Every business in the East Midlands needs PAT testing at some point — offices, shops, restaurants, landlords. But with dozens of companies offering the service, how do you know which one to trust?
The prices vary wildly. Some charge 50p per appliance, others charge £5. Some send a qualified engineer, others send someone who watched a YouTube video that morning. And the quality of the paperwork ranges from excellent to essentially useless.
This guide covers exactly what to look for, what questions to ask, and how to spot the cowboys before they waste your time and money.
The Three Questions Every Business Should Ask
Before booking anyone to test your premises, ask these three questions. If the answer to any of them makes you uncomfortable, walk away.
1. "What qualifications do your engineers hold?"
The gold standard is City & Guilds 2377, the recognised qualification for PAT testing. Some engineers also hold the C&G 2391 or IET Code of Practice certification. Anyone holding these has been formally assessed.
A red flag: response like "we're all fully qualified" without naming the specific qualification, or "all our staff are in-house trained." In-house training isn't automatically bad, but without a formal qualification as a baseline, you can't be sure what standard they were trained to.
2. "Do you use calibrated test equipment?"
PAT testing equipment needs to be calibrated annually to ensure test results are accurate. Any reputable company will have certificates of calibration for their testers and be happy to show you if asked.
A red flag: evasion on the calibration question, or not knowing what calibration means. If their tester isn't calibrated, the results are essentially meaningless — and you could be using dangerous equipment you think has passed.
3. "What kind of report will I receive?"
Professional PAT testing produces a detailed report listing every appliance tested, its results, and any failures. This report is your proof of compliance for insurance and HSE purposes.
Look for companies that provide digital reports with all of the following:
- Full appliance inventory with unique ID numbers
- Each appliance's test results (Pass/Fail, test values)
- Dates of testing and recommended retest intervals
- Engineer name and signature or digital equivalent
- Certification of calibration for the equipment used
A red flag: "you'll get a certificate" — one single certificate with no detail is not a proper PAT test report and won't satisfy your insurance company.
Pricing Red Flags
PAT testing pricing in the East Midlands typically falls into a sensible range, but there are extremes at both ends:
| Price Level | Typical Rate | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Cheap | Under 80p/appliance | Likely unqualified, rushed work, poor paperwork. Avoid. |
| Reasonable | £1–£3/appliance | Fair for qualified, insured work with proper reports. |
| Premium | £3+/appliance | May include specialist knowledge (e.g., medical, catering). |
Be especially cautious of companies offering a flat fee for "PAT testing your whole office." Unless they've seen your premises and counted your appliances, that flat fee is either an estimate (fine) or a sign they'll rush through the job.
What a Proper PAT Test Looks Like
A qualified engineer doing a thorough job will follow this process:
- Visual inspection — examine every appliance, cable, and plug for damage (this catches 80–90% of failures)
- Formal testing — use a PAT tester on each appliance for earth bond, insulation resistance, and polarity
- Label each item — every tested appliance gets a unique ID and a pass/fail label
- Record results — log detailed results per appliance in their testing software
- Tag failures — clearly mark failed items and explain why (verbally and in the report)
- Provide report — deliver a full schedule of results, usually digitally within 24–48 hours
A skilled engineer testing a small office of 50 appliances will take about 1–2 hours. For 200 appliances in a shop or restaurant, allow half a day. If someone claims to test 200 items in 30 minutes, they're not doing the job properly.
Local Knowledge Matters
There's a real advantage to using a company based in Nottingham, Derby, or Leicester rather than a national provider:
- Faster response — local engineers can usually visit within a few days
- No travel costs — national companies often add travel charges or minimum call-out fees
- Relationship — you can build an ongoing relationship with the same engineer who knows your premises
- Recommendations — ask other local businesses who they use; word of mouth is reliable
Questions About Insurance
Your PAT testing company should have public liability insurance — at minimum £1 million, ideally £2 million or more. Ask to see their insurance certificate. Any reputable company will provide it without hesitation.
Also check: does their insurance cover them for PAT testing specifically? Some general handyman insurance policies exclude specialist electrical testing.
Check Reviews — But Be Smart About It
Google Reviews and Trustpilot are useful but need to be read with a critical eye. Here's what to look for:
- Reviews that mention the details — "great report, easy to read, engineer was on time" is more useful than "great service"
- How they handle negative reviews — professional responses to criticism are a good sign
- Patterns in complaints — multiple people saying the same thing (too fast, poor paperwork, aggressive upselling) is a red flag
Finding a PAT Testing Company in the East Midlands
If you're looking for PAT testing in Nottingham, Derby, Leicester, or the wider East Midlands area, we can help. We connect businesses with local City & Guilds 2377 certified engineers who have been vetted and come recommended.
Get a free quote — no obligation, and we only match you with qualified local engineers. Or call 0333 038 2842 to speak to someone today.