If you understand and can comply with current scheme requirements, we advise submitting an application to your chosen Certification Body now.  The UK’s small-scale renewables market is buoyant and delaying your application may mean you miss out on future business.

As there will be a transition period for all existing certified installers to move from the current scheme to the redeveloped scheme – you might face some unnecessary delays if you wait.

We’ll work closely with your Certification Body to help them gain accreditation from the UK Accreditation Service (UKAS) that they need to offer the redeveloped scheme. The timeline for this will be dependent on UKAS themselves and we can share more about this when we have it. It is therefore difficult for us to give you a clear answer on when your Certification Body will be ready – but they will share next steps once they are ready and we’ll continue to publish ongoing updates.

You will need to renew your Consumer Code membership if you would like to remain MCS certified, as this is a requirement in the existing MCS 001-1 Standard. All MCS certified installers must adhere to the existing Scheme requirements (including MCS 001-1) until they have been transferred onto the redeveloped Scheme, and this includes maintaining Consumer Code membership.

Yes. We’re going to be creating and sharing lots of guidance in the coming months to ensure installers are fully prepared for the redeveloped scheme. This will include clear information and instructions on what’s required and how the changes apply to your business. Our Customer Support Helpdesk will also be on hand to provide advice and support on the scheme changes throughout the transition.

It’s also important for you to familiarise yourself with all of the scheme documentation and the requirements contained.

Similar to the Nominated Technical Person (NTP) model that exists in the current scheme, the Technical Supervisor assigned to each installation will need to evidence their competency in line with scheme requirements. The Technical Supervisor at the time of certifying an installation shall hold either:

• An in-date qualification
• An in-date personnel certification (in accordance with ISO/IEC 17024).

The MCS website provides the current list of MCS approved training courses, that can lead to either a qualification or personnel certification.

Note: a personnel certification is a way an installer can evidence their professional competence.

Yes. We expect that smaller installers will, on joining the redeveloped scheme, identify their current NTP as their Technical Supervisor.

It is important that this individual is directly involved in supervising the quality of each installation that they are essentially signing off as compliant to MCS requirements.

The Technical Supervisor for an installation doesn’t need to be directly employed so you could choose to utilise a subcontractor. If so, you’ll need to have a contract in place for the services they provide. You will also need to make the subcontractor aware of their responsibilities as Technical Supervisor.

The Installer Operating Requirements requires an installer to provide customers, under domestic contracts, with an MCS approved financial protection. Work is ongoing with support from financial protection experts, to develop a new scheme document – MCS Requirements for Financial Protections. Once published, this new document will allow MCS to determine what constitutes adequate financial protection to be associated with a consumer’s MCS installation of a low-carbon technology.

Under the current scheme, MCS 001 requires an installer to purchase an insurance policy to underwrite the guarantee that they are obliged to provide to their customers, to offer financial protection if they were to cease to trade; hence the phrase “Insurance Backed Guarantees”.  

However, MCS research, and that published by organisations such as Citizens Advice, has found that IBGs do not provide the cover consumers expect them to.  

MCS wishes to ensure that all consumers can get things put right with their installations if their original installer is either unavailable or refuses to remedy an issue. MCS research has established that the presence of more effective consumer financial protection is a key driver of consumer confidence, encouraging consumers to invest in low carbon technologies for their homes, and if structured correctly, as a platform for lenders to offer finance to the sector’s consumers.  

During the consultation phase for the redevelopment of MCS, we stated that the development of new financial protections for the sector are distinct from the development of the rest of the new scheme. However, we are working towards the first Installers who are able to join the new scheme having access to new financial protection products that meet the MCS Requirements for Financial Protections.    

Until the new requirement document is published, and new financial protection products are available, Installers will still need to purchase an IBG. A current list of IBG providers can be found here: https://mcscertified.com/ibg/.