You’ve clicked our TrustMark badge – here’s what it means

If you’ve clicked the TrustMark badge on our website, there’s a good chance you’re checking who we are before deciding whether to get in touch.

Good.

That’s exactly what these schemes are there for.

SmartOhm Electrical and Smart Home is a TrustMark Registered Business providing electrical and smart home services across Leeds and surrounding areas.

TrustMark is the Government Endorsed Quality Scheme covering work that homeowners choose to have carried out in and around their homes. TrustMark says registered businesses are vetted to meet required standards and commit to good customer service.

But we don’t expect you to take our word for it just because there’s a badge on our website.

You can independently check us.

SmartOhm TrustMark Licence Number: 3059230

Our current official TrustMark listing shows Smart Ohm as a registered electrical business in Leeds, with NAPIT as our Scheme Provider.

Why checking a contractor is worth doing

We had a good example of this with a customer in LS16, Leeds.

Before engaging us to carry out electrical work in her home, she asked if she could check our NAPIT and TrustMark credentials.

She actually apologised for asking.

She explained that her son always tells her to check the credibility of contractors before allowing them to carry out work at her property.

My response was simple:

There was absolutely nothing to apologise for.

In fact, I wish more customers did it.

If a business displays NAPIT, TrustMark or another recognised registration, customers should feel perfectly comfortable checking whether that registration is genuine and whether it covers the type of work they’re being asked to carry out.

That’s the whole point.

A logo shouldn’t be there simply to make a website or van look more trustworthy.

It should give you something you can independently verify.

And if somebody is going to be working inside your home, dealing with your electrical installation and potentially carrying out work that affects the safety of the property, checking their credentials beforehand is a sensible thing to do.

What is TrustMark?

TrustMark is the Government Endorsed Quality Scheme for work carried out in and around the home.

It covers a wide range of trades rather than just electricians.

For homeowners, its purpose is to provide another way of identifying businesses that have been vetted through an approved Scheme Provider and are required to work to TrustMark’s standards.

TrustMark states that Registered Businesses must meet requirements covering areas such as:

  • Technical competence
  • Customer service
  • Trading practices
  • Relevant industry standards
  • The TrustMark Code of Conduct
  • The TrustMark Customer Charter

TrustMark Registered Businesses are monitored through their Scheme Providers to make sure the required standards continue to be met.

For SmartOhm, our TrustMark Scheme Provider is NAPIT.

That creates a useful connection between the two badges you may have seen on our website.

NAPIT relates heavily to our assessed electrical competence and electrical registration.

TrustMark adds a wider consumer-focused framework around the standards expected from a registered business carrying out work in and around your home.

This is probably the most important point on the page.

A TrustMark badge isn’t supposed to be taken at face value.

You can search the TrustMark register and check whether a business is genuinely listed.

Our TrustMark profile currently confirms:

Business: Smart Ohm

Location: Leeds

TrustMark Licence Number: 3059230

Trade: Electricians

Scheme Provider: NAPIT

The profile also lists electrical services within our TrustMark registration, including general electrical work, inspection and testing, fuse boxes/trip boards, lighting, switches and sockets, wired smoke detectors and other electrical categories.

So when you see the badge on our website, don’t feel as though you have to trust us simply because we’ve put it there.

Check it.

That’s exactly what the customer in LS16 did.

And I was pleased that she did.

Why I wish more homeowners checked credentials

Most homeowners don’t spend much time thinking about trade registrations until they need some work doing.

That’s understandable.

You might need an electrician because something has stopped working, you’re renovating the house or you’ve decided to upgrade part of the electrical installation.

You search online.

You ask friends.

You look at reviews.

You get a couple of prices.

And then you choose somebody.

The problem is that anybody can make claims about themselves on a website or social media profile.

Terms such as:

Qualified.

Experienced.

Professional.

Trusted.

Approved.

They all sound reassuring.

But what do they actually mean?

The best way to deal with this is to look for things you can independently check.

That’s why we make our NAPIT and TrustMark registrations available to customers.

It’s also why I’m perfectly comfortable if somebody asks me directly about qualifications, registration, certification or the way we work.

You aren’t being difficult by asking.

You’re doing your homework before allowing somebody to work in your home.

What should you check before choosing an electrician?

There isn’t one single check that tells you everything about a contractor.

But there are a few sensible questions that can reduce the risk considerably.

Are they genuinely registered?

If a contractor displays a TrustMark or NAPIT badge, check it.

Don’t assume the logo automatically means the registration is current.

TrustMark operates an online directory specifically to help homeowners find and verify Registered Businesses.

Are they registered for the work you need?

This is important.

