Stroma Certification Scheme Stroma

[Brianaire]

Having passed the assessment
they are asking for......
complaints procedure
health and safety
risk assesement
as a old one man band, any ideas where I can get something short and simple to placate them ?
dont have complaints,
always h&s aware
dont take risks !! Lol
joking apart, any help appreciated TIA

 

[Leesparkykent]

Don't you get sample ones you can put your own name on in the introduction pack? I'm not with stroma, but I know you used to with others schemes.

 

[Midwest]

Elecsa provided downloads on their website for these documents. As Lee says, you just add you name and amend the doc's as appropriate. I would have thought Stroma do the same? Or is that why they are slightly cheaper


Edit: Just quickly googled them, seem to do H&S & complaints, must do the others. Why don't you give them a ring

 

[Connexions]

I was thinking about joining them any one got any reviews on how they are

 

[uksparks]

I know this has been done to death, but I still don't understand why you would want to join a minority scheme such as Stroma, which very few people have heard of, and a even electricians them selves some have not even heard of.

The cost is £288, where NICEIC is £410 first year then £492, so little over £200 more per year, ok I know its £200, but thats one days work....

The Stroma application fee is £340, and the NICEIC is £540, so another £200.

Ok so your first year will set you back £400 more, but there after, its only 1 days labour per year more to be with the bigger scheme who the majority of people, electricians and general public recognise the brand.

My choice is to go with the bigger party, call them a scam, whatever, but I would rather be with them.

 

[uksparks]

I was thinking about joining them any one got any reviews on how they are

Personally, I wouldn't go with them, I am sure they all do the same as it says on the tin, but do you want to be a scheme where the customer says, Stroma? Who's that? or potentially face problems gaining jobs because they only want NICEIC.

Make your own judgement on it, but thats my take on it.

 

[Brianaire]

Know what you're saying but joe public ain't heard of nic, and given that I,m JIB graded have they heard of them , napit, elecsa weren't even thought of when I started !!!

 

[DPG]

A lot more people have heard of the NICEIC than Stroma I would say. It gets much more publicity on TV, in magazines, logos in use on vans/websites etc. Daz

 

[Brianaire]

They might have done in the past , but why have nic joined up with elecsa ?
writing on the wall ? Had it too good for too long ?
only time will tell , will keep folk posted

 

[DuaneMHunt1976]

health and safety
risk assesement
dont have complaints,

Health and Safty
http://www.napitonline.com/downloads/Sample Health Safety Statement.doc
just fill in the Blanks with your Personal Info, Print it off and Lam-in-at it.

Complaints
Just a little A3 Book with Complaints on it will do (well it did for Napit)

Risk Assesement.
I wasnt told they would ask for this when i did an Asessment, but was asked. As i didnt know i would be asked i didnt write one. So i Cant help you there...


As for going with STROMA, i think they are all the same personally. There isnt any ADVERTS on TV or BILL BOARDS like Corgi Gas used to a KNOWEN Mark, BUT this isnt the Question.

 

[ImpededLoop]

I'd go with the cheapest. I will if I renew next year. Hardly anyone asks which scheme I'm in.

 

[geordie]

I made an enquiry with stroma and now get calls weekly from them to join. Was going to move from niceic but like what has already been said no one has heard of them. We're as most homeowners no of the niceic

 

[markc123]

I could be wrong here, as this is just hear say ... i'm not or never will be stroma registered so don't know for certain...

but...

I've heard lots of insurance compaines wont accept Stroma, anything council run wont and neither public schools or hospitals ... now if this is true, you're restricting quite alot of potential work just by skimping on a few hundred by cutting out NIC/ECA

 

[DuaneMHunt1976]

I could be wrong here, as this is just hear say ... i'm not or never will be stroma registered so don't know for certain...

but...

I've heard lots of insurance compaines wont accept Stroma, anything council run wont and neither public schools or hospitals ... now if this is true, you're restricting quite alot of potential work just by skimping on a few hundred by cutting out NIC/ECA

I think that's not ture,
For one when has a insurance company said no to any thing, they just insure you, doesn't matter whom you go with.

Strong is on government web site, so for someone to no to some with them, would be more down to stroma branding its self. Those I asked my mother about the governing bodies and she only knows corgi
I world guess there are people out there who don't know the different between a person with one these groups and one who isn't, apart from the being cheaper, bet lot of the public don't even know about the reports/paper work.

But this post was about what they needed to join them

 

[uksparks]

My brother works in construction in project management and he has to get the Sparks in on the jobs, and this is not a lie, but all the companies he works with stipulate they must be NICEIC Approved Contractors not another scheme such as Stroma.

my view on it is that if you are serious about your business you will go with the better scheme and not Stroma.

