Thunderclap causes online storm for Cage

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Thunderclap causes online storm for Cage

NICEIC recently took part in an online “thunderclap” to promote The Cage, a commercial highlighting the importance of electrical safety and encouraging people to use a registered electrician.

Just over 900 organisations and individuals joined the campaign, far exceeding the original target of 500 supporters. This meant the campaign reached out to more than 820,000 people across various platforms on social media.

The YouTube video of The Cage has now been seen more than 10,000 times – up a massive 300 per cent on the figure before the recent push online.

Mark Smith, marketing director at NICEIC, said: “The online thunderclap is just the latest initiative we have taken to spread the important message about using a registered electrician and follows a successful TV campaign in Scotland and Northern Ireland earlier this year.

“The aim now is to keep up the momentum. If contractors haven’t done so already we would urge them to check out the video online and share it with as many friends, family, colleagues and clients as possible. Together we can reach every home in the UK.”

FOOTBALL DEAL PROMOTES BRANDS

NICEIC and ELECSA will once again be sponsoring Luton Town Football Club throughout the 2016-17 season.

The League Two side will kick off the new season with the NICEIC logo on the back of the home shirt and shorts, and the ELECSA logo on the back of the away shirt and shorts.

It is the eighth season in a row that NICEIC will be sponsoring Luton, which is local to its headquarters in Dunstable.

NICEIC and ELECSA’s marketing director, Mark Smith, said: “We have enjoyed a great partnership with Luton Town over the years and are delighted to continue our association.

“Sponsoring Luton Town helps promote the NICEIC and ELECSA brands to thousands of people each week. We wish them all the best for the new season.”

MANUFACTURER OFFERS NICEIC VENTILATION TRAINING

Johnson & Starley has become the first manufacturer to off er a new training and assessment package from NICEIC for installers of ventilation systems.

The course has been designed to assess installers against set criteria, formed from the relevant National Occupational Standards (NOS), and has been approved by SummitSkills, the Sector Skills Council for the building services engineering sector.

Paul Collins, technical services manager at NICEIC, said: “It is essential that any installation of mechanical ventilation systems is carried out by skilled and competent persons. By forging this link, consumers can be confident that the systems will be installed correctly and perform at the levels expected.”

Installers can sit the course at a number of NICEIC-approved centres across the UK, while Johnson & Starley will also host the course at its headquarters in Northampton. It runs over two days and comprises a theory and practical exam as part of the final assessment.

Once installers hold the qualification then they can apply to the NICEIC Competent Persons Scheme for Ventilation so they can self-certify their work in England and Wales.

For more information, or to book your place on the course, contact NICEIC Certification on 0870 013 0389, or email traininginfo@niceic.com • Certsure chief executive Emma Clancy recently sat on an HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) advisory panel. Better training, proper commissioning and a soft-landings approach were deemed to be vital to reducing the performance gap with systems, agreed all the panellists.

NICEIC will be exhibiting at HVAC 2016 as part of UK Construction Week.

INDUSTRY // DIARY

September 7-8 Plumb Power Heat Light Expo

Belfast

22-23 ELEX

Coventry

29 TechTalk

Amex Stadium, Brighton

October 4 TechTalk

Kassam Stadium, Oxford

12 TechTalk

Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff

18 TechTalk

Westpoint Arena, Exeter

November 24 NICEIC ELECSA Live North

Aintree Racecourse

DOUBLE SUCCESS FOR SCOTTISH CONTRACTOR

Scottish contractor Scott Kelly and his firm KLY Electrical were both recognised at the Aberdeen for the Trades Awards, which took place in June. The event is designed to recognise tradespeople and trades businesses in the north-east of Scotland. Kelly took the title of tradesman of the year, while his company was named best trades business in the category for companies with fewer than 10 employees.

Kelly was presented with both awards by celebrity builder and TV presenter Tommy Walsh (pictured left). “This was just fantastic,” said Kelly. “We’ve been going for five years and during that time I’ve gone from sole trader to limited company. I’d like to thank NICEIC for all its support.”