A business having a registration or accreditation doesn’t necessarily mean every possible type of work falls within its scope.

For electrical work, you should be comfortable that the electrician is qualified and competent for the particular work they’re quoting for.

Our NAPIT registration, for example, covers Full Scope electrical installation work in dwellings and premises other than dwellings, periodic inspection and testing, and Competent Person Scheme work within our registered categories.

Will they explain what they’re going to do?

You shouldn’t need an electrical qualification to understand the broad outline of the job you’re paying for.

We’ll explain what we’ve found, what we’re proposing and why.

If there are different sensible ways of approaching the work, we’ll explain the options.

Will you receive a written quote?

With SmartOhm, we provide a written quotation before undertaking the agreed work.

That gives both sides a clear understanding of what has been quoted for before work starts.

If something genuinely unforeseen comes up once work begins, we’ll discuss it rather than simply adding unexplained work to the bill.

What paperwork will you receive?

For electrical work, ask what certification applies.

If the work is notifiable under the Building Regulations, ask how the notification will be dealt with.

A professional electrician should be able to explain this.

What does TrustMark require from Registered Businesses?

TrustMark registration isn’t simply a directory listing.

TrustMark says businesses registered through its Scheme Providers commit to working to the standards of the Government Endorsed Quality Scheme and are monitored and checked by their Scheme Provider.

TrustMark’s homeowner guidance says Registered Businesses are expected to work to standards of technical competence, customer service and trading practices, underpinned by its Customer Charter, Code of Conduct and Framework Operating Requirements.

There is ongoing checking behind the scheme too.

TrustMark currently states that Registered Businesses must have an inspection by a qualified independent inspector no less than every three years, although some Scheme Providers inspect more frequently. It also says insurance and similar documentation is checked annually by the relevant Scheme Provider.

For us, that independent oversight is part of the value.

It’s another organisation expecting standards to be maintained rather than the customer having to rely entirely on what a contractor says about themselves.

Good customer service matters as much as the technical side

Electrical competence is obviously important.

If you’re employing somebody to work on your electrical installation, they need to know what they’re doing.

But being technically capable is only part of providing a professional service.

You also want somebody who:

  • Turns up when agreed
  • Communicates clearly
  • Explains the work
  • Treats your home with respect
  • Provides a clear written quotation
  • Carries out work within their competence
  • Tests the work properly
  • Provides the appropriate certification
  • Has a route for dealing with concerns if something isn’t right

TrustMark places specific emphasis on both technical standards and customer service.

That’s something we agree with.

You can be an excellent electrician technically, but if the customer never knows when you’re turning up, doesn’t understand the bill and can’t get hold of you afterwards, that’s not a particularly good service.

What happens when you contact SmartOhm?

Our process is straightforward.

First, we’ll discuss what you’re looking to have done.

Depending on the job, we may be able to advise from the information and photographs you send us, or we may need to visit the property and survey the existing installation.

Where a survey is needed, we’ll look at the areas relevant to the proposed work.

For electrical alterations, that can include things such as:

  • The existing consumer unit
  • Earthing arrangements
  • Protective bonding
  • Existing circuits
  • Protective devices
  • The suitability of the installation for the proposed work

If we identify something relevant to the work you’re planning, we’ll explain it.

We then provide a written quotation before undertaking the work.

That way, you know what we’ve allowed for and what you’re agreeing to.

Once the job is accepted, we’ll arrange the work and complete it in accordance with the requirements relevant to the installation.

Electrical work is inspected and tested using our calibrated electrical test equipment, which is independently checked and calibrated each year.

We provide the appropriate electrical certification and, where qualifying electrical work requires Building Regulations notification through our NAPIT Competent Person Scheme scope, we deal with that process too.

Straightforward from start to finish.

We only undertake electrical work we’re qualified and competent to carry out

This sounds obvious, but it’s worth saying.

A contractor should know the limits of their competence.

SmartOhm’s electrical competence is supported by our NAPIT registration, which defines the scope of electrical work for which we’ve been assessed.

Our approved electrical scope includes installation work in:

  • Dwellings
  • Premises other than dwellings

We’re also separately assessed for periodic inspection and testing in both categories.

So when we take on electrical work, we’re working within a defined assessed scope.

If something falls outside the service we provide or requires specialist input outside our competence, the right answer is to say so.

A professional contractor shouldn’t be afraid to tell a customer when somebody else is better placed to deal with a particular part of a job.

Proper test equipment and proper electrical certification

Trust is built through lots of small things that customers may never see.

One of those is our test equipment.

The electrical test equipment we use is independently checked and calibrated each year to make sure it is performing correctly.

