NICEIC and ELECSA consumer campaign urges DIYers to ditch the bravado and call in a professional.
NICEIC and ELECSA have today (May 24) launched a new national consumer campaign ‘Ban the Bravado’ to promote the use of registered electricians.
The campaign will look at some of the dangerous DIY electrical jobs people will take on around the home. Former footballer and TV star Dion Dublin will front the campaign which coincides with the May Bank Holiday weekend – when traditionally more DIY jobs are carried out around the home.
Research carried out by NICEIC and ELECSA shows that men are particularly more prone to taking on this type of work, with around 61% saying they would have a go, despite having no prior experience – compared to just 8% of women.
This blokes’ bravado attitude is also reflected in further research which shows that 89% admit they won’t ask others for help and 58% stating they can do everything themselves. Just over a third (36%) believe men should be self-sufficient and not need to call on others.
Paul Collins, Communications Manager at NICEIC and ELECSA commented: “Male machismo often means men will try to tackle most things around the home to save face.
“We want to put an end to the bravado and get men to admit there are times when it’s only right to call on the help of a professional.”
Former Aston Villa and England star Dublin will be fronting the campaign on a series of radio interviews. He will be using his experience as a footballer to talk about macho attitudes. He will also use his own experiences as a property developer and presenter on TV show Homes under the Hammer to discuss what work should be carried out by registered tradespeople.
He will be joined by NICEIC and ELECSA’s technical expert Darren Staniforth.
A webpage has been set up at www.niceic.com/banthebravado to support the campaign. Visitors to the page will be able to find three short video clips looking at what people search for when it comes to carrying out electrical work in the home.
Contractors are encouraged to share the films to show their support for the campaign.
Additional material on the webpage also includes a case study of NICEIC registered contractor Kevin Tallis who was called out to fix a job that went wrong. Along with a gallery of images sent in by contractors of bodge jobs they have come across in their day to day work
“The message has to be clear – while it is all well and good giving something a lick of paint there are certain jobs left well alone. If in doubt, call out a registered tradesperson. It could save you a lot in the long-run,” added Paul.
