The Home Technology Association (HTA) has expanded their HTA Certification program to the United Kingdom. This milestone comes in response to demand from UK-based integrators seeking to distinguish themselves with the HTA’s mark of excellence.
UK integrators can now join an elite group of integration firms that provide first-rate technology experiences for homeowners and serve as technology design partners to architects, interior designers, and building professionals. The certification is a testament to a company’s technical proficiency, exceptional customer service, comprehensive aftercare, and sterling industry reputation.
“Since the HTA launched in 2017, we learned quickly that top integrators throughout the globe are looking to differentiate themselves from the ‘AV guys’ that have hurt the reputation of the home technology integration industry,” said HTA CEO Josh Christian. “We look forward to bringing the HTA Certification standard to the United Kingdom, helping qualified integrators there earn the business they rightfully deserve, and helping raise the stature and importance of integrators to the UK’s design and build communities.”
The HTA has already updated the HTA Certified integrator locator and calibrated their technology budgeting tool for UK users. When visitors use the HTA Certified locator or budgeting tool, it will automatically sense the country where the user is (for the UK, U.S., and Canada).
With this expansion, UK integrators, homeowners, builders, architects, and interior designers can now leverage the full suite of HTA resources. From educational articles, to the technology budgeting tool, technology checklists, a sales closer tool, and the HTA Design Partner program, the association continues to lead the way in supporting its HTA Certified integrators. This makes it easier for integrators to forge relationships with the design and build trades and provide better technology experiences for homeowners and related trades alike.
“HTA assurance establishes we are who we say we are, we can do what we say we can do, and we have a track record of successful projects and happy clients to prove it,” said Kevin Andrews, founder and creative director of Ideaworks in London, England. “Only when companies are measured can they be compared, and HTA is the tool by which to be measured. We are proud to spearhead their adoption outside of the U.S. and Canada and bring their determined due diligence to a wider audience.”
Simon Fulstow, founder and managing director of SONA Projects in Cheshire, England, added, “Advances in technology have ironically opened the market to companies who — regardless of their level of experience, skill, or knowledge — are quite easily able to gain access to equipment. There is no organization, group, or association where we can all come together to help keep these standards high, until now. We really hope by embarking on this journey with the HTA we can inspire other companies to step up and help us make this industry what it needs and deserves to be.”
