Cotswold Energy Group: How MCS certification benefitted their business
When three school friends from Gloucestershire met one evening in a pub in 2018, they did more than enjoy a pint – they established Cotswold Energy Group. Discover how friends Jon Bonnar, Robin Hodge, and Aaron Stuart-Kelso turned their industry expertise into a successful career in renewables as an MCS certified contractor.
FROM FRIENDSHIP TO BUSINESS
Jon, Aaron, and Robin all grew up as school friends in Gloucestershire and pursued careers focused on making a difference in the renewable energy sector.
- Jon, the Managing Director, earned a Business Studies degree in 2002 and always had a flair for new technologies, strategy and people management.
- Robin, co-founder, began his journey to renewables after completing an Environmental Geoscience degree at Bristol University, before moving onto technical sales of heat pumps in 2013.
- Aaron qualified as a heating engineer in 2007. After running his own successful business, he shifted his focus to renewables and joined forces with Robin and Jon to establish Cotswold Energy Group.
Together, their combined expertise has built a business centered on sustainable, high-quality energy solutions.
Becoming certified
Jon understood early on that becoming MCS certified was crucial to establishing credibility and trust for his business within the renewable energy market. Certification helped ensure Cotswold Energy Group’s compliance with industry standards and demonstrated their commitment to delivering top-notch installations. Jon explained:
“As a renewable energy installer, we recognised that MCS certification would provide us with a competitive edge and give consumers confidence in the quality of our renewable energy products and installations.”
Not only did MCS certification bolster the company’s reputation, but it also unlocked new opportunities including access to government incentives, like the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, for their consumers and access to larger-scale projects.
“The resources and support offered by MCS, from technical guidance to industry updates, have proven invaluable for our business growth.”
ADVICE FOR CONTRACTORS
To contractors considering MCS certification, Jon’s advice is simple:
“Just go for it! Without MCS certification, you risk losing out on new business opportunities and missing out on government incentives that require MCS certification, making renewable energy more affordable, accessible and attractive to your customers.”
Jon also talked about the importance of consumers choosing an MCS certified installer:
“MCS certification also offers consumers protection through warranties and guarantees, ensuring they are protected if anything goes wrong.”
This is especially important when many consumers are investing in technology that is often unfamiliar to them. Consumers understand that MCS certified installers hold the necessary skills to install technologies like heat pumps to industry-recognised standards and give them peace-of-mind that their new technology is safe, durable and efficient.
certified installations closer to home
Cotswold Energy Group has installed MCS certified technologies for family, friends, and even their own leadership team. Jon himself had both MCS certified solar PV and an air source heat pump installed at his home back in 2018. Talking about his installations, John said:
“Since getting both installations I’ve saved around £680 per year on my families’ energy bills and reduced our carbon footprint by 102 tonnes.”
“Not to mention the installation was completed in just over a week with minimal disruption. The team was tidy, professional, and provided excellent project management.”
If you’re thinking about gaining MCS certification for your business, you can find out more here.