Stay Connected 2025

Stay Connected 2025 welcomed hundreds of delegates from across the Northern Ireland electrical industry, celebrating its fourth and most successful year yet.

The event brought together employers, electricians, apprentices, training providers, technical experts, and industry leaders for a day focused on learning, collaboration, and innovation.

Opening the day, Michael Dowds, ETT Board Member, welcomed delegates and emphasised ETT’s ongoing commitment to raising standards, strengthening skills, and building meaningful connections across the electrical installation sector. Michael highlighted how Stay Connected brings employers, apprentices, educators, and industry bodies together to explore innovation, share knowledge, and drive forward a safer, more professional and future-ready electrical industry.

Through keynote speakers, panel discussions, CPD workshops, and a top-class exhibitor showcase, attendees explored emerging technologies, regulatory updates, safety culture, skills development, and the future direction of the electrical sector.

Across the CPD workshops, attendees accessed a wide range of technical, compliance, and business-focused sessions delivered by experts including ESF, NAPIT, NICEIC, ECA, Scolmore, Luceco, NIE, Rachael Doherty – Inspired Consultancy, Sparky Ninja and Marc Watters.

Keynote Address – Powering Progress with Safety First.

The room fell silent as Louise Adamson took to the stage. Speaking not as a regulator, policy expert or industry leader — but as a bereaved sister.  Louise delivered one of the most powerful and deeply human messages the industry could hear.  Her brother, Michael (“Mickey Tam”) Adamson, a young electrician, died in a completely preventable electrical incident on 4^th August 2005. Louise spoke with honesty, pain and purpose as she shared the devastation of losing her brother at just 26.

Louise challenged the narrative that regulation is an inconvenience or an obstacle to business.
She stressed that safety regulations exist because people died without them — and removing or weakening them risks lives.  Her message was stark and powerful.

Louise also highlighted the tragic death of 7-year-old Harvey Tyrrell, killed by a dangerously defective installation completed by an electrician with 50 years’ experience.  This, she argued, exemplifies why mandatory CPD, stronger oversight and a regulated competence framework  are essential. Experience without up-to-date knowledge and accountability can be deadly.

Louise’s keynote set the emotional and moral tone for the entire day — reminding every attendee why safety, standards and competence truly matter.  Louise finished by praising the work of ETT and the Industry Working Group, encouraging delegates to continue pushing for improved safety, standards and competence and urged everyone to help shape the future of the industry, so no other family walks the same path.

Her call to action — “This is your world. Shape it.” — will stay with us.

Building on Louise’s keynote, the rest of the event strengthened the central themes of safety, skills, standards and sustainability.

Two industry panel sessions drove discussion on the issues shaping the sector.  Panels explored the work of the ETT Industry Working Group and the future of the industry through upskilling, reskilling and diversification.

The ETT Industry Working Group Panel – Driving Action on Electrical Safety, Skills and Sustainability in Northern Ireland.

The Industry Working Group— established following the publication of the Ending Shock Silence report in November 2024, has grown into a powerful collaborative voice for the sector.   Members representing public and private organisations shared insights on:

• Building a stronger safety culture
• Addressing skills shortages and apprenticeship needs
• Supporting sustainability and digital transformation
• Influencing policy for a sector not yet recognised as “priority”
• How the Action Plan is shaping meaningful change

The industry working group focuses on three pillars essential to Northern Ireland’s future:

• Safety – building a stronger safety culture and preventing accidents
• Skills – tackling shortages, boosting apprenticeships & supporting competency
• Sustainability – enabling the transition to net zero with a future-ready workforce

The newly launched 2025 Action Plan sets out targeted actions, clear responsibilities and new opportunities for employers, educators and policymakers to work together. It’s a framework designed to drive real change, from improved training pathways to innovation supporting NI’s green ambitions.

Upskilling, Reskilling and Diversification: What Does the Future Hold for Electricians?”

The afternoon panel session examined –

• Opportunities in renewables and digital technology
• Challenges in regulatory changes, workforce development and training
• MCS scheme updates
• Safety, standards, and the future skillset of electricians

Throughout the day breakout CPD sessions delivered expert training on the latest technologies, regulations and best practice.  The exhibitor showcase created opportunities for hands-on learning, networking and product demonstrations.

Stay Connected 2025 once again demonstrated that Northern Ireland’s electrical industry is united in commitment, purpose and vision. Through collaboration, learning and leadership, the sector is building a safer, smarter and more sustainable future.