Quite a number of qualified electricians, like myself, have for a long time adhered to, when reasonable and practicable to do so, to BS7671. We keep ourselves up to date and go about our business honestly. Therefore it is the IEE regulations that keep us in line, not an ‘organisation’ like niceic or a ‘register’ that you propose. Consumers have various options at their disposal through the law and court system if they want to challenge poor workmanship or bad service by any tradesmen, regardless of them being on a ‘register’ to prove their competency. Of course if the register that you propose is completely free of charge to qualified electricians,like the free trade website listings in yell.com or you would like to pay us a small premium per year to be listed on a register, then i might consider joining. Of course this register would also need to be statutary and not voluntary otherwise there is no point in persuing a register at all. Cowboys will always be around but ironically they also work in the honest sparks favour, proving to clients that it is better to get the job done well first time round, rather than spend twice as much to have it rectified. Do also remember that with N.I. being relatively small, much of the business is by word of mouth, so comparing our situation to other countries with vast populations,including bonnie Scotland is not a little unbalanced, and with many of the competent self-employed sparks already established, with hierarchy customer bases that continue to support their ‘own spark’ over many years, why would these self made hard workers want to belong to a register, that they have never needed in the past to build up their own loyal customers and presently continue to expand legitimately, (planning too for the future,) without belonging to either an ‘organisation’ or have their names on a ‘register’?? I suppose if i were a spark struggling to get work, then feeling vulnerable, i might think that belonging to an org. or a reg. might be a good idea. However it could be the reason i am struggling to get work is because i am a little weak on my business plan. So the point is that belonging to an org. or a reg. is irrelevant if other aspects of my business are failing, (not including economic downturns,) as many sparks in the niceic club can testify. Regards to you, from HAPPY AND CONTENTED WEE SPARK!!

While the stated objectives of you group are commendable,the creation of more red tape,self appointed organisations which will supposedly clean up the industry, are not what is needed. As someone who has been ‘on the tools’ for almost forty years I can assure you that rationalisation is what’s need, not regulation. I say this because for years there has been far too many electrical apprenticeships on offer, leading to an over-supply of electricians. When the work dries up and they get paid off, they go off and buy a van-hey presto, another contractor! Watch what will happen if a certain FM company goes bust- more blokes with no alternative but to go self-employed it can’t be stopped. Regulation/registration is a good idea, but it won’t work.

Yes, we feel this is essential to the well being and safety of the construction industry.

I feel there needs to be consideration to people who have come through the trade in different directions and not just Jib or ETT trained people as I have recently tried to get recognition of my apprenticeship but got a very down-putting answer from both these groups considering my apprenticeships was one of the best, if not the best in its day.

safety should always be of prime importance to everyone involved in the electrical industry. Whilst we can install devices to detect gas or CO2, there are no such equipment to tell the end user whether an electrical installation is dangerous or not. Therefore it is vital that properly trained electricians who possess the appropriate accreditation (licence) are the only people permitted to install, test, commission and issue the necessary certification. This will I believe greatly reduce the risk of electrocution

I am very much in favour of regulation as long as it help the smaller contractor that employs 12 employees I have recently became an niceic contractor and do no what it takes as I am a believer in doing it right but would certainly be against it if it is a way for the larger companies to help them on in a recession to the smaller jobs that we undertake I also believe that the nieslg should have normal working guys promoting this site and beliefs not just the big guys but is their not a case at present that the smaller guy whether he is registered or not cant get work as he has to pay into constuctionline and the only work available to him is houses without constructionline your not able to tender for even the middle of the road jobs unless you are a member of niceic and where are the rest of the regulatory bodies why have we only niceic here I never see any others promoting sorry a bit of a rant too

Should help the consumer in that prices for work are more likely to be fair. This will stop unqualified people coming in and undercutting tradesmen who have spent time and money getting their qualifications.

As long as it’s based on technical competency not just being time served as a bad spark training another is not a good idea.

From my own experience, the Gas Safe Register works extremely well for the gas sector, so a similar register for electricians can only be a good thing.

Better service will be provided to the consumer at a safe and tidy standard leaving competence a necessity and not just pot luck.

I support this regulation as it will bring about proper working standards, but only if it is not elitist in its selection and the same rules apply to everyone.

I support regulation ie. individual registration/licensing for fully qualified electricians who have been through a full apprenticeship not a 5 day 17th edition course.There should also be different grades of licensing for newly qualified, approved, test engineers etc. These should be reviewed on two or three yearly period at minimum cost to the individual. Having a licensing scheme like this will mean all electrical operatives are competent to carry out electrical works rather than one individual being responsible for standards within a company like a QS in the NICEIC scheme who cannot possibly look at and assess all work going on under his control.

As an NicEic & Reci approved contractor I fail to see the need for further endorsement of my credentials. A more useful approach would be to educate the public, liaise with the NHBC and only allow approved contractors to complete NIE connection cards.

I completely agree with this lobbying for regulation, standards have dropped this is because any electrician can fill in a connection card with out being part of a electrical body NIE should be asking for membership numbers etc before work even starts on a dwelling.

This will encourage standardisation and best practice. Leading to more reliable installation and dispelling the ‘whatever’s the cheapest’ attitude.