Hey Jules - thank you for a great response!! I would like to nominate 2 people from CND for the steering committee - we would love to be as involved as possible as we always have been when it comes to education matters. I'll give you a buzz! 
why should i join a.n.t?
- Thread starter angel fingers
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angel fingers
Well-Known Member
i notice a lot of techs on this site are members of a.n.t. but i dont know much about it , what are the benefits of belonging to the association and how do you qualify? tell me all! thanks
Peppercorn Nails
Well-Known Member
I'm sorry but at the moment I think the only reason for joining is to get cheaper books and also a free years membership to Nails (mag).
I have been a member for about 3 years and to be quite frank have not had anything beneficial from them! Oh I did receive a coffee mat and a pen! :?
In all fairness I do think there has been a number of staff changes over this period of time (I might be wrong) but really I was expecting more updated information on what is going on in the nail industry, ie. NVQ, NSS, etc, etc.
Regards
Adele
I have been a member for about 3 years and to be quite frank have not had anything beneficial from them! Oh I did receive a coffee mat and a pen! :?
In all fairness I do think there has been a number of staff changes over this period of time (I might be wrong) but really I was expecting more updated information on what is going on in the nail industry, ie. NVQ, NSS, etc, etc.
Regards
Adele
Sharon Green
Well-Known Member
Hi,
I joined ANT to get my Insurance through them. I got a year's subscription to Nails, a pen & a coffee mat and have not hear a thing since :? .
Anyone else in the same position.
Sharon
I joined ANT to get my Insurance through them. I got a year's subscription to Nails, a pen & a coffee mat and have not hear a thing since :? .
Anyone else in the same position.
Sharon
angel fingers
Well-Known Member
what does membership cost, and how much for insurance?
Nailsinlondon1
Well-Known Member
Well the reason for joining an association like the ANT or the INA ........
What it does for you!!!!!!
Credibility in the eyes of the public.............
It is supposed to reassure the public that by being a member you have successfully trained in the field of Nail Technology..............
That you are competent and know your stuff
They are supposed to request a copy of your certificate and hold that on file...................
Joe public can then get in touch with say the ANT or the INA and lodge a complaint against you or praise you !!!!!!!
It is supposed to raise your status!!!!!
What an association is supposed to do for you is..........inform you of any new laws and regulations, product updates, whats new, whats in and whats not....Any news on new training laws, updates on NVQ regulations and the like...............
So far I for one have not had much contact with them, became a member this gave me a years subscription to the nails mag and ever so often a leaflet with books at special prices from their publishers..............
So I would like to see some changes there....maybe we should ask them what else they could do for us??????.........
just my opinion and it may not reflect the opinion of others
What it does for you!!!!!!
Credibility in the eyes of the public.............
It is supposed to reassure the public that by being a member you have successfully trained in the field of Nail Technology..............
That you are competent and know your stuff
They are supposed to request a copy of your certificate and hold that on file...................
Joe public can then get in touch with say the ANT or the INA and lodge a complaint against you or praise you !!!!!!!
It is supposed to raise your status!!!!!
What an association is supposed to do for you is..........inform you of any new laws and regulations, product updates, whats new, whats in and whats not....Any news on new training laws, updates on NVQ regulations and the like...............
So far I for one have not had much contact with them, became a member this gave me a years subscription to the nails mag and ever so often a leaflet with books at special prices from their publishers..............
So I would like to see some changes there....maybe we should ask them what else they could do for us??????.........
just my opinion and it may not reflect the opinion of others
geeg
Judge Gigi-Honorary Geek
I used to be very involved with the INA (International Association of Nail Technicians) and I am a member of ANT.
Any organization for professionals should have a body of those professionals running the organization BUT the apathy shown by 99% of Nail Technicians practically finished the INA and may finish ANT too. Everyone wants the association to do things for them, but no one wants to do anything for the association!!
If you want ANT or the INA to do more for you as a professional ... get involved and tell them .. in fact demand it from them. Don't just say .. oh they don't do anything for me so I'm not going to sign up for another year .... get involved. I'm sure ANT would welcome it.
In the meantime, as Ruth says, belonging to a professional association give you credibility and status, and is a visible sign for you clients.
Any organization for professionals should have a body of those professionals running the organization BUT the apathy shown by 99% of Nail Technicians practically finished the INA and may finish ANT too. Everyone wants the association to do things for them, but no one wants to do anything for the association!!
If you want ANT or the INA to do more for you as a professional ... get involved and tell them .. in fact demand it from them. Don't just say .. oh they don't do anything for me so I'm not going to sign up for another year .... get involved. I'm sure ANT would welcome it.
