How would licencing effect you

[jay]

Funny part is because waterproofing is part of the building standards ,building inspectors have to know who and how and if you are licensed or they wont give the final approval..

So if mr tight bottomed builder goes and gets hi mate from down the pub to do the tiling he may have a problem

 

[Ajax123]

Cant see how having a licence would improve workmanship. Poor workmen can get a licence just as good ones can. What would a licening system actually acheive other than providing a nice new revenue stream for the tax office.

 

[Sean Page]

surely the licensing would end up just like the nvq/cscs sytem. In a previous life I was an nvq assessor for a different skill set and I do appreciate that these things can bring value, but when you have a bloke down the pub who can give you the certificates for "£200 no questions asked" it just becomes a waste of money and undermines any value.

It becomes the same as these trusted/approved tradesman sites, if you are willing to pay enough someone will approve you. I personally prefer the old fashioned method of building a good solid reputation based on work performed and customer feedback.

 

[jay]

If all new builds had to have licensed trades people (sparkeys plumbers and tilers) then the tradesman becomes responsible for his work (as your licence number goes on record for that job) so any issues can be sorted by the tradesman responsible or risk loosing there licence (if the system is set up correct) sort of a win for the customer and a win for the tiler as the customer will look for a licensed tiler .less chance of getting riped off

 

[jay]

The licencing system set up in Queensland mentioned by Frank ,seems to be a joke and does very little for the tilers (typical government run sham) and for the money they pay there should be more help

 

[Sean Page]

That's the trouble with any regulatory scheme, it'll only ever be as good as the body responsible for control. There are potential benefits all round for trades and customers, but there is also the risk that anyone willing to pay enough will be automatically seen as good without the customer doing any further checks or research.

 

[jay]

Money talks

Dont know if the licencing side was run by an association run by mainly tilers would be better
something with a registry that allows the public to check weather there tiler is licensed (or not financial or been removed due to faulty work) something simple might work and being ran by tilers themselves it would be in there best interest to keep it honest and above board as there trade is on the line (government backed would be good)

there licence number could be on there business card for cross reference with the registry (name and number) so jo blo cant use someones number

 

[Sean Page]

it does indeed, I've run in to a fellow a few times now that drives a nice new(ish) van, all professionally sign written, looking very good. His work is absolutely terrible, but he gets work because he looks the part.

About every 6 months he changes the name, gets the van redone and continues getting work from new unsuspecting customers. He admits that his reputation basically costs him, a new sign job (£400) but that is nothing compared to what he hits the customers for, "hit them hard and fast" is his motto

 

[FrankM]

The licencing system set up in Queensland mentioned by Frank ,seems to be a joke and does very little for the tilers (typical government run sham) and for the money they pay there should be more help

The licensing system is set up for the protection of consumers, as it would be if it were set up anywhere in the world. Protection for reputable tradespeople can only ever be secondary.

There have been quite a few changes with the governing Authority in the last couple of years. At the beginning their role was purely reactive, by that I mean that they became involved only when things went wrong. They have now become a lot more proactive, holding training seminars, shooting videos etc and they make these videos publicly available via their youtube channel ( bsavideochannel's Channel - YouTube if anyone's interested). I am a member of two advisory panels for the Authority, one on waterproofing and the other on tiling.

I think it's finally heading in the right direction.

 

[Peter]

Sounds like a good idea in theory but wouldn't make any difference in reality. I know plenty of sparks and plumbers who have the NIC EIC/ Gas Safe stickers on the van but they're not exactly the cream of the trade, far from it infact.

Would maybe make a difference on commercial site work but won't make an iota of difference to private installations, which is the part you need it in.