AWE
AWE
LEARN TO EARN WITH AWE
Stuart Tickle , managing director of AWE , discusses the opportunities that the smart home market offers electricians and explains the ways in which training can help .
A smart home has become a reality for many people . As products have become more affordable , it is no longer just for the rich and famous . Homeowners are upscaling their properties to benefit from the latest smart home systems , and they need someone to install these for them . Proactive and market conscious electricians can benefit from this upsurge in business and AWE is here to help .
AWE is the leading UK distributor of home technology products . With over 80 years in business , AWE is a one-stop-shop that provides electrical contractors with
Homeowners are upscaling their properties to benefit from the latest smart home systems .
PAUL KNOTT , OWNER OF POWERPLUS WWW . POWERPLUSGBLTD . CO . UK
What made you venture into smart home install and what educational steps did you take to get there ? Powerplus has been carrying out installation of basic lighting systems for a long time . Since we were introduced to the Philips Dynalite system by AWE , we have been fully trained by them on lighting control and Dyanlite , and are now installing the system into a range of different installations .
How has adding smart home install into your expertise helped your business ? It has allowed us to expand our business , providing us with more opportunities .
How important is it for electricians to be knowledgeable on smart home technology ? I believe that it is becoming very important to understand this way of installation as this is the direction that the industry is going .
Do you find that clients are now asking you for smart home technology ? As clients are becoming more aware of technology , we are being asked for it more . However , it is down to us to make them aware and advise on what we can provide them .
What advice would you give other electricians in making their way into the smart home industry ? Don ’ t be scared of change . Spend some time understanding the systems and attend the training courses that AWE offers . the building blocks to create the perfect smart home . This includes training , access to a great range of products , technical services and support and a demonstration facility .
Learn
Education is vital for any electricians who are interested in moving into this industry . Just as a plumber wouldn ’ t install a new bathroom without training , an electrician shouldn ’ t install any professional smart home products without the required level of training . AWE provides an award winning training via the AWE Smart Home Academy . The training courses have been developed to promote best practice in smart home installations . Courses cover all aspects of a smart home project : foundation training , lighting , video distribution , home and automation and control .
The Foundation Workshop is a great place to start for electricians , as it focuses on the fundamentals of smart home installations . Uniquely , as well as important background and theory , there is a heavy focus towards the essential skills and knowledge required for a variety of tasks that electricians will be faced with on a regular basis in a hands-on workshop . Starting with basic health and safety advice and dos and don ’ ts of smart home installation , the full day course then progresses into the practical sessions .
Source
AWE represents some of the biggest brands , with a focus on high end products and the latest technology . Electricians have direct access to products from brands including , Sony , URC , Panasonic , KEF , Kinetik , HEOS By Denon and Epson , to name a few .
Experience
To complement the cutting edge technology available , the AWE Show Apartment provides an ideal display area for electricians to meet with customers and experience the technology first hand . The Show Apartment includes a spectacular home cinema , complete with a Draper ambient light-rejecting ReAct fixed screen , KEF speakers , URC control , Philips Dynalite lighting control , Marantz amplification and an Epson projector .
For further information visit : www . awe-europe . com and www . smarthomeacademy . co . uk
22 | March 2017 Home Automation & Intelligent Buildings Supplement