The end of Stroma

Thank you Chris, we aim to please, and I am sure John will be delighted! I agree that the situation is very unsatisfactory, and somehow needs to be fixed, there may be some action "behind the scenes" which may help. There is quite a lot of talk about the whole competence subject, and the way that certification operates, including PartP. We will have to wait and see.

Yes I agree with David


It was shame that the new owners ( an investment company ) of Stroma immediatly after buying it decided to sell the electrical division to NAPIT.  


It was a real blow to the staff who had to leave Stroma and find another job. They were a great team of people and it was always a joy to visit Stroma HQ for meetings and I was always made welcome. 


I think we had something very special offer registration at a competative price, half what the other 2 orgnisations were charging, In addition we deployed proper assessments that people could fail but were supportive and not intended to humiliate, I used to write the assessment material. It was often commented on by new members that the assessments were more challenging than they had experienced before and proud to have passed. Whilst not an individual competence scheme anyone who inspected and tested jobs had to be assessed, the QS once a year and anyone else once every 5 years.


The membership was growing fast despite opposition from the duopoly.


The field trainers I worked with, David Z, Helen and Paul put their hearts and souls in to the job and we trained hundreds of people throughout the country including members from  other schemes.


It was a sad day for me to get my sandwiches wrapped in a road map and leave the organistation.


There is  gaping hole in the market place for a Stroma MK11 but the set up costs are high ( government approval, UKAS approval, back office, technical helpline etc) and probably a couple of tears to break even but it can be done.

It would be so much better if these regulatory functions were done by not-for-profit institutions, such as charities, or community interest companies.  At the moment, it's all about making as much money as possible.

Well, I had my last Stroma (oblique-stroke NAPIT) assessment today. All very gentlemanly and the bribe of a cuppa and biscuits worked. ?

The registration scheme in England should be abolished.


It is so far removed from the original intention of regulating ancillary trades, that it is meaningless and virtually only requiring registration for anyone 'replacing consumer units'; the other two notification classes being easily avoided.

Am I going to get shot down in flames if I comment that the closure of the Stroma Electrical Competence scheme coincides with the raising of the bar for the entrance requirements to join these competence schemes?

Disagree.


The existing CPSs are competent person schemes in name only. The CPSs only register "Enterprises" not individual. Each enterprise has to have one assessed person known as the QS. This allows people to dress up as qualified electricians displaying the the club logo and also on vans which can, and does, cause the public to believe the person displaying the logo is a competent electrician. They are in fact "cash for logo schemes".


What is needed is an individual competence scheme where the qualifications and assessments are carried out by a different body to the registration scheme. Proper QCF qualifications and an on site assessment. Any organistation can run the registration scheme but this would be tendered out by government with the biggest tender criteria of cost to the individual just like the gas scheme. It should apply to anyone who terminates and connects a conductor. With a photo card on the back of which a list of work you are authorised to perform e.g LV installation work, fire alarms, emergency lighting, safety services and inspection and testing. The registration scheme should also have grades of assessment for designers and Inspectors who may be registered engineers in addition to electricians. 


One day ?