The Post: Renewable Energy Company Director, b4b Renewables
The Post Holder: Ryan Daly
Patience and a methodical approach are crucial when it comes to Ryan Daly’s role as an environmental engineer.
Give a brief outline of your career to date.
My first job after graduating from the University of Ulster was as a Mechanical Contracts Engineer with Vaughan Engineering, who at the time were based at the Almac Group site in Portadown. I stayed there for 20 months before leaving to go travelling to Australia. Upon my return from Australia in 2007, I started working for a company called Scoffield Specialist Services. Scoffield Specialist Services were the first company in Ireland to carry out installations of underfloor heating back in the 1970s. My role in the company was as a Renewable Energy Contracts Manager and Designer. In 2010, I left that role to start my own business, Daly Renewables Ltd. Daly Renewables was an engineer-led team which specialised in the design, installation and commissioning of renewable energy systems in both domestic and commercial applications. In 2023, Daly Renewables joined forces with b4b group, who had set up a renewables company, b4b Renewables.
What was your favourite subject at school?
Physics
Did you go on to further/higher education, if so what did you study and where?
Yes, I studied an Environmental Engineering degree at the University of Ulster in Jordanstown.
How did you get into your area of work?
When I came back from Australia, I had developed a passion for renewable energy and I knew that this was the sector that I wanted to get into. Scoffield Specialist Services had started installing renewable energy systems around the mid-2000s and I turned down another job offer which I had received from a mechanical and electrical consultancy because I knew I wanted to get into the renewable energy sector.
Is this what you always wanted to do?
I like the mix of designing, commissioning and delivering bespoke renewable energy systems. It’s great to be able to follow the journey with a customer, from designing a bespoke renewable energy system to installing it on site. During my Environmental Engineering degree at the University of Ulster, our studies covered a lot of different building services, design and renewable energy technologies and this is what piqued my interest in working in this sector as a future career path.
Were there any particular essential qualifications or experience needed?
A diploma or degree would be essential for the type of work that I currently do.
What are the main personal skills your job requires?
Patience, being methodical in your approach to each project and being a good communicator.
What does a typical day entail?
A typical day could involve sitting down with the rest of the team, looking at our project management software to get an understanding of what stage each project is at, and ensuring that all of our materials and our installers are briefed on all of our upcoming projects. My typical day could also involve pricing a project, speaking to suppliers about a technical issue or even a site visit if there is an ongoing issue that needs to be resolved.
What are the best and most challenging aspects of the job?
The best aspect of my job is that no two days are the same. The most challenging aspect is ensuring that our quotes remain competitive with others in the sector, taking into account that we may be providing a more rounded service in comparison with our competitors.
Why is what you do important?
As well as installing renewable energy technologies into domestic and commercial properties, we also take our customers on an educational journey about renewable energy. We will often advise them on other measures that they can take to make their house or commercial building as energy efficient as possible. This is because we are really passionate about renewable energy systems and are committed to providing people with comprehensive support and expert guidance. We want to help people to make informed decisions about how they can make their property both sustainable and energy efficient.
What advice would you give anyone looking to follow a similar career path?
Being able to communicate with suppliers, partners and clients is very important. You have to be prepared to learn about all the different aspects of the role as having a broad skills range can open up opportunities in other divisions within our sector.
What is the one piece of advice you would give to yourself on your first day?
Listen to your peers, they have a lot more experience than you do so bend their ears for advice.
Describe your ideal day off.
On an ideal day off I would take my wife for an Ulster Fry and then go out for a walk or go shopping, followed by a game of golf and an evening spent with the kids playing outside in our garden or watching a film.
And finally, what’s the key to any successful job search?
Research the role and the company and then ask plenty of questions when you do get a chance to interview for a company, it shows that you are keen.
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