A brief introduction to the National Security Inspectorate

Approval from the NSI (National Security Inspectorate) gives your trade business an extra level of trust with homeowners. They are the UK’s leading approval and accreditation body in the security and fire safety sectors.

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When homeowners take your business on for work in their house, it is a real act of trust. Especially when it comes to the safety and security of their home. That is the reason why membership with Checkatrade and other trade associations such as the NSI is so important.

Poor installation work affects the reputation of all tradespeople. Being both verified and accredited with approval from the National Security Inspectorate shows that people can rely on the quality of your work.

If fire alarms and security systems are not installed correctly, it puts people’s property and even lives at risk. Becoming an NSI approved company is not just ‘nice’ for your business, it is essential.

What is the National Security Inspectorate?

Accredited by UKAS (the United Kingdom Accreditation Service), the National Security Inspectorate helps protect homeowners, businesses, the public sector and general public.

Regularly assessing compliance with British and International Standards and industry Codes of Practice, the not-for-profit NSI are the UK's main security and fire safety authority.

At Checkatrade, we want to help protect homeowners from rogue trades and put them in touch with trusted and skilled professionals. By becoming a NSI registered tradesperson, you can help build trust with your customers.

When people contract an NSI approved company, they are assured of integrity, technical expertise and professionalism.

How do you become NSI Approved?

To start the application process for approval with the National Security Inspectorate you will need to fill out an online form. This is available on their website and includes a series of questions about your business and the schemes that will be relevant to your trade.

NSI approved companies:

Undergo a thorough application process
Are regularly audited
Carry out corrective action
Issue NSI Certificates of Compliance
Provide training to staff
Have suitable insurance
Operate to ISO 9001 standards

After completion of the application form, NSI will carry out a review and due diligence checks. If there are any corrective actions suggested, you will need to action these before approval is granted.

The National Security Inspectorate is also an Assessing Body for the Security Industry Authority’s Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS). This is a different vetting process than becoming an NSI Approved Company.

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What does NSI approval do?

Every year, the in-house team of NSI auditors carry out nearly 4,000 assessments across more than 2000 NSI approved companies. These checks are to ensure compliance with industry standards and Codes of Practice. They also make sure that work is in line with current legislation.

There are two tiers of NSI approval – Silver and Gold. The Gold tier of approval includes verification in line with ISO 9001 approval for Quality Management Systems.

NSI approved companies are committed to the highest standards of service, quality and continual improvement.

As a result, all approved businesses are subject to an annual audit programme. They may be required to make improvements in working practices or technical accuracy.

For example, in operation levels or competency. If standards are not met, they may have their approval withdrawn, subject to auditor findings.

How much does it cost to join the National Security Inspectorate?

Application costs for the NSI are unique and variable. It will be dependent on the scheme you want to join as well as the size and complexity of your business.

If you are thinking of becoming approved by the National Security Inspectorate, people are advised to contact their applications team. Rather than a set fee for all businesses, they will be able to tailor a quote for you that reflects the needs of your business.

There are many different schemes with the NSI, and accordingly there are lots of different costs that you may (or may not) need to consider.

Speak to the NSI directly as they will be the one to provide an exact quote for the services you need. You want to avoid paying for schemes that aren’t relevant for your trade business.

How can homeowners find NSI approved companies?

Here are some of the things homeowners look for when hiring tradespeople to carry out work on their fire safety or security systems:

Business registered with a trade accreditation body, such as the NSI
Checking the credentials of any tradesperson coming into their home
Asking to see an ID badge or checking accreditation
Get a few quotes from other tradespeople
Agree exactly what will be carried out and at what price in contract form

If you have an NSI approved business, people will be able to find you through a dedicated search facility on their website. The tool allows people to search for particular services and approval types.

At Checkatrade, we ensure all of our members have the correct accreditations to carry out their field of work. An approval with the National Security Inspectorate can be an extra step for us to see you as a quality and trusted tradesperson.

All of your relevant trade accreditations can be displayed on your Checkatrade profile. That means homeowners can cross reference through the NSI search and on Checkatrade.

Being present on both sites shows that you are both trusted and verified - operating to the highest standards.