Why should you join a Trade Association or Accreditation Body? 

Are you a security installer or contractor looking to enhance your professional standing and gain a competitive edge? One crucial aspect to consider is trade memberships.

By joining reputable trade associations, you not only demonstrate your commitment to excellence but also unlock a range of valuable benefits and resources. In this blog post, we explore trade memberships and accreditation bodies, with a particular focus on the requirements set forth by NSI (National Security Inspectorate), NICEIC and SSAIB (Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board). We’ll also highlight how efficacy insurance, an essential component of these memberships, can provide you with added protection and credibility.

With over 30 years of experience meeting the unique insurance needs of security installers, we at Alarminsure understand the critical elements that should be included in your policy. We recognise the significance of efficacy insurance, which safeguards you in the event of an alarm system failing to operate as intended.

We are among a few brokers offering efficacy insurance as a standard feature within our specialist security insurance policy.

By working with Alarminsure and acquiring appropriate trade memberships, you can help to safeguard your business, gain the trust of your clients, and gain access to valuable industry resources. So, let’s have a look at the benefits of trade memberships and how they can positively impact your business.

Overview of Trade Memberships & Certification Bodies for Electrical Contractors, Security and Fire Safety Experts

With several trade memberships for Electrical and Security contractors, here is a quick summary of what each of them has to offer:

NICEIC

NICEIC is the UK’s leading voluntary certification body for the electrical contracting industry and the wider building services sector. NICEIC assess over 37,000 businesses to ensure that the installation work they undertake meets the standards expected to keep us all safe. Also offering trades people NICEIC online certification, industry-leading training courses and continued professional development.

Benefits:

• Safety and Trust: NICEIC certification demonstrates compliance with electrical installation standards, assuring clients and stakeholders of your commitment to safety.
• Industry Recognition: Being a member of the UK’s leading certification body enhances professional standing and credibility within the electrical contracting industry.
• Training and Professional Development: NICEIC offers industry-leading training courses and continued professional development resources, helping members stay updated with industry best practices.

Costs: Membership fees and training costs vary based on the type and size of the business.

NSI (National Security Inspectorate) It’s the most widely recognised mark of approval in security and fire safety. NSI approval tells you the company is technically competent, professional and trusted. The organisation ensures its members are working to International and British Standards and NSI Codes of Practice, teams have relevant technical experience, are operating a Quality Management System to ISO 9001 and NSI Quality Schedules and members are employing reputable directors and leaders with relevant business experience and effective employee security screening.

Benefits:

• Trust and Professionalism: NSI approval is widely recognised as a mark of technical competence, professionalism, and trustworthiness in security and fire safety.
• Compliance with Standards: Members adhere to international and British standards and NSI Codes of Practice, ensuring high-quality service and installations.
• Quality Management: NSI promotes the use of Quality Management Systems, such as ISO 9001, to ensure effective business operations.

Costs: NSI membership fees depend on the size and scope of the organisation, and additional costs may be incurred for maintaining compliance with the necessary standards and practices.

SSAIB (The Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board) The Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board (SSAIB) is the leading certification body for organisations providing security systems and services, fire detection, management & monitoring systems. The SIA Approved Contractors Scheme is a quality assurance scheme for the private security industry, operating within the UK and Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1994, the SSAIB promotes high standards of service and is focused on serving the certification needs of organisations providing security and safety related services.

Benefits:

• Certification and Standards: SSAIB provides certification for organisations involved in security systems, fire detection, and monitoring systems, demonstrating compliance with industry standards.
• Quality Assurance: Membership in SSAIB’s Approved Contractors Scheme signifies adherence to high service standards in the private security industry.
• Market Recognition: SSAIB membership enhances reputation and can increase opportunities to win contracts through tender processes that specify accreditation.

Costs: SSAIB membership fees vary based on the size and services offered by the organisation. There are also ongoing costs associated with meeting certification requirements and undergoing inspections.

Why should Security Installers & Electrical Contractors join a Trade Association?

There are a number of benefits of certification or membership here we look at just a few of them; – Build trust, widely recognised by consumers, specifiers, police and insurers as a badge they can trust.

– Access to industry standards and training

– Networking and collaboration opportunities

– Business development tools & Increase opportunities to win new contracts through tenders and buyers specifying accreditation. – Help raise standards across the industry

Should Security Installers & Electrical Contractors seek accreditation?

Third-party certification plays an increasingly important role in enabling firms to compete in the marketplace and access to some market sectors may be conditional on having third-party certification. It may also help reduce your insurance premiums if you are a member of an inspectorate body that carries out third-party inspections and accreditations, as it demonstrates your commitment to upholding high standards of workmanship, safety and customer service.

What to think about before you join a trade association or accreditation body

When deciding to join an association you may want to consider some of the following questions:

• What does the association do to help promote and grow my business?
• What do I want to achieve personally and professionally?
• Does the association offer training resources for my staff?
• Who do I want to network with and what associations do they belong to?
• Will a membership or accreditation with this organisation help me stay ahead of trends?
• What is unique about the association/accreditation?
• How diverse are the members and leaders of the association?
• Is it a condition of membership to have efficacy insurance cover?

It is also worth considering the costs involved in membership and accreditation and the time involved in training and development, these should not necessarily be prohibitive, but they may be a deciding factor

Are there insurance benefits to membership or accreditation?

Underwriters do look favourably on someone who is a member of a trade body and Alarminsure offer insurance discounts to businesses who hold membership of an inspectorate body that carries out TP inspections and accreditations.

It is also useful to know that having efficacy or failure to perform insurance is a condition of membership or accreditation and Alarminsure offer this cover as standard under our security installers and electrical contractors insurance products.

Summary

The benefits of joining trade associations outweigh any potential drawbacks for security installers and electrical contractors. By becoming members of reputable organisations like NSI, NICEIC, and SSAIB, businesses can enhance their professional standing, gain a competitive edge, and demonstrate their commitment to excellence.

We’d love to help you get the right cover for your business. The best way to get a quote is to give us a call on 0800 071 0999 or email us at info@alarminsure.com and one of the team will help you.

Other useful organisations

Electrical Safety First – https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/what-we-do/

BAFE – https://www.bafe.org.uk/about-bafe