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Take a fresh look at NICEIC and ELECSA NICEIC and ELECSA have launched a new campaign urging contractors to “take a fresh look” at what they have on offer. The highly visual campaign uses friendly images of NICEIC and ELECSA staff including customer services advisors, technical helpline engineers and area assessors. It will run over the next year and feature in a series of press adverts, marketing material and events. “By using our employees we are opening up our business and putting faces to the names that our contractors are in touch with every day,” said Certsure CEO Emma Clancy. “Our technical team alone deals with more than 60,000 calls a year and provides an invaluable service that allows contractors to concentrate on their business. “We want to highlight that fact and let people know, whether they are registered with us or not, that we are committed to being the leading building services certification body of choice.” In April last year both brands officially came under the tenure of Certsure – the joint venture created by the partnership between the Electrical
Contractors’ Association and the Electrical Safety Council. In the nine months since then Certsure has launched a customer charter, offered free online training to all registrants and run several high-profile advertising campaigns promoting the 34,000 contractors registered with each brand. “Certsure is a new business committed to taking the best from its existing brands and creating a new way; a Certsure way that is built on what’s best in class,” added Clancy. “The ‘Take a fresh look’ campaign is our way of saying to contractors that we have changed. We have listened to their concerns and, as well as working with great brands that win contractors more work, we are offering an improved range of services including focused customer support, an improved technical service, online certification, the Direct store and a wider range of training courses.”
NICEIC ACADEMY STAR TAKES APPRENTICE ACCOLADE NICEIC graduate Jack Howes was named apprentice of the year at the at this year’s Electrical Industry Awards. Organised by trade magazine Electrical Times, the awards are one of the biggest in the industry. Jack, 21, works for NICEIC Approved Contractor Instalec Electrical Engineers in Luton, and was one of the original attendees of NICEIC’s apprentice academy at Bedford College. “It was a great surprise but just seemed to make the whole three-year process worthwhile,” said Jack. “I love working in the industry and just want to progress now as far as possible. The next thing I want to do is get my testing and inspection qualifications.” Jack spent two years at Bedford College under the tutelage of lecturers and NICEIC’s technical development manager Darren Staniforth, before spending his final year of professional development under the guidance of NICEIC. NICEIC Approved Contractor PIP Electrics Ltd, based in Basildon, Essex, was named contractor of the year for 2013 at the awards.
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RESTORATION MAN HEADS TO LIVE SOUTH Television presenter and housing guru George Clarke has signed up to speak at Live South, which will take place at Epsom Downs racecourse on 15 May. Clarke (pictured below, left) is best known as the face of popular shows The Restoration Man and The Home Show, and has also hosted Property Dreams, Build A New Life in the Country and The Empty Homes Show. He is also a renowned architect who has worked on a number of high-profile cultural and urban projects. Visitors will also be able to hear from NICEIC’s dynamic duo of Tony Cable and Darren Staniforth and other industry experts. They will also be able to speak to key industry suppliers, including headline sponsors ESP, Scolmore and WF Senate, and witness hands-on demonstrations of new products and technologies. Mark Smith, head of group marketing at NICEIC and ELECSA, said: “We are delighted to have George as this year’s main speaker. His experience in the housing sector will be of significant value to contractors working in this area. Live South follows on from Live North, held in Bolton in October, where contractors heard from a range of top speakers, including England World Cup winning legend Sir Geoff Hurst (below, right), who spoke about the importance of taking opportunities in business and sport. Visitors also had the opportunity to spend time and chat with various teams from NICEIC and ELECSA including customer services, technical, insurance, sales and online certification. Tickets for Live South have been held at last year’s prices of £29 plus VAT for NICEIC, ELECSA and ECA registered contractors and £49 plus VAT for non-registered contractors. For more information or to book your place, visit www.niceic-elecsalive.com or call Lois Hunt on 0207 880 7625. • See our review of Live North, on page 24
Winter 2013-14 Connections
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