That’s important because electrical inspection and testing relies on accurate measurements.

We use those readings to verify completed work and assess the electrical installation we’re working on.

The appropriate electrical certification is then provided for the work we’ve carried out.

It might not be the part of the job people get excited about, but it’s part of doing electrical work properly.

What if something goes wrong?

Nobody should choose a contractor on the assumption that there can never be a disagreement or problem.

What matters is what happens if there is one.

TrustMark requires Registered Businesses to have a clear, fair and transparent complaints process. TrustMark also sets out an escalation process that begins with the Registered Business and can then involve its Scheme Provider if the matter cannot be resolved directly.

For SmartOhm, our TrustMark Scheme Provider is NAPIT.

TrustMark also describes further dispute-resolution routes for qualifying unresolved complaints.

We’d always rather a customer simply spoke to us if they had a concern.

Most things are far easier to deal with through a conversation.

But having a recognised framework behind a registered business gives the customer another level of accountability.

That’s a much more useful trust signal than somebody simply calling themselves reliable.

A cheap quote isn’t much use if the contractor isn’t right for the job

Price matters.

Everybody has a budget, and there is nothing wrong with comparing quotations.

TrustMark itself recommends obtaining multiple quotes when planning work.

But we’d always suggest comparing what you’re actually being offered, rather than looking at the number at the bottom of the page alone.

For electrical work, consider:

  • Is the contractor appropriately registered?
  • Are they competent for the work?
  • Have they properly looked at the existing installation?
  • Is the quotation clear?
  • Is testing included?
  • Is certification included?
  • Is Building Regulations notification required?
  • Who deals with that notification?
  • Can you independently verify their credentials?
  • What happens if there’s a problem afterwards?

A cheaper quote can quickly stop looking cheap if important parts of the work haven’t been allowed for.

Common mistakes when choosing a contractor

A lot of homeowners only discover they should have checked something after the work has already started.

Some of the common mistakes worth avoiding are:

  • Assuming a logo on a website proves current registration
  • Not checking the business on the scheme’s official register
  • Choosing purely on price
  • Not checking whether the contractor is qualified and competent for the particular work
  • Accepting a vague verbal price for significant work
  • Not getting the scope of work in writing
  • Not asking what certification will be provided
  • Not checking who deals with Building Regulations notification where required
  • Assuming every trade registration covers every type of work
  • Feeling uncomfortable about asking a contractor for evidence of their credentials

That last one is worth repeating.

You do not need to apologise for checking us.

The LS16 customer did exactly the right thing

Coming back to the customer in LS16, her son had simply given her some good advice.

Before you let somebody into your home to carry out work, check who they are.

She checked our NAPIT registration.

She checked our TrustMark registration.

And she asked me about it directly.

That’s not mistrust.

That’s sensible due diligence.

I told her at the time that I wished more customers knew these schemes existed and took the time to check them.

If more homeowners verified credentials before appointing contractors, it would be much harder for people who aren’t appropriately qualified or competent to present themselves as though they are.

These schemes only provide value if customers actually use them.

So please do.

Check SmartOhm’s TrustMark registration yourself

You don’t have to rely on this page.

Our current TrustMark listing independently identifies Smart Ohm as a Registered Business for electrical work in Leeds and confirms NAPIT as our Scheme Provider.

SmartOhm Electrical and Smart Home

TrustMark Licence Number: 3059230

Trade: Electricians

Scheme Provider: NAPIT

Our TrustMark profile lists electrical work including:

  • General electrical work
  • Electrical faults
  • Fuse boxes / trip boards
  • Inspection and testing
  • Lighting
  • Garden lighting
  • Security lighting
  • Switches and sockets
  • Wired smoke detectors
  • Extractor fans
  • Thermostats
  • Underfloor heating

The current registered scope can be checked directly on TrustMark’s official directory.

More than one way to check us

TrustMark isn’t the only independent trust signal behind SmartOhm.

SmartOhm Electrical and Smart Home is:

  • TrustMark Registered
  • NAPIT Registered – Full Scope
  • A Which? Trusted Trader
  • Rated with more than 85 five-star Google reviews
  • Backed by 21 years of hands-on electrical and smart home installation experience

Our NAPIT registration provides independent assessment around our electrical competence and registered scope.

Our TrustMark registration provides another consumer-focused layer around standards, customer service and trading practices.

Our Which? Trusted Trader status provides another independent point of reference.

And our Google reviews allow potential customers to see what previous customers have said about dealing with us.

No single badge tells you everything.

Taken together, they give you several different ways of checking who you’re asking to work in your home.

Looking for a TrustMark registered electrician in Leeds?

