Introducing Gareth Harris, WIAPS manager
Since taking over as Manager of WIAPS in April 2015, I have been working hard to make the scheme accessible to more professionals out there – let’s remember, plumbing is a profession! You are responsible for people’s health by ensuring that plumbing work is carried out correctly and to comply with the Water Regulations, meaning that water supplies are kept safe.
There are over 50 plumbing related qualifications now accepted for full membership of WIAPS, and we are willing to consider other qualifications. There are also currently eight different certification bodies offering Water Regulations training, so the scheme has never been more accessible to qualified professionals!
We have also been working hard to introduce more robust systems, such as annual membership renewal. And we will continue to strive to be the biggest and best of the Approved Contractors' Schemes.
In addition to improving our processes, we also want to help you to be the best professional you can be. To help you do this we produce certificates of compliance (work completed certificates) for you to give to your customers, and we are currently working with WaterSafe to produce a member pack to help you better promote your business.
As those of you who are GasSafe registered will know, audits of members are essential for any scheme to be credible and successful, and for its members to demonstrate their professionalism. In 2015 a new audit procedure was agreed for WIAPS members so you should expect your call to be audited. The audits are not there to beat you up, but to ensure you are up to speed with industry requirements and to work with you to improve. At the end of the day we’re here to help you be the best professional you can be.
To help us improve our procedures, we also changed the terms and conditions of membership, and these changes came in on 1st April 2017. The changes simply help to underpin the professionalism of the scheme.
If you would like to discuss any aspects of membership, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Gareth Harris, WIAPS Manager
