CAI plus membership provides confidence to both government and the public in the ability and quality of CAI installing members. With the majority of domestic CAI members now having this status, the consumer now has a choice of company to use. It should be understood that all our members comply with our Codes of Practice, which define both the technical, commercial and safety practices.
Readers of this can be assured that our team of permanently employed assessors inspect our members for QA procedures, quality of installations, conformity to our Codes of Practice, plus quality of tools, meters, identity cards and safety equipment. We also check for satisfied customers, valid insurance and training. We even guarantee* the work of our members, which demonstrates just how confident we are in them (*Note: Guarantee is applicable to domestic installations only up to a maximum value of £500). For CAI plus members, we also ensure that at least one engineer per van holds a valid Working at Heights certificate and has a current clear criminal records check. To search for aerial and satellite installers in your area use our Member Search.
The stability of the CAI was further reinforced when we moved into our own freehold premises located in Watford, purchased jointly with the SCTE. This move opened a new era for the CAI for it is the first property the CAI has owned and includes the CAI training centre.The CAI aerial and cable benchmark initiatives have been widely accepted as the mark of quality and not just in the UK. The benchmark schemes have provided the industry with the ability to identify the quality and type of both cables and aerials. CAI members are actively encouraged to use only the CAI approved products.The, so far, smooth transition from analogue to digital demonstrates just how successful we have been with our initiatives. Members are involved in using CAI provided articles in their local newspapers promoting the change. The conversion of MATV systems remains slowest in the private landlord area, where it is probably only the CAI members who will know of the existence of the systems and it is here that the CAI member can save the day.
Landlords and managing agents must be encouraged to make the changeover as soon as possible and be discouraged from ignoring digital. Developers must also be persuaded to provide digital systems.The expanding technical requirement of digital television reception and measuring instruments places a large emphasis on the need for training and, as a result, it is unlikely that a non-member company, not having access to all the information, will be able to cope with new installations. The CAl is determined that all members have the necessary knowledge and skills to cope with the new requirements and members' customers should be reassured that they are in the hands of fully trained and informed professionals.
In order to ensure good reception of digital television and increase the immunity to interference, the Confederation has embarked on a number of initiatives. These are cable benchmarking, aerial benchmarking, training and a new set of Codes of Practice.To encourage and provide nationwide training opportunities for our industry, we donated our structured training course to the nation in the form of an NVQ and, at the same time, gained City and Guilds approval for our training centre. Our tutors have gained the necessary qualifications to assess and verify candidates. In addition, the CAl runs a series of training courses aimed specifically at the reception of digital television.
David Hodges
CAI Chairman