Aico, an Ei Company, are the European market leader in home life safety, pioneering new technologies and offering high-quality alarms, developed and manufactured in Ireland. All Aico alarms meet UK standards and offer a variety of sensor types to guarantee protection for every home, the cornerstone of which is delivering education, quality, service and innovation. In 2020, Aico expanded their Connected Home offering with the acquisition of leading Internet of Things (IoT) solutions provider, HomeLINK. HomeLINK leverages cutting-edge smart-home integration and analytics technologies, providing a complementary platform to present a synergistic approach to IoT.
Aico’s ethos of education, quality, service and innovation has provided the foundation for continued growth; and also, in evolving their services to deliver safer homes, in a turbulent and challenging environment. Aico offer unparalleled support, from the 23 Regional Specification Managers covering the whole of the UK and the expert in-house technical support team to their free-of-charge Fire Industry Association accredited training scheme, Expert Installer.
To date, Aico’s Expert Installer training scheme has trained over 30,000 industry professionals in domestic Fire Alarm specification and installation and is FIA approved with many of the modules CPD accredited, enabling installers to earn CPD time. Delivered by knowledgeable Regional Specification Managers, Expert Installer training provides professionals with updates on legislation, products and technologies and facilitates the sharing of best practice. This training also provides all of the information that they require to select, site, install and maintain Aico alarms to the highest quality.
Recently, Aico have launched the Aico Installer Community, a connected online community built to support Expert Installers. This community provides a platform for Electrical Contractors to discover opportunities, interact and engage with one another to share knowledge and earn rewards. The online community also provides opportunities for Expert Installers to network and connect with fellow professionals, participate in discussions and expand their knowledge. Members are able to access the knowledge base within the community, view FAQs, how-to videos and new technical bulletins. Challenges facilitate learning and development and enable members to accumulate points to redeem rewards and be entered into monthly prize draws, including the chance to win an all-expenses paid trip to watch the British Superbikes.
Corporate Social Responsibility is a key focus for Aico; in 2018 Aico launched the ‘Aico in the Community’ initiative to help schools, colleges, charities and community organisations achieve their goals to help create safer communities and build sustainable futures. Aico does this through the core areas of Education, Business Enterprise, Volunteering, Charity and Environmental Impact. Initially formed to support the local community, due to its success Aico in the Community now provides communities all over the UK with support, guidance, wellbeing and education. This holistic approach to Corporate Social Responsibility reflects how the initiative is embedded in the company culture, enabling Aico to deliver on their mission statement of creating safer communities.
This year, Aico were selected as a supplier on all categories of the West Midlands Fire Service Framework, which will shortly be available to all UK Fire & Rescue Services (subject to contract). The West Midlands Fire Service Framework facilitates the procurement of fire and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms for all UK Fire and Rescue Services (FRS), in a move towards the standardisation of requirements as outlined in regulations. As part of the supplier status, market-leading Aico will provide smoke, heat and CO alarms, including their technologically advanced, award-winning multi-sensor alarms for total protection.
This opportunity comes in the wake of a new campaign by Aico to increase support to the Fire and Rescue Service across the UK. The campaign launched in September 2020 with the focus of offering increased support to each of the 52 Fire and Rescue Brigades in the UK, through the provision of Aico’s FIA-approved CPD training based on BS 5839-6:2019, use of Aico’s Mobile Training and Demonstration Units and access to office space at their Centre of Excellence, as well as homeowner and tenant safety packs.
Aico are keen to support the sector, taking a collaborative approach, facilitating discussions, sharing best practice, and engaging with communities to drive long-term improvement and ultimately create safer homes. Aico strive to continue to be the market leader in home life safety, pioneering new technologies to cater for advancements in the connected home, promote best practice and deliver safer communities.
For more information, go to www.aico.co.uk
