Within Competent Person Schemes

[andyelectric]

Hi, I would appreciate answers from those who have worked within a CPS.

From the 'Practical Solutions' thread some will have seen that I raised that it might be possible to effect change from within the schemes.

However, this is from the slightly naive vantage point of little knowledge of how their policy decisions are made.

Are there many electricians in positions of power within such schemes, or are they all managers with eyes only for greenbacks. Can policy change be effected from within.

Constructive comments from those in the know please. No rants.

 

[Guest125]

You're about two years behind fella. It's been done, they've been brought in front of a parliamentary committee to answer for their crimes and even then, after huge flaws being exposed in the way the scams are operating, the government still refused to act on any of the committee's suggestions. The fact is, there are too many brown en voles being passed around and many palms are being greased.

A large scale boycott is what is needed, failing that, the only thing unfortunately that will bring about the end of the scams is another Emma Shaw style death.

Still should best ranting on here.

 

[Octopus]

Upping the level of qualification will never happen as long as there are people who stand to benefit from the bar being as low as humanly possible.

Getting rid of the scams is the ONLY real option that will bring about change. Anything else is merely peeing in the wind.

Not sure that either of these ideas will happen.

Raising the bar would make sense - but who's going to enforce that?

Getting rid of the schemes won't help either - there are so may chancers doing sparking already the situation simply won't change - in fact it could make thing worse!

So the status quo will continue....


Unless action is taken at the coal face then nothing will change..... and the same goes for pretty much all the trades - people cutting corners, bodging and scarpering.... the only "canny" people out their are the customers who do their research and identify trades people by word of mouth and recommendation.

Just saying

 

[D Skelton]

The Industrial sector will sort itself, if they have skills shortage they will need to train there own apprentices. Simple supply and demand. I myself do 80% domestic / 20% commercial. Domestic is my favourite work, I must be weird, I love the people I meet and enjoy working in homes. Part P should be detrimental to me in theory, but it simply is not, if anything, people know that there are half baked "eectricians" now and keep hold of a good one like gold dust.

Where do you live?! The Cotswolds?! Lol

Even down South where I am, I'm priced out of 90-95% of domestic work. The only real domestic work I do now is in the houses of the commercial clients I carry out work for. Normally London suburbs and large houses.

Standard day rate in my town is about £100-£150. I have a relative (ex domestic spark [retired now]) who 10-15 years ago wouldn't have got out of bed for less than £200. The problem is, in my town, the ratio of 5WWs to time served guys stands at about 70-30. The market is absolutely saturated with whizzers. Hence my decision to distance myself entirely from that market.

The trade is in dire need of overhaul, and that is from a public safety perspective, nothing more.

 

[andyelectric]

Not sure that either of these ideas will happen.

Raising the bar would make sense - but who's going to enforce that?

Getting rid of the schemes won't help either - there are so may chancers doing sparking already the situation simply won't change - in fact it could make thing worse!

So the status quo will continue....


Unless action is taken at the coal face then nothing will change..... and the same goes for pretty much all the trades - people cutting corners, bodging and scarpering.... the only "canny" people out their are the customers who do their research and identify trades people by word of mouth and recommendation.

Just saying

Yep. Gas safe didn't help me the other day when a chancer wanted to quote me for a new boiler. After a swift kick out of the house I ordered a new thermocouple off tinternet and in just over a day the magic gas fairy had sorted the problem. Try to do the right thing........

 

[GB.Kayak]

Hi, I would appreciate answers from those who have worked within a CPS.

From the 'Practical Solutions' thread some will have seen that I raised that it might be possible to effect change from within the schemes.

However, this is from the slightly naive vantage point of little knowledge of how their policy decisions are made.

Are there many electricians in positions of power within such schemes, or are they all managers with eyes only for greenbacks. Can policy change be effected from within.

Constructive comments from those in the know please. No rants.

Andy, please excuse my <rant> but I think that you and I are on a similar wavelength ... I think you need to go back and emphasise the first sentence ... I will do it for you!


HAS ANYONE WHO IS CURRENTLY A MEMBER OF THIS FORUM EVER WORKED WITHIN A CPS? If so, do you have any comment?


In Andy's defence, he is at least asking the right question but getting the 'dyed in the wool', 'same o same o' responses.

<RANT>


FACT: UK Industry is a hollow shell except in certain niche industries where the UK continues to innovate!


FACT: Demand for capable electricians remains in what is left of this industry and this will grow as experience levels are decimated by demographic issues, for which read population shifting towards old age, due perhaps to gender equality and the expectations of youth sold to them by marketing gurus! Unfortunately we are missing the real 'Elephant in the room', UK INDUSTRY IS A SHADOW OF ITS FORMER SELF! It will continue to decline unless the population ... and the government DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!


