to resolve issues quickly and effectively feels genuinely rewarding.
I also enjoy the variety — no two days are the same. I visit different sites, interact with a range of colleagues and contractors and get to take ownership of my work. Most of the sites I cover are within an hour’s travel, which is much better than in my previous role where I had to travel much further. Occasionally I’ll cover sites that are further away if needed, especially when someone is off, but in general it’s quite manageable.
The team here is another big positive. Everyone’s friendly and supportive, and we’ve built good relationships on site — which is important when you work so closely with people every day. My manager is always available if I need support, but I also have the freedom to plan my own time, order materials and manage tasks independently. That trust and flexibility make a big difference.
What inspires you in your work or keeps you motivated day to day?
What keeps me motivated is knowing that my role is essential to the smooth operation of the sites. If something breaks down and I’m not able to fix it, the site managers and teams can't do their jobs and I don’t want to let them down. There’s a real sense of responsibility, and I take pride in being someone the team can rely on.
You know people are counting on you, so you don’t mind staying a bit later if that’s what it takes to get things working again. It’s about being dependable, when I fix something, I know it’s making a direct impact.
I’m also motivated by the opportunity to learn. No two faults are exactly the same and when I come across something I haven’t seen before, it pushes me to figure it out. Solving new problems and picking up new skills along the way keeps the job interesting and helps me grow as an electrician.
There’s always something new to discover, and that constant learning is a big part of what keeps me engaged every day.
What have you learned while working in this role that has helped you grow professionally or personally?
One of the biggest things I’ve learned is how to manage my time effectively and prioritise tasks based on what’s most critical for the site. In this role, things can change quickly, so being able to adapt and stay focused is essential. That skill has definitely helped me grow professionally.
I’ve also had the opportunity to mentor an apprentice, and that’s been incredibly rewarding. Watching him progress and knowing I’ve played a part in his development gives me a real sense of pride. At first, it was difficult to step back and let him take on more responsibility — sometimes it’s easier to just do it yourself — but it’s important to guide rather than just instruct. I try to encourage him to think through problems on his own, and then I step in to show how I’d approach it. It’s a learning process for both of us.
Professionally, I’ve also gained a lot of new knowledge through training courses. I completed the COMPEX course for working in gas areas — a challenging qualification — and it’s opened up new responsibilities, especially on the Gas to Grid and CHP areas on site. Every new fault I come across is a learning opportunity, and I’ve learned to treat even the toughest problems as a chance to improve.
Green Power has been really supportive of professional development, covering the cost of courses and encouraging us to grow our skill sets. I’ve been able to apply everything I’ve learned directly into my work, which has helped me take on more complex tasks and grow in confidence, both professionally and personally.