yellow pages

[andysar]

Have Just Paid Nearly 2k For An Advert In The Big Yellow One . Do You Think There Will Be Enough Trade Coming In To Cover This Cost. Ps I Am In The Electrical Testing Trade

[PhilWarman]

I take it you will also be doing "PAT Testing"? if so I think you'll do well as long as you make yourself different from the opposition.

We recently (well about 6 months ago) had to get all of our electronic items tested (and we're talking a lot!) and we had prices ranging from about £2 per item up to about £20, no company was willing to do it on an hourly rate and there were a few who advertised it but didn't really seem bothered whether they got the biz or not.

SOme advice for you would be to find a local independent H&S consultant who will have a list of his clients most of which would need PAT testing at some point, and there you go!

Of course, you may NOT be doing PAT Testing at all and I'm just waffling on - if so ignore me

[andysar]

Thanks Phil, I am going into the PAT business. It didn't even cross my mind to contact a H&S consultants. Thanks for the advice. Andy.

[wornout]

andysar-welcome,looks like your getting good advice already.What exactly is PAT testing???

[Wolf]

Hi andysar, welcome to the forum.

Wornout, Portable Appliance Testing is checking class 1 and 2 portable devices for earth bond, insulation, and earth leakage tests. Necessary by Health & Safety requirements. ...and yes I do it too!

Andysar, usual price would be about £1.50 per item to be competitive - hope that helps. There's enough for all of us. What testing rig do you use?

[andysar]

Prepare to have your brains picked. First of all i live in Birmingham so I dont think I will be treading on your toes. The kit I use is an europa plus(seaward) . As I am just starting out how do you go about drumming up business , I have the yellow pages advert but will this be enough. There does not seem to be many pat testing companys in the brum area so do you think Iwill do ok. Cheers andy

[Wolf]

Don't worry about treading on my toes, its a large country and I do it as a small sideline to my main role of asbestos surveyor/risk assessor (and all-round good guy!). To be honest its pretty boring just testing all day long.

Like any business in its formative years, the first thing you need are references. Start small so you can cope with the work, but above all make sure your clients think you have done a top job. Ask them to write you a reference, and make sure you have them with you when you see any new client. Recommendation from another business is worth its weight in gold when you are new.

Get yourself some form of handout/flyer etc. Don't spend a lot of money, but hand-deliver to all offices, shops, factories etc in your area. Forget the Boots, M&S etc as they will be on national projects, to start concentrate on types of companies likely to want to keep legal (solicitors, doctors surgeries, etc). Make sure your leaflet states the law so they know its not a choice.

Follow up the leaflet drop within 5 days, and offer to drop in another leaflet if they say they lost it! If you have a website point them to it. But make them say no, rather than just drop it. In other words they must make a concious decision to break the law - its harder to justify than the sales guy just backing off. But don't be too forceful. If they want to think about it agree a date to ring them back.

More than anything, be reliable. Once you get some referrals you can attend Chamber of Commerce breakfasts, Business Link events, etc to spread your name. Good luck.

[MikeH]

Some excellent advice so far. Do you have a web site? It is amazing how there are so many people that will look for everything on the internet. I know that we do very little research offline.

On an additional note can you post a brief overview of the regs relating to PAT testing? There are probably a few of us that need to be informed or reminded.

Mike.

[andysar]

In a nutshell the main regs are Health and Safety at Work Acts 1974
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Reg 1992
The provision and Use of Work Equipment Regs 1992
The Eectricity at Work Regs 1989.

The checks on the equipment are -1 suitability for purpose
2 general condition
3 plug top, fuse rating and condition
4 condition of cable
5 termination of cable(at plug top)
The next tests are -earth connection
insulation resistance
leakage
I hope this sheds some light on the subject

[MikeH]

OK so that covers what a PAT test involves. However, is it discussed in the acts/regs or has it just been adopted as a practice that should be done. Who said PAT tests need to be completed and how often?

Mike.