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The end of Stroma

Chris Pearson
Enrolling with Stroma wasn't difficult - it was the best value. Then I met the likes of JP and DZ. ?


Today I received an e-mail saying that the Stroma scheme will cease w.e.f. 1 Aug. As far as I can see, my year's subscription will be unchanged so I appear to gain, but next year's subscription will be substantially higher, so not good.


The lack of competition in the CPS cannot be a good thing, but I am at a loss as to how the situation could be improved. Rant over!
  • 0
    It should apply to anyone who terminates and connects a conductor.

    So no DIY fitting of a plug or repairing an extension lead, let alone fitting an extra socket?


    I fear that would end up re-creating the disadvantages of the old Australian licenced electrician model - where public safety end up being measurably reduced because of the cost/convenience penalty of 'doing things properly' means that people were far more likely to persist with unsuitable arrangements.


      - Andy.
  • 0
    John Peckham:

    ...

    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. 

    ...

     


    (not trying to be obtuse)

    Why [for each 'need' suggested]; for what aim, objective, purpose etc.


    And if one agreed with a new proposal, there are other [related] issues to consider; not least the validity  of the local authority notifications process, or DIY 'works'.


  • 0
    Sparkingchip:

    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?




    I was thinking about that there’s a decreasing number of customers, as Certsure refers to electricians.


  • 0
    If a young electrician decides to join a competency scheme it’s probably a lifetime commitment, transferring to another scheme operator does not seem to be something that many people would do.


    So presumably the new customers will be young electricians going it alone for the first time and older guys starting a second career such as having been in the armed forces who have been on a “short” course, rather than people changing providers.


    There is a lot of older guys dropping out of the schemes, so there’s a good chance the scheme membership numbers are remaining steady or reducing.


    So if there’s going to be less new entrants due to changes in entry requirements and persuading people to change schemes is as I suspect difficult, developing and expanding a scheme is going to be neigh on impossible and doesn’t make it a particularly sustainable business, unless of course schemes can charge scheme members substantially higher fees.
  • 0
    Andy


    I should have said by way of trade leaving DIYers to do their own thing just like the gas scheme.


    Proper registration of individuals is needed to stop logo bearing companies using cheap labour to do cheap jobs under cutting the decent contractors and to protect the public.
  • 0
    For sure the whole setup and requirement for it needs a sensible overhaul, but it is disappointing whilst the current operation is sustained, regarding the reported demise of Stroma .


    Mind you this CPS thing always 'sucked' as a 'requirement' (so to speak) in my view and one example, mentioning it again from ages back, was a friend of mine; a long time member of NAPIT, who tendered for a contract and didn't get selected; on asking for feedback the answer flummoxed him ... everything was fine, except you were not in NICEIC and that's the standard we were looking for (not quoted as I cant remember the exact words).


    Well, a customer can choose who they like to work for them, fair enough, but it shows up the whole very questionable subject for me of CPS and other associated issues.


  • 0
    So, has Part P and the Schemes had any discernible effect on electrical safety?

    Has it deterred DIYers from attempting bigger jobs outside their competence?

    Has it made allied trades like kitchen fitters and shower installers better trained and more likely to do the right thing?

    Has it upped the professionalism of the trade by forcing electricians to undergo regular testing and inspection and receiving feedback?


    This is isn't meant to be sarcastic. I'm genuinely interested in what people think.
  • 0
    wallywombat:

    So, has Part P and the Schemes had any discernible effect on electrical safety?

    Has it deterred DIYers from attempting bigger jobs outside their competence?

    Has it made allied trades like kitchen fitters and shower installers better trained and more likely to do the right thing?

    Has it upped the professionalism of the trade by forcing electricians to undergo regular testing and inspection and receiving feedback?


    This is isn't meant to be sarcastic. I'm genuinely interested in what people think.


    No, possible the opposite,

    No,

    No, those who aren't competent probably will not have changed,

    No, the good ones will have done it anyway those who are not bothered are unlikely to benefit from training, feedback etc.


    Having been so negative above I believe the good electricians are in the majority but are let down by a system that allows enterprise registration to use  unregistered electricians while pretending they are effectively registered irrespective of their competence. 


    Commenting on another post above I changed from ELECSA to STROMA and was happy with both of them but STROMA was much cheaper for a similar service. 

     


  • 0
    As most of you will have worked out by now, I feel that we have inadequate requirements for persons carrying out EICRs. This is the most difficult job most electricians will carry out having got past the stage of domestics and standard circuits. If you cannot design an installation, you probably cannot inspect it satisfactorily, which is often brought out here by questions that show a lack of knowledge and experience of installations of all types. Some of you probably maintain your own vehicles but how many could be the MOT inspector in a satisfactory way? We have the same question, and the risks of failure are probably similar. The response of many is to over code defects, the reparations then making things as close to the "onsite guide" as possible for simplicity and alleged safety, and no comeback. This is totally unsatisfactory! In my pile of EICRs, I have collected a remarkable number are for NIC-approved contractors, and probably signed by a QS who has never been to the site, or even wondered if the content is reasonable. So much for QS control of quality!
  • 0
    The statistics that the government updates every six months giving details of scheme membership numbers hasn’t been updated since June 2018, so what has happened over the last three years is probably a bit of a mystery. The number of registered enterprises had been rising steadily over the years, if that’s continued for the last three years I don’t know.

    There is a strong possibility that a lot of older guys who stopped working because of the Covid lockdowns won’t start again.

    https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/735138/Competent_person_scheme_statistics.pdf

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