Gas Safe Register Logo

Gas safe register will be the official body for gas installers in the UK from the first of April 2009 and will replace the CORGI brand name.  The new brand name will be owned by the HSE.

This will require all gas installers to be registered or transfer their existing CORGI registration to this body by this date.  You can start  registering from the nineteenth of January.

Periodic checks and test will be carried out by the 120 CoRGI gas inspectors who have been retained by Capita to run the registration scheme

The health and safety executive will be responsible for overseeing the register which will be heavily promoted in the time leading to its launch and during its existence.

This will include among other things getting the gas safe register included on utility bills and a new magazine ‘Registered Gas Engineer’ coming out in April will distribute new logo stickers for your van and the installers number can be displayed below the logo

One of Capitas aims is to provide forty percent awareness with the general public by October 2009

Existing CoRGI installers should receive details from the Gas Safe Register by the 12th of December and can renew their registration from the 15th December.

For any information or queries regarding the gas safe register please email register@GasSafeRegister.co.uk

Cost of  registering

Online registration will cost one hundred and fifty three pounds plus VAT

If you are not registering online it will cost you one hundred and seventy five pounds plus VAT, which is cheaper than the one hundred and seventy nine pounds previously charged by CORGI

Cost for an additional operative fifty two pounds plus VAT

For notification of work under building regulations the charge will be two pounds online and three pounds by phone

Capita has noted that these costs should reduce over time.  Although they have mentioned that they will be recouping the costs of their publicity campaign from future membership fees and we cannot gauge the cost increase as Capita are not going to disclose ho much the consumer campaign will cost

WHATS YOUR OPINION?

Is the brand good?

Will it be as successful as the CoRGI brand?

Are the new fees for the Gas Safe Register reasonable?

What do you think of the logo?

I think the installer number should be integrated into the logo and not just left up to the installer to decide it or not as I think by not putting the number on will encourage illegal installers.  I suspect the public will also catch onto this and that they would prefer to see the number so that they can check up on the business will the gas safe register web site.

The gas safe register logo is brighter than the old logo CoRGI logo and so should take less time to get recognised by the general public.

I think ‘Registered Installer’ should be on the logo and not just the word ‘Register’.

QUOTES.

Ann Robinson, director of public awareness at Gas Safe Register said “This is not like Marathon changing to Snickers, because ours is a campaigning brand. Our aim is to support registered engineers throughout the changeover and beyond. We will make sure your customers know CORGI gas registration is gone and Gas Safe Register is the official stamp for gas safety”.

She added: “Our over-arching message is always use a Gas Safe Register engineer, check their ID every time and do not give rogue traders a chance”.

Peter Eldridge, managing director of Gas Safe Register said “Gas Safe Register must quickly replace CORGI in the minds of gas consumers. It’s a big mountain to climb, but we’re confident the new brand takes us halfway there.”

Andy Stoll, Head of Strategy and Policy for the new Register told Worcester: “Gas Safe Register will be responsible for registration services, consumer education, tackling illegal installers and providing support to registered businesses and engineers.”

“We will spend a considerable amount of effort educating the public about the value of working with registered engineers. The public will get a better understanding of the protection offered by the gas register and the actions they can take to keep themselves and their family safe.

“These activities will be part of our national publicity campaign to raise awareness of the changeover from CoRGI to Gas safe Register. A better informed public will begin to routinely demand the services of registered engineers (squeezing out illegal workers).

“We will reduce unnecessary burden on registered engineers, and will be tenacious in dealing with unsafe installers. We will provide comprehensive technical support, a new gas standards update and technical alerts service plus a new monthly magazine – big on technical content.

“Finally, it is very important to note that there will be no dual-running of old and new registers. The CoRGI register will end on the 31 March 2009 in Great Britain. The new, Gas safe Register will start on 1 April 2009. To continue to carry out gas work legally from 1 April, businesses and engineers must be registered – there will be no period of grace.”