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Ascertiva Group earns Times Top 100 company accolade
Ascertiva Group is Times Top 100 Best Co
Ascertiva Group, the company renowned for its NICEIC and NQA brands, has become a Times Top 100 Best Company to Work For.
The accolade is awarded on the views of employees and the policies and processes of employers. It identifies best practice and ranks companies chiefly by their results in eight key indicators of staff engagement.
"I am delighted that Ascertiva Group, NICEIC and NQA, has been recognised as one of the best 100 companies to work for,” says Emma Clancy, CEO Ascertiva Group. “This is a result of hard work and effort by all of us, at every level in the company and it makes me extremely proud.”
Ascertiva Group also received a one star rating from the Best Companies award, which is based solely upon employee feedback. Best Companies has established its reputation through an authoritative and highly rigorous methodology.
This awards’ methodology identifies workplace performance and best practice according to eight key factors. These factors are particularly significant as they are defined through the results from the survey process, and therefore by employees themselves, as critical factors in workplace engagement:
- Leadership
- My Manager
- Personal Growth
- Wellbeing
- My Team
- Giving Something Back
- My Company
- Fair Deal
Andrew Selous, Conservative MP for South West Bedfordshire said: “Congratulations to the Ascertiva Group on this tremendous accolade. It is a mark of recognition for all the great work they do both inside and outside the office and it is pleasing see a local firm that so many employees are delighted to work for. The group have set a real benchmark for firms in the area.”
Last year, in addition to increasing company profits across the Group, Ascertiva employees took part in volunteering days at Luton and Dunstable Hospital and helped create a nature reserve at Lower Watling School in Dunstable. Staff also helped raise thousands of pounds for local charities and recently contributed to the fund to buy vital life saving equipment for the maternity unity at the hospital.
The group’s NICEIC brand is also a shirt sponsor for Luton Town FC.
“Everyday I see something that makes me feel really proud of the work we do here,” added Emma. “I am delighted to be CEO for an organisation that so many people enjoy working for and the Times Top 100 Mark is a great reward and recognition for the entire group.”
NICEIC sign up 17000th Approved Contractor
Over 17,000 firms registered as an Approved Contractor with NICEIC
More than 17 000 firms are now registered as an Approved Contractor with NICEIC
The 17 000th business was registered last month proving more than ever that electrical firms want to have their work checked and assessed. NICEIC now maintains a total roll of more than 26 000 registered contractors (including domestic installers).
Electrical firm A R Morrison Electrical Services based in Halifax was the 17,000th customer. The firm is managed by Anthony Morrison - an electrician with more than 25 years experience in the trade. He set up his own business three years ago – originally as a domestic installer before he switched over to an Approved Contractor.
Anthony said NICEIC was the obvious choice for his business. “I have always found dealing with NICEIC very straightforward and all the firms I have worked for have been NICEIC registered.
“Being an Approved Contractor has increased my work load. The half day site inspections from the area engineer have been a great help and a real benefit to my company.”
Anthony’s growing business means he has been able to take on a young apprentice - Stephen Kinder (pictured). He added: “It gives me great satisfaction to offer someone a chance to learn the trade at such a difficult economic time.”
NICEIC has witnessed an increasing number of applications from firms looking for accreditation in recent months.
Alan Wells, Certification Director at NICEIC, comments: “This is positive news for the industry as a whole. In difficult trading conditions it would be easy for firms or individuals to cut back on items such as certification.
“However, it would seem firms are keen to have the quality of their work assessed and gain NICEIC certification because of the benefits it brings to their business.”
In addition, contractors registering with NICEIC now benefit from the recent merger between the ESC (Electrical Safety Council) and the ECA (Electrical Contractors’ Association).
The partnership, between two of the industry’s leading bodies, means all firms registering with NICEIC will feature on the new Electrical Safety Register – the definitive searchable database for registered electricians.
Featuring the details of more than 36,000 businesses across the UK www.electricalsafetyregister.com is the number one place to find a competent electrician.
Industry welcomes Government plans to reduce Building Regulations red tape
ECS and NICEIC welcome cut in red tape
Proposed amends reflect sector demands, say ECA and NICEIC
The Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) and NICEIC have welcomed Government plans to reduce the number of notifiable works, saying it will cut some of the red tape faced by industry,
Both also say that the launch of the Electrical Safety Register (www.electricalsafetyregister.com) in November fits well with the Government’s plans to work with external partners to promote the use of certified electricians.
The Government has declared Part P to be a success and has announced plans to streamline and improve electrical safety. It signalled its intention to focus notification requirements on higher risk jobs, such as the installation of new circuits. This reflects the recommendation of the joint submission made by the ECA and NICEIC in its response to the consultation on Building Regulations in early 2012.
Steve Bratt, ECA Group CEO, says: “While we await full details, we are delighted that the Government has listened to industry. A tighter focus on notification requirements will maintain safety, while reducing the burden placed on electrical contractors. This is exactly what we need to ensure the Regulations protect the public, while ensuring our sector can still benefit from vital work opportunities.”
Emma Clancy, NICEIC CEO says: “The Government’s intention to work with external partners to promote the use of qualified electricians is an important step forward. The newly launched Electrical Safety Register is perfectly placed to communicate to the general public not only why certification is important, but where they can find a certified electrician. We are delighted that Government is in sync with the electrical industry about the best way of ensuring safety.”
The Government has also announced plans to bring forward regulations that will allow third parties, other than Building Control, to certify work carried out by DIYers.
Bratt continues: “There is no uniform cost for certification by local authority building control, so this could create a potential new workstream for electricians where local authority costs are high. Time will tell whether this policy will prove successful, but we hope contractors will be able to reap the benefits.”
In February 2012, Steve Bratt and Emma Clancy were among a panel of leading electrical contracting industry figures called in front of the Communities and Local Government Select Committee to discuss electrical safety as part of the Building Regulations and the Government’s then ongoing review of the Building Regulations.
