About Uschevron down

Domestic & Commercial Electrical Contractors

  • Cabler Registration #T41129
  • Construction Industry Training 2001 #172760
  • EnergySafe Victoria A Class Registered #A48285
  • Registered Electrical Contractor #23419
  • Working with Children Checked #01135158-02
General Info

We are highly experienced, reliable, qualified electricians. We pride ourselves on delivering exceptional customer service.

We are highly experienced, reliable, qualified electricians. We pride ourselves on delivering exceptional customer service. It's not just their pair of green and black Renaults, a Trafic & a Kangaroo, that makes them unique, Livewire Electrical & Design's all-female workforce comprises owner Kylie Slade and her daughter Chelsea, along with apprentice Tayla Ritchie. Crawling under houses, up ladders, into roofs, lugging coils of wire, coping with spiders and other nasties, are all in a day's work for this intrepid trio. Becoming an electrician wasn't Kylie's first choice; her vocational change was sparked by a downturn in the hospitality industry that left her jobless. After 14 years in hospitality I found myself unemployed, said Kylie, Then I got a job helping wrap houses with insulation. From there I started with Laser Electrical in Ballarat but was soon told to take on an apprenticeship, or risk not being kept on. So, in her early 30's, Kylie was back in the classroom, surrounded by students not much older than her own kids, working her way through trade school. After completing the first two years of her apprenticeship, work dropped off and this time she was let go. Undaunted, Kylie contacted local electricians and found work. She completed her apprenticeship, staying on with a local electrician until another downturn and another bout of unemployment.

It's not just their pair of green and black Renaults, a Trafic & a Kangaroo, that makes them unique, Livewire Electrical & Design's all-female workforce comprises owner Kylie Slade and her daughter Chelsea, along with apprentice Tayla Ritchie. Crawling under houses, up ladders, into roofs, lugging coils of wire, coping with spiders and other nasties, are all in a day's work for this intrepid trio. Becoming an electrician wasn't Kylie's first choice; her vocational change was sparked by a downturn in the hospitality industry that left her jobless. "After 14 years in hospitality I found myself unemployed," said Kylie, "Then I got a job helping wrap houses with insulation. From there I started with Laser Electrical in Ballarat but was soon told to take on an apprenticeship, or risk not being kept on." So, in her early 30's, Kylie was back in the classroom, surrounded by students not much older than her own kids, working her way through trade school. After completing the first two years of her apprenticeship, work dropped off and this time she was let go. Undaunted, Kylie contacted local electricians and found work. She completed her apprenticeship, staying on with a local electrician until another downturn and another bout of unemployment. Determined to break the vicious cycle, and now qualified, Kylie's husband Brad suggested she have a go on her own. "I'd never dreamt of working for myself, but Brad's encouragement and the opportunity to provide an apprenticeship for (eldest daughter) Chelsea, whose ambition was to become an electrician as well, were the motivating factors four years ago to establish Livewire Electrical & Design," said Kylie. As the word spread about Livewire Electrical & Design's excellent work, the business started growing, allowing Chelsea to complete her apprenticeship, and the business took on another female apprentice, Tayla Ritchie, who started in January 2016. Moving from hospitality, with starched white linen and sterling-silver cutlery to overalls, a tool kit, steel-capped work boots and a sandwich on site, was totally a foreign move for Kylie, though the move rekindled her interest in houses and design from her school days. "I wanted to be an architect back then, so I started looking for jobs in the building game and then I undertook my apprenticeship which was quite challenging, but I got through it and here I am today." Now well-established through word of mouth and the sign-written Renaults, like any small business Livewire Electrical & Design's early days were an emotional roller-coaster. "Friday afternoon would arrive and I'd be worrying about the next week, then over the weekend the phone would ring and we would pick up jobs." "Some people are excited about having a female tradie working for them and we get alot of work from women living on their own, who feel more comfortable having us in their house." Kylie admits she couldn't sit at a desk, and loves being on the go and working with clients to find solutions that make their life easier. "We do a bit of everything," she says, from moving a light switch to complete wiring of old homes, and industrial jobs like the dairy we have recently wired. I enjoy working on upmarket new homes where I can use my creative flair." Looking to the future, Kylie aims to grow the business and give more girls the opportunity to learn the trade. "Although I haven't given it much thought, a fleet of Livewire Electrical 7 Design vans, with female staff servicing other areas of Victoria would be cool," she muses.

Accreditations
Accreditation badgeEnergySafe A Class Electrical License #A48285Accreditation badgeRegistered Electrical Contractor #23419Accreditation badgeWorking with Children check #01135158-02
Email
Payment method
mastercard, debit, visa, cash
Established
2013
ABN
66 522 385 375
Staff
1-10
Ownership
Locally Owned
Service Notes
Emergency Service Available
Free Estimates
Yes
Category
Commercial
Yes
Certifications
Working with Children check #01135158-02
Licenses
Legal ID: REC 23419
Keywords
commercial electrician, data points, domestic electrician, electrician, electrician ballarat, industrial electrician, insurance repairs, phone points, residential electrician, rewiring, split system installation, split systems, tv points
FAQschevron down

Will I get an Electrical Safety Certificate once the job is completed?

Definitely. There are two types of certificates; 'A Prescribed Certificate' also requires an electrical inspection from a certified electrical inspector and is for work carried out on consumer mains, main earthing systems and those parts of a main switchboard that are related to the control of installations and the protection against the spread of fire. 'A Non Prescribed Certificate' is for all general work and work other than that described above.


How far do you travel?

We like to work within a 100km radius of Ballarat.


How do you charge?

We quote on specific jobs so you know what to expect from the beginning.


Will you finish the job on the day?

We’ll do our best to complete jobs by the end of the day. If unforeseen problems arise, we may have to return later.


What hours do you work?

We’re tradies! We’re up early and on the tools by 8am. We like to wind down at 4:30pm.


Do you issue a Certificate of Electrical Safety?

Yes – for every job.


Do you attend emergencies?

Yes. Don’t hesitate to call if you feel unsafe about an electrical issue.


Do you install split systems?

Yes. We do the electrical component of these. You’ll need another tradie to pressurise the system.


Do you wire up extensions and new houses?

Yes. We’ll run the cable as per your design or help you come up with a suitable design. After the internal lining is complete, we’ll finish off the fixtures and power points.


Will you work around my schedule?

Yes. You tell us when it’s convenient for you and we’ll turn up and perform the required work.


Reviews

Brad S.

01/14/2015

Thanks guys for your great service well priced and service with a smile highly recommend

Kylie S.

01/13/2015

Thanks to the friendly team at LiveWire electrical and design for getting the works done for my mother the fans look fantastic, great job highly recommended..

Carl D.

07/21/2014

thanks to the girls at livewire for a great job , well priced and ontime
very happy customer
thanks