SmartOhm Electrical and Smart Home provides electrical and smart home services throughout Leeds and surrounding areas.

We work with homeowners across areas including Alwoodley, Roundhay, West Park, North Leeds and the surrounding villages.

Whether you’re looking for:

  • General electrical work
  • Consumer unit upgrades
  • New electrical circuits
  • Electrical alterations
  • Inspection and testing
  • EICRs
  • Fault finding
  • Lighting upgrades
  • Smart lighting
  • Smart home installation
  • Electrical work alongside a wider renovation

we’re happy to discuss what you’re planning.

We’ll look at the existing installation where needed, explain the work clearly and provide a written quote before undertaking the work.

If you want to check our credentials first, please do.

TrustMark Licence Number: 3059230

NAPIT Certificate Number: NAP/70945/26/4

Contact SmartOhm

No hard sell.

Just straightforward advice about the work you’re considering.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is SmartOhm TrustMark registered?

Yes.

SmartOhm Electrical and Smart Home is listed as a TrustMark Registered Business for electrical work in Leeds.

Our TrustMark licence number is:

3059230

Our official TrustMark profile currently lists NAPIT as our Scheme Provider.

What is TrustMark?

TrustMark is the Government Endorsed Quality Scheme covering work consumers choose to have carried out in and around their homes.

Registered Businesses enter the scheme through approved Scheme Providers and are required to meet TrustMark standards relating to areas including technical competence, customer service and trading practices.

Is TrustMark a government scheme?

TrustMark describes itself as the UK’s Government Endorsed Quality Scheme and says it operates under licence from the Government’s Department for Business & Trade.

That does not mean SmartOhm works for the Government.

It means TrustMark itself operates as the Government Endorsed Quality Scheme.

Does TrustMark check registered businesses?

Yes.

TrustMark says Registered Businesses are monitored and checked through their Scheme Providers.

Its current homeowner guidance states that businesses require inspection by a qualified independent inspector no less than every three years, with some Scheme Providers inspecting more frequently, and that insurance and similar documents are checked annually by the Scheme Provider.

Who is SmartOhm’s TrustMark Scheme Provider?

Our TrustMark Scheme Provider is NAPIT.

This is shown on Smart Ohm’s official TrustMark registration.

Is TrustMark the same as NAPIT?

No.

They perform different roles.

NAPIT is our electrical certification and Competent Person Scheme provider and assesses us against the requirements applying to our registered electrical scope.

TrustMark is a wider Government Endorsed Quality Scheme focused on standards for work carried out in and around the home.

Our NAPIT registration is also the route through which SmartOhm is registered with TrustMark.

Should I check an electrician’s credentials before using them?

Yes, we think you should.

If an electrician displays a NAPIT, TrustMark or other recognised scheme badge, there is nothing wrong with independently checking it.

It’s one of the reasons these public registers exist.

Our customer in LS16 did exactly that before engaging us, and it’s something we actively encourage.

Should I feel awkward asking an electrician for proof of registration?

No.

Please ask.

A customer asking about our NAPIT registration, TrustMark licence, electrical certification or qualifications doesn’t bother us.

If anything, I wish more people checked.

You’re inviting somebody into your home and trusting them with an important part of the property.

It’s reasonable to know who you’re dealing with.

Will SmartOhm provide a written quotation?

Yes.

We provide a written quote before undertaking agreed work.

The aim is to make the scope and price clear before the job starts.

If something unforeseen is discovered that genuinely changes the work required, we’ll discuss it with you rather than simply proceeding without explanation.

What happens if I have a concern about work carried out by a TrustMark Registered Business?

The first step should normally be to raise the concern directly with the Registered Business.

TrustMark requires Registered Businesses to have a clear complaints process.

If a qualifying complaint cannot be resolved directly, TrustMark sets out further escalation through the relevant Scheme Provider and, in certain circumstances, independent dispute resolution.

Can I verify SmartOhm online?

Yes.

And we’d encourage you to.

Search the official TrustMark directory for Smart Ohm or use our TrustMark licence number:

3059230

You can also independently check our NAPIT registration using:

NAP/70945/26/4

TrustMark Registered Electrical Work Across Leeds

If you’re looking for a TrustMark registered electrician in Leeds, you don’t need to rely on claims made on our own website.

Check us independently.

Then, if you’re happy with what you find, get in touch and tell us what you’re looking to have done.

We’ll discuss the job, inspect the existing installation where required and provide a written quotation before carrying out the work.

SmartOhm Electrical and Smart Home combines 21 years of hands-on electrical and smart home experience with independent NAPIT, TrustMark and Which? Trusted Trader credentials.