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Installer Schemes

Our trade body has assembled several schemes supporting the IT and Telecommunications infrastructure. We recognise the current training schemes approved by awarding organisations like City & Guilds and NOCN.

The new industry qualification, developed with strong support from the industry and employers, is a testament to our collective commitment to addressing the skills gap.

Secure Digital Skills Card 

The purpose of a secure digital skills card is accountability, which is significant when a client raises concerns about the quality of installation practices and standards. It protects all parties involved, but if not corrected, bad working practices could revoke your licence. Many telecom operators are enforcing the scheme as they have now standardised it.

The card schemes, while licensed, have the potential to improve quality control and customer satisfaction significantly. If adopted by the entire industry, they could prevent unqualified installers from working, ensuring that networks are installed to a high standard. Similar successful schemes are already in place in the electrical and gas industries, and we aim to replicate this success in the IT and telecommunications sectors.

The secure Digital ID member card is a mobile app that prohibits screenshots and changes a QR code every 15 seconds. It prevents fraudulent IDs and qualifications, which have been rising for many years.

Qualifications will be checked with the issuing authority to ensure they are genuine before being approved and loaded onto the individual licence; this is to combat fraud.

    Accountability & Rules For License 

    Service providers, end clients, and IT providers can check individuals’ qualifications; COFNII has enforced that individuals must produce qualifications as part of the vetting process to hold a card/licence.

      • An individual will have a unique ID number, which should be used on all work should a defect arise. It can be traced back to them.
      • Installers should keep records of work should an issue arise.
      • Service providers can revoke a licence if an approved installer performs poor workmanship. Not only will this service provider block them from working on their network, but they will also be revoked from the trade membership.
      • An app installed on the installer’s mobile device with their approval so qualifications can be checked and meet the requirement for membership.

    Appeals 

    An installer may be able to appeal the decision if they have proven that any defect work has been corrected. Then, the service provider/end client would decide whether to lift the restriction. If defects continue, they will be permanently revoked.

    How To Become An Accredited Installer

    To become a scheme member, you must select the card type for your chosen profession and then submit your vocational qualifications to be verified or attend an approved course. Below is an overview of the schemes that have been requested. The scheme backs vocational qualifications only. Why?

    Vocational qualifications are approved by awarding organisations that meet government standards, like OFQUAL accreditations that don’t meet the exact requirement and hold no vocational value. It pays to have a vocational qualification to further enhance a career path and progression, even when you want to enrol in higher education.