Alumni Spotlight - Iain Connal
We always love to hear how our former students are getting on and find out if the skills they gained at UHI Perth have served them well in the workplace. Having completed an apprenticeship many years ago, Iain gave us an insight on his time after college 👇
Can you introduce yourself?
Iain Connal, currently living in Oban. However, at the time of my study, I was living in Kinloch Rannoch.
What course did you study at UHI Perth?
I studied an SVQ Level 3 Electrotechnical Services (electrical installation building and services)
How did you hear about UHI Perth?
I did an apprenticeship through a company called R.W Bell based in Pitlochry.
What were you doing before you came to UHI Perth?
I was a working as an electrician’s mate for a year with a local electrician in Kinloch Rannoch.
Why did you decide to pick this course?
I wanted to be an electrician after I left school as I had an interest in electrical components and how things work.
What was your favourite thing about the course?
The people in the class.
Were there any standout/memorable moments from your course?
Not really, it was all pretty fun.
What knowledge, skills and experience did you gain from your course that have helped you since leaving UHI Perth?
I have now been a successful electrician for 14 years, so yes pretty much everything I have learned from college has stood me in good stead for a successful career.
What did you think about the styles of teaching, and the support you received from staff?
The style of teaching from our college lecturer was perfect – it was strict when needed - as our group occasionally got quite rowdy! Also, we were allowed to go at our own pace as long as we met our goals.
What did you like about the campus/facilities?
The campus is split into two sections so, as I was in the technical side down the bottom, we didn’t really need to go anywhere as it had all we needed.
Were there any other achievements you gained, on your journey?
To date, not at the moment, however I do wish to transition into the oil and gas sector sometime in the near future and with my qualification it will give me a good foundation to enter into several different fields within the oil and gas industry.
Upon starting your course, did you have a clear idea of the career path you wanted to follow after UHI Perth?
No not really but you just kind of figure that out in your own time.
Are you currently employed?
I have just recently joined a company called Oban Electrical Services part of the FES group and I am doing everything from working on new build housing schemes to working on industrial installations. Previously, I was in charge of eight electricians running a large new build housing scheme.
What were the steps you took from graduation to your current role?
Continuing to gain knowledge in various aspects of my career.
Where would you like to go with your career in the future?
As mentioned, I would like to maybe try and break into the oil and gas industry maybe - using my qualification to gain access to the ROV pilot technician side of things.
Did you enjoy studying at UHI Perth? Any highlights?
Yeah, over all it was a fun time.
What advice would you give to someone thinking about studying at UHI Perth?
It’s definitely worth it. I definitely enjoyed my time studying there. Also, really try and get as many courses related to your specific topic because it gets harder later in life to try and retrain. Life sometimes just gets more important later on.
