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Celebrity line-up for NICEIC Live

Former Top Gear presenter Quentin Willson has become the latest celebrity to sign up as a speaker for NICEIC Live.

The motoring guru (pictured, top right) – who also created, produced and presented Britain’s Worst Driver and hosted The Car’s the Star and All the Right Moves – will be discussing the electric car and its potential impact on the electrical contracting industry at NICEIC’s first-ever conference and exhibition.

Willson will be joined by Sir Richard Needham (pictured, top centre), senior independent director at Dyson, who will be telling contractors how they can grow their business, and ChocBox founder Peter Moule (top left), who seduced investors James Caan and Duncan Bannatyne on BBC’s Dragons’ Den.

Other speakers include NICEIC’s Tony Cable, who will discuss upcoming amendments to BS 7671 and changes to periodic inspection report requirements, as well as technical development manager Darren Staniforth.

“We have put together an eclectic mix of speakers and presentations that will ensure there is something for everyone who has an interest in the electrical contracting industry,” said Mark Smith, head of group marketing at NICEIC.

“We want the day to be very much a learning experience for everyone who attends, as well as a chance to network with suppliers and firms that have a close relationship with the industry.”

Lighting and home automation expert Niko is a headline sponsor for the day and will be bringing the Nikobus to the event to showcase the firm’s installer-friendly Niko Home Control energy consumption monitor.

Screwfix has also signed up as a headline sponsor, while other exhibitors include: Megger; Fluke; Ideal Industries; Brother; Milwaukee; Dehn; Phoenix Contact; Wago; Peugeot; Clik; Mr Electric; Acksen; Castline; Irwin Tools (which will be giving away a Lennox hole saw to its first 100 visitors); Metrel; Klauke; Martindale Electric; SWA; and Electrium.

NICEIC Live takes place on Thursday 19 May, 2011, at Epsom Downs racecourse.

Tickets cost from £45, with all attendees receiving a voucher book featuring over £250 worth of discounts and special offers from leading electrical suppliers, along with a free ticket to an Epsom race meeting.

For more information on the event or to register for tickets, visit www.niceiclive.com. > Quentin Willson (above right) will be discussing the electric car at NICEIC Live

Shame of rogue operators

NICEIC is continuing to expose unscrupulous traders who make false claims about registration through its newly established wall of shame.

The campaign aims to name and shame those who fraudulently claim to be NICEIC registered and the online list already features the names of 24 individuals or companies against which NICEIC has evidence of logo abuse.

Two more people were recently found guilty of falsely claiming to be NICEIC-registered after prosecutions brought by Trading Standards.

Newbury-based Gary Crossman, who trades under the name of G C Electrical, was fined £2,500 with £1,500 costs at Reading Magistrates Court in February after being found guilty of using the NICEIC logo on his website and in an advert on Yell.com.

Ertan Gokay of UK Smartbuild.com Ltd, based in Enfield, was fined £8,630 and ordered to pay costs of £1,100 after fraudulently claiming to be NICEIC-registered and using the logo on his company website, stationery and billboards.

“NICEIC is synonymous with quality,” said Emma McCarthy, NICEIC chief executive officer. “Specifiers need assurances that when they appoint a registered contractor that is exactly what they are getting.”

NICEIC supports smart homes show

NICEIC is backing this year’s Home Technology Event, which aims to help electrical contractors better understand the opportunities that exist in the smart homes market.

Senior marketing and events engineer Tony Cable will speak at the show, which runs between 28 and 30 June at ExCel, London, and is organised by the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA).

“The Home Technology Event will be a great chance for electrical contractors to explore how they can diversify and grow their business,” said Cable. “There is no doubt that electrical contractors can grasp the opportunity with both hands and NICEIC is delighted to support events that provide real value to the industry.”

Other speakers include CEDIA’s director of professional development Peter Aylett. The show will also feature advice on the installation, integration, control and concealment of multi-room audio and TV distribution systems, as well as home cinemas, lighting, security control, data networks and other electronic sub-systems. The contractor-focused seminars will take place in the hub theatre, located on the show floor of the exhibition on the morning of Thursday 30 June.