Ryan Dempsey

About Ryan

Early Life and Career

Ryan Dempsey entered the electrical industry through various hands-on roles before finding his calling at the intersection of engineering and technology. He recalls sitting on his lounge floor reviewing hundreds of Periodic Inspections, checking each one for accuracy, a repetitive task that felt like “one constant stream of deja vu moments.” That frustration sparked the idea for The Compliance Workbook. He went on to manage all electrical and cyclical services for a UK local authority, where he saw first-hand the lack of innovation within social housing to improve compliance safety, risk management, and value for money.

Professional Background

Ryan is the founder and CEO of The Compliance Workbook (TCW), a SaaS platform that extracts and analyses compliance data from digital PDF documents produced by workers in the construction sector. TCW now processes compliance data for over 1.3 million properties, representing approximately 20% of the social housing market through the CORGI Compliance Document Management System. He was elected a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (FIET), one of the youngest ever to receive the honour. He has won PropTech CEO of the Year in both 2021 and 2022 at the Global CEO Excellence Awards. Ryan chaired the Electrical Safety Roundtable, leading the discussion on defining a Code of Practice for the Management of Electrotechnical Care in Social Housing. He is a sought-after speaker at ASCP Live, NHMF, CIH Scotland, NIFHA, and Housing Technology events. He co-hosts the e5 Group podcast and community for electrical professionals. TCW was bootstrapped with no private equity or venture capital, preserving decision-making autonomy for the founding directors.

TrainAR Academy Spotlight

Ryan is featured as a Spotlight Creator at TrainAR Academy, where he writes about compliance, building safety, and regulatory requirements for UK tradespeople. His philosophy is direct: “Compliance is not assurance. Compliance to something does not mean it is safe.” His unique dual register, combining deep technical engineering knowledge with board-level strategic thinking, makes his content particularly valuable for tradespeople navigating the increasingly complex UK regulatory landscape.

Personal Values

Ryan is a straight-talker who champions frontline workers and data literacy. His favourite quote is “People can and will doubt the things you say; it is impossible to doubt what you do.” He practises yoga and meditation with an intention-setting morning routine. He prioritises school drop-off and pickup for his three children and freely admits he is “not a fan of London” and likes to “stealth in and stealth out.” His recommended book is Moonwalking with Einstein, and his core belief is that money creates more problems than it fixes.