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From RAF to Electrician to Integrator to Distributor - The rise of Moss Tech
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What happens when military-grade precision meets home automation? Andy from Moss Tech reveals his remarkable journey from Royal Air Force electronic engineer working on Tornado and Jaguar aircraft to pioneering smart home solutions across the UK.
Andy's transition began modestly—a one-man electrical business started while still serving in the RAF, sometimes accepting payment in runner beans from grateful elderly clients. This side hustle, built on the foundation of military punctuality and attention to detail, gradually evolved into Moss Technical Services and eventually secured the coveted UK distributorship for Niko Home Control systems.
Unlike many smart home solutions that focus primarily on audiovisual elements, Niko targets the electrical backbone of installations—lighting, heating, ventilation, and shading control. The system's elegant design eliminates "wall acne" by incorporating thermostats and humidity sensors directly into light switches, creating cleaner aesthetics while enhancing functionality. As Andy aptly puts it, "We expect lights to come on when it goes dark in our cars. We expect wipers to start when it rains. We need to bring homes to that level."
The conversation explores Moss Tech's philosophy of quality over price, their survival through the 2008 recession, and how that challenging period led to the creation of Cost of Cancer—a charity founded by Andy's wife Nicky that helps families pay bills during cancer treatment. Their newly opened showroom demonstrates how Niko integrates with brands like Control 4, HD Anywhere, and Sonos to create comprehensive smart home experiences.
With an industry-wide skills shortage, Moss Tech now focuses on training the next generation of smart home professionals through personalised, hands-on courses. Whether you're an electrician looking to expand your expertise, an architect seeking seamless home automation solutions, or a homeowner dreaming of intelligent living spaces, this episode offers valuable insights into the future of residential technology.
Chapters
1. Episode Introduction (00:00:00)
2. From RAF to Electrical Business (00:03:47)
3. Quality Over Price Philosophy (00:10:21)
4. Birth of Moss Technical Services (00:16:36)
5. Understanding Niko Smart Home Systems (00:23:26)
6. The New Showroom Experience (00:32:52)
7. Automated Home Security and Comfort (00:42:15)
8. Future Vision and Industry Education (00:48:23)
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