Current affairs - we need a trade organisation and we need it now

My old boss in the Fire Brigade used to say: "If they were to run a course in apathy it would fail through lack of interest". He was absolutely right but that was way back in 1973. Things are different today – they're ten times worse. Nowadays, people are too busy with their own lives and can't be bothered to help others. All too often their idea is to grab what they can while the going is good and then disappear when the going gets tough. The problem is that they miss out on the fundamentals of getting properly trained or learning to understand their trade. So when they find that they're not up to the job and can't cope any more they do a runner. These people are messing up our industry and we can manage quite well without them. Let me give you an example ...

I was talking to an installer some time ago on his stand at a local gala. He was bragging about his expertise in installing and trouble-shooting, immediately after telling me why he didn't need to be part of an inspectorate, how useless inspectorates are, and how he never got any work out of them. Besides which, he could beat the inspectorate lot hands-down on price any day.

I asked his opinions on training. "I don't bother with it," he said. "All you get is a bit of paper and bits of paper don't install burglar alarms. Besides that, why should I waste my money getting trained to do what I'm already doing? What are they going to teach me that I don't know already ?"

All this from a guy whose idea of trouble-shooting a tamper circuit is to loop it out. Who doesn't fit SABs because they are "nowt but trouble" and connects his control panels directly to the electric main supply via the back of a plug socket (often using flex). He was so arrogant I don't know how I kept a straight face. I wanted to laugh till the tears ran down my leg. Some people you just can't help! Talking to that installer reminded me of the early days, which in turn prompted me to write last month's column about the inspectorates and this month's column on the theme of getting help.

If we're honest, we can all admit to having done systems in the past that we're not proud of, and I know from my own early years that there have been times when I was desperately in need of help and advice. One of those sources of advice was the inspectorate I joined –- I learned a lot from it.

Now the inspectorates are moving up-market, away from being trade organisations, so there is a desperate need for a help organisation for the trade in general. There must be thousands of companies out there who would give their right arms to be able to pick up a phone and get advice without the bias of the manufacturer, inspectorate or other interested party. So what would we like to see and what could we expect to get from such a trade organisation?

First, traps to avoid. There are a few "self help" groups around, formed by companies that band together to get cheaper products by collective bargaining. On the one hand it's a good idea, on the other it tends to screw the manufacturer down and cut his profits. In turn, the manufacturer has less money for research to improve his product and is often pushed into bringing out an "economy" model to satisfy demand. This is usually his better quality unit with most of the frills and refinements knocked off. The result is a real racing bargain price unit that gives a lot more problems. I think they've got what they deserve. So to my mind a trade organisation should stay out of the bargain basement and remain independent.

I also feel that a trade organisation should be available to anyone who wishes to subscribe, so it would have to stay out of the inspectorate sector. By their very nature the inspectorates have to sort out the good from the not-so-good and must reject those which do not measure up to the public requirement. So they are not available to everyone across the board – well, at least until a company has proved its capabilities. If the trade organisation cannot inspect and it cannot bargain for cheaper prices, what can it offer? Help. A good trade organisation should have a helpline available to give advice on business, training, trouble-shooting and legal problems. Membership should be open to individual installers, companies and manufacturers alike to be able to share their knowledge to improve our industry.

It should be in a position to inform its membership about new laws and regulations that affect the industry and new products being made available. A trade organisation could also offer things like legal advice by putting some top class legal brains on a retainer so that the rank and file could get that all-important advice that they possibly couldn't afford by themselves.

It could offer a vetting service to its members. Then an installer could apply for jobs and offer his vetting clearance along with his CV, references and qualifications. It could save the employing company a lot of time and effort, particularly where something crops up through retrospectively-sought references and a recent employee has to be "let go" and the whole process started again.

Looking at it from both sides, a register of competent installers could be opened along with a register of quality companies looking for such suitable employees. The object would be to find the right employee for the right company with the minimum of fuss. It would also help the employer to pinpoint "company hoppers" – installers who jump from one company to another at short notice causing instability within the industry. From the installers' side, it would help the lads to spot companies who "hire and fire" as the workloads go up and down. All things considered, it could help to create a more stable and confident industry.

Another benefit: there must be times when one company is desperate for extra help in the short term while at the other end of the country is a company with lads to pay and a shortage of immediate work. Putting the two in touch could help both parties with a short-term problem.

What else could a trade organisation offer?

A register of consultants with varying fields of expertise could be on hand to help with sticky problems.

Help with training could be on hand by having a register of competent and suitably qualified trainers and training organisations.

Inspections of companies and a consultancy could be available, if required, for companies that wish to move up to inspectorate level. This would have to be kept to a purely voluntary level.

By the same token, help could be available to any company seeking improvement by the running of seminars and training courses on marketing, sales, installation, servicing and trouble-shooting.

Advice could be available about personal insurance – running from accident insurance to tools, motor vehicles and health insurance – as well as the industry favourites, product and efficacy.

Although I am not convinced that screwing the manufacturers down on price by collective bargaining is a good thing, I am sure that going to someone like BUPA with a load of potential new customers could result in some good price reductions without spoiling the quality of the product. The same could apply to cover for vehicles and tools, especially if some good sound advice about how to protect those tools was on hand to go with it.

When, and only when, this type of help and information are available to all in our industry can we truly begin to eliminate incompetence and ignorance. When we have eliminated (or at least vastly reduced) that incompetence and ignorance we should be able to pinpoint the rogues and vagabonds. This final lot should be shot at dawn.

CHANGING THE SUBJECT... The other day I had to telephone a small, one-man company to arrange an inspection. The voice answering the phone appeared to be about six to eight years old. Adjusting my manner to suit, I asked: "Is your dad in?" "No," came the reply, "he's out working. Can I take a message?" I was well impressed. "Certainly," I said "have you got a pencil and paper?" There was a pause. "Hang on a minute," and the phone clattered down on the table. Then I heard a female voice from the other side of the room ask, "Who is it"? The small voice answered: "It's some weirdo wanting me dad."

Also, I noticed I got a mention in the editor's column last month. I was referred to as "our resident columnist and feather rustler". I agree that I have RUFFLED a few feathers in my time, and I am well known to have a size 10 mouth (to match my foot), but rustling is another business altogether. When I mentioned it to the lads it gave rise to many comments (mostly with pornographic content) concerning myself and a variety of our feathered friends. Anyway, must fly...