ONE MILLION AND COUNTING

More than one million certificates have been processed via NICEIC’s online certification system. The one-millionth customer was Tristan Murless of TGM Electrical in Weymouth, who was presented with a £50 voucher to spend at NICEIC’s Direct Shop.

“We started using the online system a few years ago; all the team are using it now. I like the fact that people can work on it while out on-site, and I can check on it while in the off ice,” said Murless. “The fact that we can email it straight off to customers and have a record of it kept online is really beneficial.”

NICEIC’s online certification system is now used by more than 15,000 unique customers. The cloud-based system means contractors do not need to install any software. There are also no expensive update costs as with other electronic certificate systems. They can simply log in to the portal with their NICEIC details to fill out all forms easily.

“Contractors are now increasingly using a laptop, smartphone or tablet in their everyday work, and we want to ensure they have access to the latest developments to make certification and notification as easy as possible,” said NICEIC head of sales, Paul Elcock.

ON THE SPOT//BOB SANDERS

NICEIC and ELECSA employ 80 engineers across the country to assess contractors’ work and provide up-to-date technical advice. To many contractors, they will be the face of NICEIC and ELECSA. Here, we turn the tables and put them in the spotlight

» Bob Sanders Midlands, London, East Anglia & Cheshire

When did you become an area engineer?

I started my career working for a large electrical contracting company before taking up a career within the NHS. When I joined NICEIC in 1987 I had progressed to the role of senior hospital engineer and was looking for new challenges. The role of inspecting engineer, as it was then known, came up and I took the opportunity.

How has your role evolved?

For the first 14 years I was an inspecting engineer/area engineer. Since then I have been responsible for a team of both full-time area engineers and parttime associates. I have continued to carry out some assessments.

How has the job itself changed?

One of the main changes is that as inspecting engineers we carried tools and test equipment, and used them during periodic inspections of Approved Contractors. A change was then made so the focus was more on the Approved Contractors carrying out any testing and removal of accessories, and also assessment of the qualifying supervisors’ knowledge. We then became area engineers and periodic inspections became periodic assessments.

What industry changes have you seen?

The most significant are the introduction of Approved Document Part P Electrical Safety-Dwellings to the Building Regulations; digital technology, leading to widespread installation of CCTV, home automation, security systems and data; and the use of LED lighting in commercial, industrial and domestic premises.

What’s the strangest thing you have come across?

On visiting an electrical installation at a pet store with an electrical contractor, I was assessing whether the main equipotential protective bonding conductor to the water supply, which was located in a cupboard under a sink, was in place and secure.

The pet store assistant warned me to be careful of the tarantula, and thinking she was joking I continued. She then reached in and put her hand behind one of the pipes and emerged with a large spider. It appeared it liked to climb up the back of the hot water pipe and would remain there all day until they closed.

What’s the strangest request you’ve had?

On visiting an electrical contractor we started discussing the geographical spread of his work and what work we would be able to reach during this visit. The contractor then suggested two installations that were about 90 miles away. This was followed by a request that we travel to the site by plane. It turned out the contractor was a qualified pilot and had a share in a plane, which was waiting at an airport close to his premises.

What interesting jobs have some of your contractors done?

Being based in the Midlands a lot of the contractors I visited have been involved in large electrical installations associated with robotic assembly plants within car factories such as Land Rover.

What about outside of work?

I have always been fascinated by gorillas and am a regular supporter of eff orts to protect them and their environment through conservation. I recently had the opportunity to feed the gorillas at a safari park and learn more about conservation and breeding.

What is your favourite book, film and TV programme?

Book: A Brief History of Time, by Stephen Hawking Film: Gorillas in the Mist TV programme: Elementary

What’s the best bit of advice you have received in your career?

If you go home at night and you have not learned anything it was your own fault because you were not paying attention. There is always something new to learn. This advice was given to me by Ray Digger, one of the original inspecting engineers for NICEIC, when I started with the organisation.