Jackson Fire and Security is an NSI Gold accredited company and we’re very proud of that achievement. But for anyone outside the industry the name NSI might not mean a great deal (or if it does, it could be because of confusion with National Savings and Investments – NS&I!). But the role of the NSI is of great significance for our clients and for the fire and security industry as a whole.
A (very brief) history of the NSI
The NSI (National Security Inspectorate) started life as several different bodies in the security sector which then ultimately merged together to become one of the definitive certification bodies for the industry. It was formed in 2001 and has since extended into fire protection systems and facilities management too.
What does it do?
It audits and provides certification for all different sizes of businesses – from small and medium sized enterprises to global organisations.
Companies invite the NSI to assess their products and services against British, European and international industry standards. And they are high standards! As well as, for example, providing employee training to required levels and holding specific insurances to protect customers and employees, companies go through frequent audits and the NSI will also pay random visits to end user sites. So no company can afford to let standards slip at any point.
How does all this benefit you?
If a company’s managed to achieve accreditation, it’s confirmation that you can have confidence in it. You can be reassured that NSI-approved companies will work to the highest industry standards there are. It shows they have a strong commitment to quality. And it means you are not at risk from dealing with a rogue trader or cowboy company because there are still some out there who don’t conform to even minimum standards.
Spotting the accreditation cheats
Unfortunately, there are some companies who know that these accreditations are valued by clients and while they aren’t prepared to put in the hard work to build and maintain standards they are prepared to pretend they have. Right down to issuing counterfeit certificates. In fact, it has become such an issue it was even featured in an episode of Fake Britain last year (the clip is no longer available via the BBC website but you can watch it here instead).
What can you do to make sure you don’t use a company with fake accreditation or who gives out false and misleading information? It's vital that you can trust the claims made by any business you engage with so always take the time to check out a company properly and make sure they are who they say they are and that they do all they claim to do. Because otherwise you and your business could be left vulnerable and you could unintentionally invalidate your insurance too.
In the case of the NSI, once a company successfully achieves certification and continues to meet it on an ongoing basis, it’s listed in the NSI Directory. In an attempt to prevent false accreditation claims, the NSI has also created a ‘Wall of Shame’ on its website where any companies who are falsely claiming to be accredited are named and shamed.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re a large international organisation or a homeowner. You have every right to receive a professional and competent service when it comes to your fire and security protection. Our NSI approval demonstrates our commitment to giving you the highest standards of service and quality possible and if we can help you in any way we’d be delighted to hear from you.
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