Electricians operating in England and Wales were never required to be registered with a UK government recognised Competent Person Scheme (CPS) such as NICEIC and NAPIT, although there are often advantages in holding such accreditation, especially when it comes to notifying domestic electrical work that falls under Part-P of the Building Regulations or vying for commercial or public sector contracts.
Many individual electricians feel these private for-profit bodies are failing to adequately serve the needs of the industry, maintain standards or to represent their commercially smaller members who have traditionally provided the backbone of honest and well-respected duty toward end customers.
The INAEC logo has been produced to show a solidarity for those who are dissatisfied with, and even choosing to exit, these traditional schemes. The INAEC marque is for use on websites, certificates, marketing materials, and livery in place of a CPS symbol. There's no charge and no membership database - it's merely a logo to show proud independence for those who have had enough of the likes of NICEIC and NAPIT dipping into their pockets.
An insignia that anyone can use is of course open to abuse, but the CPS logos are already widely misused by rogue traders and often with little to no policing. It is strongly recommended therefore that anyone appointing a contractor for electrical work undertake some basic due diligence. At a minimum, always check any proclaimed affiliations are valid, look for other worthy accreditations such as Which? Trusted Trader, and seek local reviews or recommendations from people you know and trust. Requesting to see relevant insurance and qualifications from the person you're about to hand over a large sum of money to in exchange for professional electrical work isn't unreasonable.
Whether you're an electrical contractor, a homeowner or a duty holder, the content on this site will assist in answering your questions on INAEC and offer wider guidance to help anyone select an electrician with confidence. For those who want a quick and dirty summary of what this is all about, there's one just here, but if you want to settle in for a rollercoaster ride of a read, this site follows ordered chapters. Pour yourself a stiff drink, and if you happen to be sitting comfortably, we'll begin...