Hello friends, how are you?

  

Oh,the time is rare these days but I note that I first bury myself in blues music. Second that I burn discs for OMS next time I see him and then, rather than prepare food or anything boring I migrate to here....Feels like home.


I'm not a registered spark any more (I sort of miss it) and I've what my Mum calls a proper job these days. Still very much electrical and only last week I was on the IET's 'management of electrical safety' course in Manchester for two days.  So I'm still here.  In passing, not a great course IET and you must up your game for my next 800 quid but that's another story.


 I read this thread with interest.   I have to declare that I have a somewhat maternal frame of mind when it comes to Napit - they looked after me for years.  Having had a canter through the sparksafe website I very much hope that this is not to be a requirement for Napit members.  What do you know JP?


From my current experience  I would say this... I stand shoulder to shoulder with highly paid giants at work and with JIB Gold card members on my occasional weekend inspection work.  I am confident enough nowadays to say that lots of them know considerably less than I, which is little,  or than most of you, which is massive.  I would not, or need not jump through the hoops required for a JIB Gold Card. That is my personal analogy for the sparksafe thing.


So I am minded of the following whilst reading JP's post: My phone still rings at least three times a week with calls for advice from those with job titles and pay grades greater than mine asking for advice.  Now, I've got to say here that I could write you a paper about women in industry, Chimp paradoxes (if you've read the book, which is worth a look) and all that kind of thing, but I'm too busy and it would only be throwing cold water.  The essence of it though is that a man doesn't like to ask another man about something that he is stuck on in our industry and I feel for you, especially if you are just starting out.  For those of you that don't know, I'm a lady and I've been knocking about around this block for years and done rather well thanks to this forum.  So, these fellas call me and ask things like 'is twin and earth low smoke and fume and can I use it in a house?'.  I'll check stuff or them, maybe fish out an old spread sheet or  tell them to use this forum. They don't, I have noticed that.


So back to sparksafe…It comes across as a hoop I'd have to jump through and a day off work sorting out paperwork, scanning certificates and ID etc.  and paying some more money. Good sparks are busy enough without it. They'd not need to join.  So, there's a false economy coming to mind that says it'd be the second best on the list not the best - if you get my drift?   If it were a bolt-on and if I were doing really well and if it offered me something to aim for that I wanted.. err,  like time off work?....I'd go for it and given the time I'd bathe in the kudos.  If however it were to become an essential for Napit membership I would be wondering if they valued my membership and the validation they gave me by dint of an annual UKAS accredited inspection.   I would also be reminded of having paid extra for various other bolt-ons in the past such as that thing about being a third party inspector which came to not much at all and there was one other which I think was Trustmark.  I might be considering another provider to be honest.


If you want a Gold Club make it one that you invite people into.  Really special people out there have a profile. Get them.


Because, I think that time served or real skill is a gold badge. I have a vacancy -  Send me a time-served-self-employed any day of the week. I will look the CV to see how long the self-employed bit was.


Zs





 

Hello friends, how are you?

  

Oh,the time is rare these days but I note that I first bury myself in blues music. Second that I burn discs for OMS next time I see him and then, rather than prepare food or anything boring I migrate to here....Feels like home.


I'm not a registered spark any more (I sort of miss it) and I've what my Mum calls a proper job these days. Still very much electrical and only last week I was on the IET's 'management of electrical safety' course in Manchester for two days.  So I'm still here.  In passing, not a great course IET and you must up your game for my next 800 quid but that's another story.


 I read this thread with interest.   I have to declare that I have a somewhat maternal frame of mind when it comes to Napit - they looked after me for years.  Having had a canter through the sparksafe website I very much hope that this is not to be a requirement for Napit members.  What do you know JP?


From my current experience  I would say this... I stand shoulder to shoulder with highly paid giants at work and with JIB Gold card members on my occasional weekend inspection work.  I am confident enough nowadays to say that lots of them know considerably less than I, which is little,  or than most of you, which is massive.  I would not, or need not jump through the hoops required for a JIB Gold Card. That is my personal analogy for the sparksafe thing.


So I am minded of the following whilst reading JP's post: My phone still rings at least three times a week with calls for advice from those with job titles and pay grades greater than mine asking for advice.  Now, I've got to say here that I could write you a paper about women in industry, Chimp paradoxes (if you've read the book, which is worth a look) and all that kind of thing, but I'm too busy and it would only be throwing cold water.  The essence of it though is that a man doesn't like to ask another man about something that he is stuck on in our industry and I feel for you, especially if you are just starting out.  For those of you that don't know, I'm a lady and I've been knocking about around this block for years and done rather well thanks to this forum.  So, these fellas call me and ask things like 'is twin and earth low smoke and fume and can I use it in a house?'.  I'll check stuff or them, maybe fish out an old spread sheet or  tell them to use this forum. They don't, I have noticed that.


So back to sparksafe…It comes across as a hoop I'd have to jump through and a day off work sorting out paperwork, scanning certificates and ID etc.  and paying some more money. Good sparks are busy enough without it. They'd not need to join.  So, there's a false economy coming to mind that says it'd be the second best on the list not the best - if you get my drift?   If it were a bolt-on and if I were doing really well and if it offered me something to aim for that I wanted.. err,  like time off work?....I'd go for it and given the time I'd bathe in the kudos.  If however it were to become an essential for Napit membership I would be wondering if they valued my membership and the validation they gave me by dint of an annual UKAS accredited inspection.   I would also be reminded of having paid extra for various other bolt-ons in the past such as that thing about being a third party inspector which came to not much at all and there was one other which I think was Trustmark.  I might be considering another provider to be honest.


If you want a Gold Club make it one that you invite people into.  Really special people out there have a profile. Get them.


Because, I think that time served or real skill is a gold badge. I have a vacancy -  Send me a time-served-self-employed any day of the week. I will look the CV to see how long the self-employed bit was.


Zs