New in-depth PAT testing course helps businesses generate additional income and win new clients
A new in depth, one day PAT testing workshop is proving a hit with delegates who have been able to use the skills learnt on the course to win new clients and generate additional income for their businesses.
Launched by York-based company First Stop Safety, the PAT In-depth Workshop, priced at £225 plus VAT, is held every month in York or Brackley, Northamptonshire. Designed to be very practical, with small class sizes, the course teaches delegates how to carry out PAT testing on a range of appliances commonly found in the work place, identify faults and carry out minor repairs such as changing plugs and cables.
Once they have completed the course and have purchased a suitable PAT Tester, delegates are then qualified to offer PAT testing services on a commercial basis to new and existing clients.
Wendy Hall, from health and safety consultants Eliminate the Risks, based in Suffolk, who completed the course in June 2009, said: “I decided to take the in-depth PAT testing course so that I was able to offer an additional service to my 40 clients, rather than recommending other companies to do it. Doing this has worked brilliantly, as it has not only extended the service I provide, but it has also attracted half a dozen new clients to us since the summer, for very little outlay.
The course was very friendly and easy to understand, with some good practical examples undertaken on the day. The CD they send before the course starts was a great help and the handbook I was given to take away has proven invaluable.”
Steve Pepper, a Health and Safety trainer from Harrogate commented: “My clients include companies in the residential care and hospitality sectors and I chose to take this course to not only enhance my understanding of PAT test requirements but also to be able to offer the service to them myself. It’s been great for cross marketing, as it’s a service which naturally complements my core business, helps me generate repeat business with existing clients and is certainly making an impact on my bottom line.”
Nic Carter-Jones, from IT company New Millennium, based in Powys, said: “Offering PAT testing as an additional service has helped us offer a broader base of services to our customers and give us a very lucrative additional revenue stream. We also PAT test all repaired and rebuilt machines to offer customers additional safety and security.”
All delegates who satisfactorily complete the course are presented with a Certificate of Competence in PAT Testing, and a fully illustrated book entitled the ‘Handbook of Portable Appliance Testing’, worth £36, which provides a complete overview of everything you need to know to carry out PAT testing.
The course is also proving popular with those who have perhaps taken redundancy or early retirement and are looking to establish a new small business with low set up costs and flexible hours.
Seggy Segaran, Managing Director of First Stop Safety, who has over 30 years experience in electrical safety, said: “The in-depth PAT testing workshop provides a great way for businesses to expand the services they offer, for minimal outlay, and generate additional revenue for their businesses and attract new clients. We have been delighted with the demand so far and the positive impact it has made on those delegates who have completed the course.”
According to the Health & Safety Executive, you do not need to be an electrician to carry out PAT testing as long as you use a simple “Pass/Fail” tester. First Stop Safety offers a range of simple-to-use PAT testing packages which include the BattPAT. This battery powered tester can carry out more than 600 tests off a fully charged battery. Not having to plug the tester into the mains as one is moving round a workplace saves valuable time during testing. Tests are carried out in less than 5 seconds and the BattPAT displays the results as a Pass or a Fail.
With over 1500 sold to date, primarily to end-users, the BattPAT is also available through regional and national distributors, and demand for the product is growing every month from as far away as Australia.
For more information about the PAT In depth Workshop and the BattPAT please see www.firststopsafety.co.uk or call 01904 791050.