In the meantime, as Ruth says, belonging to a professional association give you credibility and status, and is a visible sign for you clients.
Peppercorn Nails
Well-Known Member
I did talk to them and ask where they were heading (this was about 5 months ago) and at the time they said that there had been a change of staff and that they hoped to be more pro-active in the coming months.........well let's hope that happens.
And as Ruth points out:-
Well tell me, can anyone who's done a 1 to 4 day Nail Tech course become a member..... because as we have so often seen on this board, not everyones training comes up to scratch
Another thing (omg will I ever shut up........sorry :? ). Wouldn't it be nice if ANT placed a box advert in the Yellow Pages and allowed ANT members advertising space within it? A bit like CORGI registered Heating Engineers.
At the moment, ask your clients what does ANT stand for.......I'm sure their response will be something like 'Eeeek, get the powder out, I can't stand the little blighters!!' :shock:
ANT needs to let Joe Public know who they are and that when looking for a nail tech, they need to be looking for their logo.
Regards
Adele
What an excellent topic!! I shall let Julie Day know about this ASAP. I must say I have heard comments like Peppercorns many a time and I too think that Geeg has a good points BUT I do think that as an Association, ANT should be far more than a coffee mat and a pen someone should be spending time talking to the members and listening to their requirments - thus making this into a serious association. Geeg is right, the INA failed due to big ego's and no public confidence!! Let's shake this up a bit and get the ball rolling! :thumbsup:
someone should be spending time talking to the members and listening to their requirments - thus making this into a serious association. Geeg is right, the INA failed due to big ego's and no public confidence!! Let's shake this up a bit and get the ball rolling! :thumbsup:
naturalnails
Legend
I did speak with Julie Day about this very thing about a year ago but at the end of the day it comes down to money. They are not very well off. I think the subscription pays for the mag and there probably won't be much left over - maybe I am wrong. She did say that we should put forward our views but it is difficult if they cant then finance any changes.
I enquired about membership to INA and all it seems to be now is insurance - no info.
I would like to see our Association having more clout in terms of regulating the industry. I think that the large nail companies should have representation within ANT (if they can all agree on what is the best way to do things )
I for one would be very interested to get more involved in the support to and from ANT but it is knowing how to. I am not interested in coasters, pens and badges.
I enquired about membership to INA and all it seems to be now is insurance - no info.
I would like to see our Association having more clout in terms of regulating the industry. I think that the large nail companies should have representation within ANT (if they can all agree on what is the best way to do things
)I for one would be very interested to get more involved in the support to and from ANT but it is knowing how to. I am not interested in coasters, pens and badges.
Nails At The Hat Hire Company
Well-Known Member
i have had a problem with a nail training company (home training - NOT essential home learn i must add ) and i have contacted Babtac as the trainers say their courses are recognised by them - babtac are supposed to be investigating them but as yet heard nothing - infact when i told the owner of the course i had contacted them she accused me of blackmail!!!hence having to go to small claims court - but thats another story, however i am i am member of babtac,ant and ina and guild - all costing money each year but i feel that one membership does not offer all i need - infact all four do not. now i respect and take on board geeg's expert comments and shes darn right BUT i also think as we are paying them for a service they maybe should be contacting us asking our opion i had no idea they wished us to be involved. I never imagined contacting ina or ant about the course as i never imagined they would be interested!!! AND at the end of the day i am going the whole hog so no one else gets stung by a sloppy, bad contented (i know thats probably not a word but im in the rage zone now and don't care)
so any ina ant people on here im willing to help even if its manpower of sticking stamps on envelopes
so any ina ant people on here im willing to help even if its manpower of sticking stamps on envelopes
Hi everyone,
I think my participation on the site has been long overdue, and how could I not come on board when so many interesting and controversial comments have been made about our nail association?
ANT was launched about five years ago and today has approximately 4,000 members. Its aim is to represent nail technicians and the industry as a whole. The association offers its members the following benefits: one years full membership costs £45.00. Members must have a minimum two-day training certificate in an enhancement system, which is submitted with their membership application. They then receive a members pack including: a membership certificate, badge, window display stickers (all designed to prove their status as a professionally trained technician); the proverbial pen and coaster; one years subscription to Nails magazine and a selection of offers on educational books and videos. Also included in the pack is information on training courses in the UK, the NVQ unit 19 and where you can do it.
There is a student membership of £22.50 for six months, which is designed for students taking nail courses at college.