 

[Richard Burns]

I would point out that there is no better scheme, they all provide notification to building control in very similar ways.

There are more recognised schemes (NICEIC), but it is only ill informed companies that specify a particular scheme, though this does mean that there is a business pressure to use NICEIC for convenience.

 

[Midwest]

NICEIC have an 'Approved Contractor' and 'Domestic Installers' schemes, as well as others. I had a cold call from Stroma, perhaps they're on a recruitment dive! This post has gone off at tangent, usually does when 'Schemes' get mentioned. At least OP has his forms.

A risk assessment should be part of your H&S policy, i.e. the H&S is overall strategy, the risk assessment deals with the risks identified at a particular job. Now we all carry out a visual 'dynamic risk assessment' even when arriving at the smallest jobs....get the dog locked away, slippery patio etc. But you may wish to goggle 'citb cdm 2015'. Applies even to small domestic work. Least they do a nice app!

 

[sinewove]

Am I right in thinking that Stroma is a domestic installer scheme?So why would a council employ scheme members to work in schools or similar buildings anymore than they would employ an NIC domestic installer to do that type of work?
Regards,SW

 

[davesparks]

My brother works in construction in project management and he has to get the Sparks in on the jobs, and this is not a lie, but all the companies he works with stipulate they must be NICEIC Approved Contractors not another scheme such as Stroma.

my view on it is that if you are serious about your business you will go with the better scheme and not Stroma.

And yet other places avoid NIC contractors, and going back a few years ECA registration was a must.

I'm not registered with anybody at all and yet my regular customers include: 2x schools, an HE college, a Lettings agent, a west end theatre, a care home run by a big national charity. So from my experience all this not getting work unless you join the club nonsense is just that, nonsense.
Do a good job for a fair price and you will not go hungry!

 

[davesparks]

Am I right in thinking that Stroma is a domestic installer scheme?

Not quite, Stroma is a large company which operates a number of different registration schemes and produce software for various sectors etc, one of their schemes is a part p scheme.

 

[uksparks]

I agree that they all have the same function, but I think for me I prefere to be under a more widely known banner.

 

[Brianaire]

Thanks for that .......filled in printed off , one down, two to go

 

[davesparks]

I agree that they all have the same function, but I think for me I prefere to be under a more widely known banner.

Why? Are you not confident that you can make it without the perceived safety blanket of the club?

 

[uksparks]

It's nothing to do with it, I'm with a scheme for cheap notifications which I do 2 or 3 every week.

 

[grumpygit]

This is just my opinion obviously, as I have been in all the schemes at some point except Stroma.
I was in the NIC for a good many years, even before you had to to be by law, I left them just over 5 years ago after a straw the broke the camels back moment. The feeling I always had with NIC was that THEY were doing you a favour, that you had to jump when they said and it was always a feeling of jumping through hoops for them.

They always reminded me of the old BT attitude where they thought they were God, until competition came on the scene, and even the it took time.
Then there is NAPIT, best way I could describe them is this.. I am the type of electrician that will always use a good quality MK double socket or light switch and not a cheap made in China one that costs pennies, even if it may do the job, hope that explains, Nuff said.

Then there is ECA/Elecsa.. been with these Guys for a few years now. You are the customer and THEIR Boss, that's the karma they give off. But you still need to be on top of your game, but never a feeling of they are out to get you, Even the yearly inspection is a joy, sadly though the guy I had in Cambridge has now retired.. Thinking of anything bad to say about them, but can't, A joy.

 

[Mike Blair]

your just paying for brand BUT in my time working aside electricians"past 2 years" it has pop'd up a few times "alright you are you registered with

 

[grumpygit]

This is just my opinion obviously, as I have been in all the schemes at some point except Stroma.
I was in the NIC for a good many years, even before you had to to be by law, I left them just over 5 years ago after a straw the broke the camels back moment. The feeling I always had with NIC was that THEY were doing you a favour, that you had to jump when they said and it was always a feeling of jumping through hoops for them.

They always reminded me of the old BT attitude where they thought they were God, until competition came on the scene, and even the it took time.
Then there is NAPIT, best way I could describe them is this.. I am the type of electrician that will always use a good quality MK double socket or light switch and not a cheap made in China one that costs pennies, even if it may do the job, hope that explains, Nuff said.

Then there is ECA/Elecsa.. been with these Guys for a few years now. You are the customer and THEIR Boss, that's the karma they give off. But you still need to be on top of your game, but never a feeling of they are out to get you, Even the yearly inspection is a joy, sadly though the guy I had in Cambridge has now retired.. Thinking of anything bad to say about them, but can't, A joy.

