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It all started with a lightbulb moment.

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Although the knowledge of electricity was already there, the first implementation of mainstream use of electricity hadn’t begun until Thomas Edison focused on inventing a practical light bulb, one that would last a very long time before burning out. From this lightbulb, an industry was born.

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Whilst there is an awareness of electricity dating back many hundreds of years, it was not until the late 1800’s that we saw the greatest progress in electrical engineering.

 

This development turned it from a scientific curiosity into an essential tool for modern life and in fact, became a driving force for the second industrial revolution.

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The main driver for the beginnings of the electrical trade was the installation of electronic lighting systems, gone were the days of candles and oil lamps and so with the development of more mass-produced lighting systems, the need for people to install them rose, and so the electricians’ trade began.

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By the start of the 20th century lighting and lighting systems were common in residential buildings, the biggest growth began when electricity was needed in homes, powering lights and other electrical instruments. From here electrical professionals began to specialise in specific electrical systems, such as televisions, radios and vacuum cleaners.

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Today, there are multiple disciplines of electricians in a range of sectors, including automotive, industrial, domestic, agricultural, and many more. As the work and demands of the job has advanced, so has the safety standards involved in everyday work and in the tools that electricians use.