Although newsletters have so far been sporadic, our new administrator, Diane Gimbert has taken responsibility for this job and newsletters will now be sent out on a quarterly basis. If anyone has any information or interesting topics for the ANT newsletter then please email Diane at [email protected]. Your input would be gratefully received.
In addition, ANT has a health & safety help line and also a legal advice line (available to insured members only). In the past, these numbers have only been given out when requested, but will now be published in the members packs for easy access.
For any other advice, the ANT office is manned five days a week from 9am-5.30pm, and staff are available to speak to and offer help wherever possible.
Insurance is a big part of most associations. ANT earns nothing from insurance premiums but we offer the service as it helps to encourage membership. With a large group of like-minded people looking for similar cover, we can shop around on behalf of our members and negotiate a good deal.
There are some other nail technician insurance policies around, but we believe that ours is the best. Our broker is a specialised hair and beauty division of HSBC, which has been dealing in insurance within our industry for over 30 years. Our claims history is very low, but those that have claimed have had not had problems with the level of cover, and Axa insurance has always been good at paying out!
Unlike other insurances available, we offer varying levels of cover, from Student cover for six months (£75) through to Experienced Qualified Technician cover for one year (£28). This cover is available to technicians who hold a minimum two-day training certificate and have an NVQ Unit 19 or equivalent national qualification and more than five years experience (from when they first trained and received their certificate). I think that this tiered structure is very fair why should a well-qualified, experienced technician pay the same insurance premium as a technician who has just finished their initial training course?
In addition to the above public liability cover, ANT offers insurance extensions from £22.50 to cover other treatments like waxing, ear piercing, tooth jewellery, and spray tanning amongst others. Also offered is cover on stock and equipment, loss of money and hand disablement, which pays up to £200 per week if you are unable to work.
If there are other types of cover you require that we do not include then please let me know.
I would also like to implement a tiered membership structure that could run along the following lines:
Student member for six months while at college
Associate member minimum of two days recognised training
Fellow member qualified with NVQ or equivalent national qualification
Master fellow qualified assessor, IV, or recognised trainer for product company
Membership fees would vary for each tier of membership but there would be additional benefits, real credibility and a goal to become a fellow or master fellow member.
On this basis we could then advertise in the Yellow pages (as was suggested) and be able to recommend certain technicians to Joe Public with confidence in their competence levels. Let me know your thoughts.
I would also love to appoint an official PR company that will continuously issue press information on nails and the industry. Anything we can do to consistently promote nails to the general public in consumer magazines and newspapers will greatly improve our business. Of course, this will mean some heavy finance and we will have to generate more income, any ideas?
With regard to nail education standards, ANT has played a significant role in implementing and marketing the NVQ Unit 19. We feel this is the best national standard of achievement available at the moment. It is totally necessary for our industry to have qualifications that will be universally recognised by local authorities, health and safety, insurers and Joe Public alike, and we would encourage every technician to seriously consider getting themselves nationally qualified. Our aim is for nail technology to be a separate NVQ in its own right, not a unit within Level 3 Beauty Therapy as is currently the case. ANT has put many candidates through the Unit 19 award and the more candidates that take the award the stronger our case for lobbying HABIA (the authority that sets the standards for qualifications in our industry) to give us our own nail qualification.
There is so much more that needs to be done to regulate the industry. We are a very small group of people that run ANT, and most involved work on a part-time basis and are not paid a penny for the effort they put in.
We need to form a steering committee made up of manufacturers and distributors, educational trainers and working technicians who are willing to give their time and expertise in helping steer the direction of ANT. If anyone has suggestions or wishes to nominate themselves, or anyone they feel is in an authoritative position, to sit on the ANT steering committee then please let me know. We need to form this group now!
I hope I have answered many of the questions and points raised. I have gone on longer than I wished but that's typical of me! I look forward to hearing your comments Im sure I'll be inundated!!
Speak soon
I think my participation on the site has been long overdue, and how could I not come on board when so many interesting and controversial comments have been made about our nail association?
ANT was launched about five years ago and today has approximately 4,000 members. Its aim is to represent nail technicians and the industry as a whole. The association offers its members the following benefits: one years full membership costs £45.00. Members must have a minimum two-day training certificate in an enhancement system, which is submitted with their membership application. They then receive a members pack including: a membership certificate, badge, window display stickers (all designed to prove their status as a professionally trained technician); the proverbial pen and coaster; one years subscription to Nails magazine and a selection of offers on educational books and videos. Also included in the pack is information on training courses in the UK, the NVQ unit 19 and where you can do it.
