Getting Started with Justin Mason

Trydanol Energy Solutions

What’s in a name?

Trydanol is Welsh for electrical and my family’s heritage; hence a catchy name that provides both regional context of who I am and what I do, with the colours in my logo symbolic of three-phase electrical wiring.

Your position?

Founder & Director

About your business?

I’m a consultant electrical engineer focused on renewables together with oil and gas. I provide high-level design and risk reviews together with project execution leadership.

About you!

I’ve worked internationally as an electrical engineer in oil and gas, with assignments in Russia, Africa, Singapore, and the USA; corporate life concluded as global head of electrical engineering for a bluechip energy company. My experience covered the full asset lifecycle from early concept through to operations, managing large teams, giving me a well-rounded skill in delivering complex activities in challenging environments. Why?

I’d become tired of global corporate life, and needing a positive change. With restructuring during the pandemic, I took redundancy and retrained, studying for a postgraduate diploma in renewables. My transition outplacement package allowed me to explore the possibility of starting my own business as I craved a more flexible working arrangement. At the same time, I had enquiries for consultancy support from my network and needed a mechanism to be paid, hence Trydanol Energy Solutions was born.

Who is your ideal client/customer?

Clients that play to my strengths where I can provide added value leading to potential repeat business. Additionally, work packages that are technically challenging and stimulating give me the opportunity to learn and develop are highly valued.

Best moment so far?

Securing a long-term call-off contract for a large client has provided me with stability in my workload. This allows me to be more selective on opportunities, enabling me to plan my business direction.

Biggest challenges?

Starting during the COVID pandemic was challenging; for example, banks were either not interested or offering an opening appointment in 6 months and I needed a mechanism to be paid. I also wanted to branch out into renewables and locally. Both of these were incredibly hard as my contacts were mainly international corporates in the energy sector as opposed to UK-based ones. As with most sectors, people don’t take you seriously as a consultant unless you have many years of pedigree in that environment, I needed to build a portfolio fast.

I engaged with my contacts particularly those that were independent regarding support networks; fortunately, one of these lived close by and was able to provide me with guidance, linking me with Business Wales and WCNW Chamber of Commerce, this was a real bonus for me. I gained introductions and small work scopes followed from Welsh renewable companies; often packages were taken at a low rate but I needed to build a portfolio.

I was invited to join a trip to the All-Energy conference in Glasgow for a business meeting with a contacts client. This came to nothing, but by chance, I met with a Scottish-based start-up that needed help. This proved lucrative over the year providing a portfolio of bankable onshore and offshore renewables experience. The point is that you need to get out and talk; conferences offer the best opportunity to network with a broader audience and don’t be afraid to sell yourself and don’t kid yourself that your existing network will provide you with work.

Benefits of the Chamber Start-Up club since you joined?

It’s a great networking opportunity for early-stage entrepreneurs to learn business basics, particularly as in corporate life others provide all your support needs, now that person is you! It’s a very steep learning curve and everyone faces similar issues. The big benefit of attending the Start-Up club is teasing out nuggets of wisdom that can really help you work smarter. It is also a two-way street and you only get out what you are prepared to put in, so be open and honest and people will genuinely want to help you without feeling it’s a hard sell.

Lessons learnt…what would you do differently and why?

Ideally, I would have started earlier, trading and building my client base whilst employed; however, I was constrained by time, and a restrictive employment contract. Starting up in a global pandemic was a challenge but the opportunity of a redundancy package provided a safety net for me to try my idea.

Lesson - Make sure that you keep your options open with sufficient resources and a realistic timescale of when you need the business to perform.

My first year faced the challenges of any new company with limited trading, trying to convert new leads into business and executing work at the same time was difficult.

Lesson - Understanding trading cycles to avoid famine and feast; summer holidays and end-of-year budget close can be particularly challenging if you have not lined up a pipeline of work.

Finally, have faith in yourself. It was the right time for me to enter business; busier than in my corporate life and I now command my own destiny, success or failure. Pob lwc!