Founder story
Built from the trade.
I built Current Theory to give apprentices a more supported way to practise. A tool that adapts to how they learn, shows them where they are getting stuck, and guides them forward like a good mentor would.
Ian Barnes
Registered electrician. Electrical lecturer. Founder.
Ian's background sits across both sides of the electrical industry. He has worked in the trade across commercial, industrial, and infrastructure environments, with experience in practical installation, project coordination, and electrical reticulation.
Alongside that, he has spent years in education, helping learners build confidence, understand trade concepts, and prepare for the real expectations of the industry.
The idea for Current Theory has been building for almost a decade and stems from a simple problem: trade education is not always built around how apprentices actually study.
Long modules, heavy resources, and traditional platforms often make theory feel harder than it needs to be. Learners did not need more content. They needed something faster, more current, and more personal.
Current Theory was built to close that gap.
The platform gives apprentices a path of least resistance: quick sessions, mistake repair, weak-area training, and progress tracking instead of big blocks of content.
The thesis is to make theory feel less intimidating, more achievable, and easier to keep coming back to.
Current Theory is also built for the people around apprentices: lecturers, tutors, ITOs, employers, and training providers. These groups need more than another learning resource. They need live visibility: who is engaging, where confidence is building, where learners are struggling, and whether they are on track for exams.
Current Theory is part of a larger vision: a modern training platform for the trades.
Built for apprentices. Designed for industry.
Ready to see it for yourself?
Join early access as an apprentice, or start a pilot conversation if you support one.