There is a student membership of £22.50 for six months, which is designed for students taking nail courses at college.
Although newsletters have so far been sporadic, our new administrator, Diane Gimbert has taken responsibility for this job and newsletters will now be sent out on a quarterly basis. If anyone has any information or interesting topics for the ANT newsletter then please email Diane at [email protected]. Your input would be gratefully received.
In addition, ANT has a health & safety help line and also a legal advice line (available to insured members only). In the past, these numbers have only been given out when requested, but will now be published in the members packs for easy access.
For any other advice, the ANT office is manned five days a week from 9am-5.30pm, and staff are available to speak to and offer help wherever possible.
Insurance is a big part of most associations. ANT earns nothing from insurance premiums but we offer the service as it helps to encourage membership. With a large group of like-minded people looking for similar cover, we can shop around on behalf of our members and negotiate a good deal.
There are some other nail technician insurance policies around, but we believe that ours is the best. Our broker is a specialised hair and beauty division of HSBC, which has been dealing in insurance within our industry for over 30 years. Our claims history is very low, but those that have claimed have had not had problems with the level of cover, and Axa insurance has always been good at paying out!
Unlike other insurances available, we offer varying levels of cover, from Student cover for six months (£75) through to Experienced Qualified Technician cover for one year (£28). This cover is available to technicians who hold a minimum two-day training certificate and have an NVQ Unit 19 or equivalent national qualification and more than five years experience (from when they first trained and received their certificate). I think that this tiered structure is very fair why should a well-qualified, experienced technician pay the same insurance premium as a technician who has just finished their initial training course?
In addition to the above public liability cover, ANT offers insurance extensions from £22.50 to cover other treatments like waxing, ear piercing, tooth jewellery, and spray tanning amongst others. Also offered is cover on stock and equipment, loss of money and hand disablement, which pays up to £200 per week if you are unable to work.
If there are other types of cover you require that we do not include then please let me know.
I would also like to implement a tiered membership structure that could run along the following lines:
Student member for six months while at college
Associate member minimum of two days recognised training
Fellow member qualified with NVQ or equivalent national qualification
Master fellow qualified assessor, IV, or recognised trainer for product company
Membership fees would vary for each tier of membership but there would be additional benefits, real credibility and a goal to become a fellow or master fellow member.
On this basis we could then advertise in the Yellow pages (as was suggested) and be able to recommend certain technicians to Joe Public with confidence in their competence levels. Let me know your thoughts.
I would also love to appoint an official PR company that will continuously issue press information on nails and the industry. Anything we can do to consistently promote nails to the general public in consumer magazines and newspapers will greatly improve our business. Of course, this will mean some heavy finance and we will have to generate more income, any ideas?
With regard to nail education standards, ANT has played a significant role in implementing and marketing the NVQ Unit 19. We feel this is the best national standard of achievement available at the moment. It is totally necessary for our industry to have qualifications that will be universally recognised by local authorities, health and safety, insurers and Joe Public alike, and we would encourage every technician to seriously consider getting themselves nationally qualified. Our aim is for nail technology to be a separate NVQ in its own right, not a unit within Level 3 Beauty Therapy as is currently the case. ANT has put many candidates through the Unit 19 award and the more candidates that take the award the stronger our case for lobbying HABIA (the authority that sets the standards for qualifications in our industry) to give us our own nail qualification.
There is so much more that needs to be done to regulate the industry. We are a very small group of people that run ANT, and most involved work on a part-time basis and are not paid a penny for the effort they put in.
We need to form a steering committee made up of manufacturers and distributors, educational trainers and working technicians who are willing to give their time and expertise in helping steer the direction of ANT. If anyone has suggestions or wishes to nominate themselves, or anyone they feel is in an authoritative position, to sit on the ANT steering committee then please let me know. We need to form this group now!
I hope I have answered many of the questions and points raised. I have gone on longer than I wished but that's typical of me! I look forward to hearing your comments Im sure I'll be inundated!!
Speak soon
angel fingers
Well-Known Member
julie, thanks for your reply, i have an idea that may help you with fundraising. how about organising a nail competition for us all to participate in, a lot of people would be interested in a contest that you can enter by photos submitted via e mail or post. you could charge an entry fee for a.n.t. members and maybe slightly more for non members. perhaps senior members may be good enough to give their imput on judging.prizes could be modest , maybe a free years membership or bits and bobs coaxed out of leading suppliers , manufacturers or wholesalers. a certificate of participation is the most important factor for me . i would love to call myself a prizewinning nail technician!