Not sure what happened, but the part where I mentioned Stroma is missing

Know a few younger guys that use them, heard nothing bad. Like many things these days there is competition out there and you have to work hard to get business, they seem to be doing just that.

I would say if you are just starting out and not taking on big contract work where SOME might ask for NIC or ECA, then I really cannot see the problem. Stroma are a young company starting out as you are, hopefully both will be a great success in the future.

 

[SPARTYKUS]

It's nothing to do with it, I'm with a scheme for cheap notifications which I do 2 or 3 every week.

And this is where your sums miss the target a bit... £3.60 per notification, so if you do three a week thats £518.40 a year for 48 weeks a year.

Stroma £1.50 (including the vat) so same figures £216 a year. Difference £302.40 a year in Stromas favour.

add that to the £200 odd a year less for registration to notify and look at it over 5 years, suddenly its....£2500 less.

sorry thats alot of money. Its a nice van. Or alot of shiny new tools.

As has been mentioned by others I have worked for schools, police forces, large multinationals and none of them judge me on what badge I have.

Just my opinion but you must like that red and black van sticker alot.....

 

[grumpygit]

And this is where your sums miss the target a bit... £3.60 per notification, so if you do three a week thats £518.40 a year for 48 weeks a year.

Stroma £1.50 (including the vat) so same figures £216 a year. Difference £302.40 a year in Stromas favour.

add that to the £200 odd a year less for registration to notify and look at it over 5 years, suddenly its....£2500 less.

sorry thats alot of money. Its a nice van. Or alot of shiny new tools.

As has been mentioned by others I have worked for schools, police forces, large multinationals and none of them judge me on what badge I have.

Just my opinion but you must like that red and black van sticker alot.....

Hi Spart

How have you found Stroma then, apart from the obvious saving in money.. I personally have not heard a bad thing about them

 

[nickblake]

I asked a question at elex and the guy from stroma went on a tangent about cage cramp in switches i asked about the poor quality screws in consumer units all i can say it didnt give me much confidence, felt like he was an ex politician

 

[davesparks]

I asked a question at elex and the guy from stroma went on a tangent about cage cramp in switches i asked about the poor quality screws in consumer units all i can say it didnt give me much confidence, felt like he was an ex politician

Was he talking about the cage clamps in switches etc by any chance? The ones in main switches which are prone to breaking when tightened due to poor screws and thin metal parts, which would be pretty much what you were asking about I assume?

 

[nickblake]

yes he was i asked about the screws on the neutral and earth bar

 

[Dave OCD]

And this is where your sums miss the target a bit... £3.60 per notification, so if you do three a week thats £518.40 a year for 48 weeks a year.

Stroma £1.50 (including the vat) so same figures £216 a year. Difference £302.40 a year in Stromas favour.

add that to the £200 odd a year less for registration to notify and look at it over 5 years, suddenly its....£2500 less.

sorry thats alot of money. Its a nice van. Or alot of shiny new tools.

As has been mentioned by others I have worked for schools, police forces, large multinationals and none of them judge me on what badge I have.

Just my opinion but you must like that red and black van sticker alot.....

Can you get me a nice van for £2500 please ?

 

[uksparks]

Personally I prefere to be with the NICEIC, you say it soon adds up, but it makes zero difference to me as I charge £2 for the certificate and £2 for every notification, it's itemised in every invoice I send out, so really in quids in, it's not costing me to notify them as I just pass it on to the customer. So really if you are saying it's costing you, then you need to look at charging people...

 

[SPARTYKUS]

Can you get me a nice van for £2500 please ?

You can in Wulver 'amptun :freak:

 

[SPARTYKUS]

Personally I prefere to be with the NICEIC, you say it soon adds up, but it makes zero difference to me as I charge £2 for the certificate and £2 for every notification, it's itemised in every invoice I send out, so really in quids in, it's not costing me to notify them as I just pass it on to the customer. So really if you are saying it's costing you, then you need to look at charging people...

Cool man what ever suits you and your business atriot:

 

[SPARTYKUS]

Hi Spart

How have you found Stroma then, apart from the obvious saving in money.. I personally have not heard a bad thing about them

Hi grumpy

very pleasant to deal with, only ever dealt with office staff (all very pleasant helpful and professional) and my assessor who was a top chap. He found something wrong and I was deferred until corrected.

he also had some ideas I had not heard of before and best practise ideas. The best bit being he was a pleasure to deal with.

Oh! And when you notify it emails the bit of paper immediately that you can send to the customer. No waiting three weeks for it to be posted like the others.... All for less than half the price of a certain well known scheme.

ive decided to itemise the notifcation at the other schemes price, and pocket the difference, amounting to a weeks' holiday in Spain every year or a new diamond ring for my wife :rockon2::smartass2::smartass2::smartass2: