Conor Kearney says he wasn’t even a ‘man with a van’ when he started out in the electrical industy. He was one rung below that! Today he’s the owner of CJK Engineering, a firm that turned over 40 million euro last year. Not bad for a man without a plan!

This episode has a big emphasis on how important it is to invest in the people around you as well as:

• Why the snobbery around apprenticeships is thankfully changing
• The importance of company culture and ethos
• How to compete with better-known, big-name contractors
• How a creative use of Linkedin can get you noticed

Conor Kearney left school after his intercert and went for an apprenticeship - ending up working in Moscow in the late 80s. He admits to starting his own engineering company ‘on a whim’ a decade later, but today it’s turning over tens of millions of euro a year.

CJK Engineering delivers projects for the big foreign direct investment companies in the commercial, pharma, industrial and data centre sectors. Despite this, he’s still very tied to the community on the northside, helping to give people a chance in the industry no matter what their age or background.

CJK on Linkedin

Paul Morrow works for Klauke – a company renowned for its high-quality electrical connection technology and tools for crimping, cutting and punching. Paul has been in the cable accessories market for 26 years. He shares some of the exciting innovations in his field of expertise, particularly in the area of safety.

Paul on Linkedin

How do you grow a business when the global economy is tanking all around you and you have a young family to feed?

Director of Kane Engineering, Damien Kane, took a risk and it paid off. The company has grown 300% in ten years to become one of the best-known names in Northern Ireland’s electrical industry.

We also hear from Patrick Driessen from Conta-Clip Germany about the nifty new products that will make jobs in the industry easier in 2021. This episode features loads of insights into brand building as well as:

• The challenges and opportunities of a family-owned business
• How important it is for family firms to invest in people
• Developments in the switchgear industry
• How the Internet of Things will be a major part of the business in future

About Our Guests

Damien Kane took over the family engineering business despite not being an engineer. Kane Engineering is the leading supplier of Low Voltage switchboards,motor control centres and control and automation products in the north. The company’s switchboards can be found in developments like Titanic Belfast, The ICC (which was formerly known as the Waterfront Conference Centre) and The Grand Opera.

Damien on Linkedin

Patrick Driessen is International Product Manager for Conta-Clip Germany. It supplies more than 17-thousand articles across four main product groups; terminal blocks, PCB terminals, electronic interfaces and cable-management systems. The company creates specific solutions for widely varying branches of the industry; from marine engineering to building automation to environmental technology.

Patrick on Linkedin

When you’ve risen to the top of your game in the energy industry – where do you go next?

If you’re the former CEO of Bord Gais, John Mullins, it’s all about solar power. He’s forecasting it will be the number 1 new source of electricity worldwide for generations to come.

We also hear from Brady Corporation, which provides wire ID solutions to companies like SpaceX, about the hot product for 2021.

In this episode we learn how imporant solar power generation is going to be in Ireland as well as:

• Key insights into the energy industry and where the money will be
• Trailblazers in the renewables sector
• Going from the head of Bord Gais to cold-calling investment funds
• Future forecasting and predictions for the industry

About Our Guests

John Mullins became the head of Bord Gais at the age of 39. The Big Switch to being a dual fuel supplier was under his watch. At 44 when his contract was coming to and end, he had the choice to either look for another job or start a brand new business. He chose the latter option. His business Amarenco is now a leading independent solar-power producer and builder of some of the biggest Photo Voltaic farms in Ireland this year.

John on Linkedin

Tom Cullinane is Territory Sales Manager for Brady Corporation – The American manufacturer supplies cable and wire identification solutions in 33 countries –serving everyone from panel builders to Aerospace companies like SpaceX. He shares the products he’s most excited about coming to the market this year.

Tom on Linkedin