Great post Julie. Welcome to the site :fro:
Nailsinlondon1
Well-Known Member
Well things are looking up and this is fab news for us Techs..........
I remember the days of Colin Finch and then Vicky Finlay so many moons ago....................
The insurance structuring makes perfect sense and I for one would change over to ANT insurers if this is going to be the way forward.......
Here is to a new year and a new ANT year..............
The Competition idea is brill and would get the ANT and it's members noticed...................
So come on you guys and gals, this is our chance to get involved..........so lets do it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I remember the days of Colin Finch and then Vicky Finlay so many moons ago....................
The insurance structuring makes perfect sense and I for one would change over to ANT insurers if this is going to be the way forward.......
Here is to a new year and a new ANT year..............
The Competition idea is brill and would get the ANT and it's members noticed...................
So come on you guys and gals, this is our chance to get involved..........so lets do it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Glorsclaws
Photographic Geek
I wasnt aware that ANT wanted our involvment up til now and I admit to not renewing my membership when it expired because after the Pen,coaster etc. I never heard anything else from them.
However a comp would be great to raise their profile ... I would def be up for it if it were photographic (sorry havent got the confidence to do it in the flesh yet )
Perhaps ANT could help raise their public profile promoting awareness on the MMA issue.
With some CND involvement things can only go forward from here
However a comp would be great to raise their profile ... I would def be up for it if it were photographic (sorry havent got the confidence to do it in the flesh yet
) Perhaps ANT could help raise their public profile promoting awareness on the MMA issue.
With some CND involvement things can only go forward from here
naturalnails
Legend
I have renewed my membership to ANT for the last 4 years without question and I have received my renewal today. It has gone up £10 since last year and my insurance has gone up £12.50 since last year. I appreciate the printing costs have increased but I was told this is the first increase since the mag started - don't think so - sorry.
We have had various conversations on this board about the NVQ and the quality of the training in colleges but ANT make no difference in insurance between an NVQ done at college or one done through their SAC. I find this very poor for the industry that it values a very poorly qualified college NVQ less favourably than say an EZ Flow Master Artist or a CND Master.
I have decided this year to save some money and move my insurance elsewhere and I am now in two minds about the membership.
There are another two magazines out there, costing less, giving equally good information.
I have spent the last 4 years hoping and asking how we can help ANT to get to where it wants to be. I e-mailed about the newsletter but never received anything.
I was told on the phone today that there are going to be big things happening in ANT within the next two months but what? My membership expires in 2 weeks - what should I do?
It would be great for us to have an Association that gives us the kudos but what can we do to get it.
Julie Day posted a fab message about 4 months ago but we have heard nothing since.
Maybe this board could be used to help us get information rather than having to wait until it appears in the mags.
The editors have used this board to get input for their letters page etc. so could we not have a sticky topic each month of ANT updates.
Just a thought.
We have had various conversations on this board about the NVQ and the quality of the training in colleges but ANT make no difference in insurance between an NVQ done at college or one done through their SAC. I find this very poor for the industry that it values a very poorly qualified college NVQ less favourably than say an EZ Flow Master Artist or a CND Master.
I have decided this year to save some money and move my insurance elsewhere and I am now in two minds about the membership.
There are another two magazines out there, costing less, giving equally good information.
I have spent the last 4 years hoping and asking how we can help ANT to get to where it wants to be. I e-mailed about the newsletter but never received anything.
I was told on the phone today that there are going to be big things happening in ANT within the next two months but what? My membership expires in 2 weeks - what should I do?
It would be great for us to have an Association that gives us the kudos but what can we do to get it.
Julie Day posted a fab message about 4 months ago but we have heard nothing since.
Maybe this board could be used to help us get information rather than having to wait until it appears in the mags.
The editors have used this board to get input for their letters page etc. so could we not have a sticky topic each month of ANT updates.
Just a thought.
Hi there,
I had to write in because I joined a.n.t exactly one year ago...when I joined I got a certificate, a coaster and a pen..............that was It...I have seen a.n.t advertised in so many nail mags saying that you get news letters and so on...I havn't had anything...it has served no purpose for me and as far as re-newing my membership goes....I think not
Amanda Hermans wife (writing in on Herman's cos mine's having problems)
I had to write in because I joined a.n.t exactly one year ago...when I joined I got a certificate, a coaster and a pen..............that was It...I have seen a.n.t advertised in so many nail mags saying that you get news letters and so on...I havn't had anything...it has served no purpose for me and as far as re-newing my membership goes....I think not
Amanda Hermans wife (writing in on Herman's cos mine's having problems)
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