Small town success story

Growing up in the cane fields of Bundaberg, Nicholas Boisen always knew, one day, he would start his own business. Being part of a business-oriented family helped shape his destiny.

“Out of my nine cousins I think eight have our own business, my parents have two businesses, my aunties have businesses, and my grandparents have businesses,” Nicholas said.

“It was always something they aspired to – get a trade, start a business.”

After completing his electrical apprenticeship in Bundaberg, Nicholas had an opportunity to “go underground” at the Kestrel coal mine just outside Emerald, where he worked for more than five years.

Halfway through that time, though, Nicholas realised he needed more.

“At the two-and-a-half-year mark, it wasn’t as fulfilling as it was at the start and I didn’t want to get stuck in an industry I didn’t enjoy,” he said.

“So, I started my electrical contracting business on my days off in Emerald.”

Working seven days at the mine and establishing Boiso’s Electrical during his seven days “off” left little down time for Nicholas. But his hard work paid off – over the next two years the business grew to employ two fulltime tradesmen and he could finally take the leap and leave the mining industry.

“Working underground was a novelty at the start but I wasn’t feeling like I was achieving anything; it just wasn’t fulfilling,” Nicholas said.

“The idea to go out on my own and start my own business, leaving the security of a well-paying job, was so I could have that sense of accomplishment.”

That was in 2020, and since then Boiso’s Electrical has grown to a team of 24 and was last year awarded Emerging Business of the Year at the Master Electricians Australia Electrical Industry Excellence awards.

Nicholas attributed his business’ growth to the network he had established the mine, where he worked with different crews across all aspects of industry.

“I didn’t realise the network I found and created through the underground experience,” he said.

“I got to meet and work with operators, fitters and electricians on all crews so got across ‘the other side of the world’ as they call it. I was fortunate to meet and know everyone.

“That word of mouth has always stayed strong, and we continued to grow.”

Despite his success, Nicholas remains humble and credits the Boiso’s Electrical team with everything he’s achieved.

“It was pretty big surprise when MEA awarded us Emerging Business of the Year – it’s amazing,” he said.

“It meant a lot to me, but it was recognition for the team and the culture that we’ve built. It’s not an award I’ve received, it’s an award we received for the business.

“Without all the great people in the business, none of that would be possible.”