FACT: Eng54 has said elsewhere that the traditional demand in overseas markets, particularly the Middle East, for UK 'engineering excellence' is drying up ... for which READ HAS DRIED UP. As I said elsewhere we in the UK are expensive to maintain and our education system, particularly our universities have trained the trainers to service the industries of the world, starting in the Victorian era! They have now had several generations to develop the foundations of their industrial base and with population growth, growing affluence and outsourcing of our own manufacturing to them they have long since left us standing in the slow lane as we have given them the family silver and the legs to run away with it!


FACT: If you wish to make a difference to this geopolitical situation it is possible! The German and Japanese are testament to this post World War II.


FACT: Trotting out the same gripes and 'shut down the Electrical Trainee etc providers' will not get us anywhere as already stated!

<\RANT>


Now ... any answers?

 

[Guest125]

Where do you live?! The Cotswolds?! Lol

Even down South where I am, I'm priced out of 90-95% of domestic work. The only real domestic work I do now is in the houses of the commercial clients I carry out work for. Normally London suburbs and large houses.

Standard day rate in my town is about £100-£150. I have a relative (ex domestic spark [retired now]) who 10-15 years ago wouldn't have got out of bed for less than £200. The problem is, in my town, the ratio of 5WWs to time served guys stands at about 70-30. The market is absolutely saturated with whizzers. Hence my decision to distance myself entirely from that market.

The trade is in dire need of overhaul, and that is from a public safety perspective, nothing more.

I completely agree with you. We decided two years ago to completely pull out of the domestic sector. They will not pay our rates and our rates are high due to our insurances to work on the railway, at height, asbestos, 3 phase etc...

 

[Sintra]

Why the censorship of posts on here?

The secret police have been at it again!

All done with good justification

 

[Guest125]

All done with good justification

I think those who have posts deleted should be informed so they can attemp to see the error of their ways.

 

[andyelectric]

GBKayak is correct.

I asked a pretty specific question, and the thread was immediately hijacked.

No-one has provided any inside info to the schemes as yet, all that happened was that the 'practical solutions' chuntering has now moved over here.

 

[TJ Anderson]

Where do you live?! The Cotswolds?! Lol

Even down South where I am, I'm priced out of 90-95% of domestic work. The only real domestic work I do now is in the houses of the commercial clients I carry out work for. Normally London suburbs and large houses.

Standard day rate in my town is about £100-£150. I have a relative (ex domestic spark [retired now]) who 10-15 years ago wouldn't have got out of bed for less than £200. The problem is, in my town, the ratio of 5WWs to time served guys stands at about 70-30. The market is absolutely saturated with whizzers. Hence my decision to distance myself entirely from that market.

The trade is in dire need of overhaul, and that is from a public safety perspective, nothing more.

In fairness to yourself, I believe you employ others, so you have increased overheads and VAT. You will always be uncompetitive on labour. Daywork is also not a fair comparison as the amount done in a day varies between sparks. I am sole trader and that is all I want to be as I enjoy it, I have a large client base and if I have not took £200 day (All work priced) then I have had a bad day. Nearly all repeat custom and recommends these days.

 

[Leesparkykent]

most domestic work i do is for reputable builders who know im not the cheapest but neither are they but the customer gets a good job, with no hidden extras etc. the only time i really deal with the customer direct now is on domestic pv jobs and most of the time make at least £1000 profit for a day/day and half out of these pv jobs. there is still money to be had in the domestic sector.

 

[Sintra]

I think those who have posts deleted should be informed so they can attemp to see the error of their ways.

All posts edited or deleted are clearly visible with who modified them and the reason why. Today I must be close to editing or deleting 50 posts (including some of yours) so I don't think it would be practical for me to have to contact members everytime I edit something.

 

[TJ Anderson]

I completely agree with you. We decided two years ago to completely pull out of the domestic sector. They will not pay our rates and our rates are high due to our insurances to work on the railway, at height, asbestos, 3 phase etc...

That is fair enough, you have seen an opening and you have targeted a specific market. As long as you do not have all your eggs in one basket.

 

[D Skelton]

GBKayak is correct.

I asked a pretty specific question, and the thread was immediately hijacked.

No-one has provided any inside info to the schemes as yet, all that happened was that the 'practical solutions' chuntering has now moved over here.

Hang on a minute?! Didn't you implicitly state at the start of the thread that you wanted NO rants.

Funny that you tolerate rants from people that make points you can agree with.

You knew full well that there isn't anyone here who works for the schemes, you were just looking for a fight, and you got one. Don't try and play the innocent!

*removed*

 

[Guest125]

In fairness to yourself, I believe you employ others, so you have increased overheads and VAT. You will always be uncompetitive on labour. Daywork is also not a fair comparison as the amount done in a day varies between sparks. I am sole trader and that is all I want to be as I enjoy it, I have a large client base and if I have not took £200 day (All work priced) then I have had a bad day. Nearly all repeat custom and recommends these days.

the more people you have working for you the more profit you have coming in to pay for those overheads. You should not need to raise your rate to cover increased overheads caused by an increase of staff.