That question excluding the many up and down effects of the current economic recession is probably the most hotly debated subject by most plumbing & heating contracting businesses serving customers in the residential marketplace.
Across the last decade we’ve seen the ongoing introduction of Government led competence schemes which all have the best of intentions in –
- Aiming to ensure that customers are provided with a level of protection when employing the services of a contractor, and
- Aiming to ensure that the work carried out in customer properties is compliant with the different aspects of legislation.
So with all those good intentions what’s the problem?
Simply put there’s no joined up thinking across all the schemes which in a significant number of cases are attempting to address the same or very similar areas of work. The outcome is –
- A significant cost burden to legitimate multi-disciplined plumbing & heating contractors in the industry which is ultimately borne by their customers.
- A financial burden placed on smaller businesses who in turn are being driven towards narrowing their range of business services. A development that is not in the best interests of the customer who look to appoint cost effective quality multi-disciplined contractors that can be relied on to undertake the full range of plumbing and heating activities in their homes.
- A reluctance by many plumbing and heating contractors to engage with Government led installer schemes.
So what’s the solution?
The only real way forward is to completely simplify the confused and fragmented existing arrangements by moving to one single industry led competence scheme that could deliver on the aims set by the different Government Departments providing much greater clarity, reducing the cost burden to contractors and their customers and providing opportunities for higher participation levels by small and medium sized businesses.
Want to know more, then read our outline proposal paper by clicking here.
You are quite correct in your identification of the basic problem. There are however a number of issues that also need consideration if it to succeed. These include:
ReplyDelete- Widening the scheme remit to encompass and encourage the majorative trade practitioners aka one man bands. Without this consumers will not buy in.
- Assessment needs to also encompass experience based competence rather than focus on simply exam based competence. Experience, in all its forms, is the basis for great customer satisfaction.
- Far too many 'courses' are ostensibly passed through attendance alone. All course should be assessed anonymously and unannounced to ascertain their real motive and value (i.e. from the end users perspective)
David Newton
DND Services
As an aforementioned one man band, I would dearly love to have just one 'body' to belong to! Currently I am with two, but will become 3 when I complete my Gas certification and may be forced to drop one due to cost!
ReplyDeleteEdward Berresford
Brompton Plumbing
What a good idea in practice but as with all schemes introduced by the government it gets bound up in red tape and over complication. Any system introduced by beuracrats is bound to be a mess. The powers that be need to talk to the one man bands who are the ones to bear the brunt of the costs of these schemes and listen to what we would find helpful.
ReplyDeleteI may sound a bit of a cynic but that is what happens when you have been subjected to various schemes over 40 odd years.
P. L. Plumbing and Heating
I can only agree with the previous comments.
ReplyDeleteIf Government decisions in the past are anything to go by then the voice of the sole trader is a voice lost in the wilderness. From my own perspective “Big Business” has the only voice that counts maybe “ He who pays the piper calls the tune”.
Having attended various assessments and training I am baffled and confused and ,of course, hundreds of pounds less in the bank. All this effort is to gain a piece of paper which states that I can do as I have been doing for the last 32 years.
In short the Trade needs proper apprentiships e.g. 4 to 6 years forming true craftspeople that care what, and how they do it.
Experience cannot be bought or taught, nor is it understood by Government Bodies apparently.
MR.P.R.Smith ACIPHE RP
Thank you chaps for making me feel less alone and not quite the lonely voice in the wilderness I sometimes think I am. Having seen a common theme in the comments made it does beg a couple of questions.
ReplyDelete1 - What is happening to this feedback?
2 - Is anyone actually reading what we written?
We would like to thank everyone for taking the time to contribute to our blog and vote on this important issue so far. Your contributions and support are important, as we are currently going through the necessary stages of gaining support from installers in order to build the case and increase our pressure on the Government. We would like to assure everyone that the needs of the small business are being taken into account throughout this process as your support is vital and the proposition put forward for the single competence scheme is purposely designed to assist smaller plumbing and heating businesses in particular, many of whom we represent in membership to our organisation.
ReplyDeletePlease keep your comments and votes coming.
So pleased the needs of the small business are being taken into account throughout this process. Good luck to all involved in this campaign!
ReplyDelete