MCS Registered Installers: Everything You Need to Know
July 31, 2024 | Read: 10 minutes
As the UK shifts to focus on low-carbon technologies, it’s increasingly important for businesses who are investing in renewable tech to think about becoming an MCS registered installer.
There’s a growing need to abide by specific standards, alongside compelling incentives, and this is giving greater weight to businesses becoming MCS registered. Let’s explore more of what that means…
What does it mean to become an MCS registered installer? What benefits are there for MCS registered installers? Why at is an MCS certificate?
We’ll answer all these questions and more, below, so let’s dive right in!
What is MCS?
MCS stands for Microgeneration Certification Scheme.
Think of MCS as a standards organisation not unlike ISO: The International Organization for Standardization.
They’re all about setting high standards for the renewables industry. Their core mission is:
To give people confidence in low-carbon energy technology by defining, maintaining and improving quality.
MCS Certified
To do this, MCS operates a number of certification schemes and gives low-carbon products—including heat pumps and solar panels—a stamp of quality.
Additionally, if your service becomes an MCS registered installer, it’s meant as a clear sign to customers that this business is committed to high standards of compliance and high-quality work. In their own words:
MCS is a mark of quality. Membership of MCS demonstrates adherence to these recognised industry standards; highlighting quality, competency and compliance.
It’s clear that there is a growing demand for renewable and low-carbon technologies in the UK, and alongside DNOs (Distribution Network Operators) who manage the national grid, MCS is working to ensure that there is greater cohesion.
To note, since 2008, there have been over 1.5 million MCS certified installations registered, and there are currently over 3000 contractors and more than 53,000 products registered with the scheme.
This is all in an effort to improve the distribution of power across the UK and reduce the UKs reliance on fossil fuel technology and reach Net Zero.
Is MCS Registration a legal requirement?
In short, no: MCS registration is not a legal requirement for field service businesses.
While MCS may be similar to other standard-setting institutions, such as Gas Safe, unlike Gas Safe, there is no legal requirement to join in order to carry out installations for certain products or services.
This means that even without membership to MCS—and so long as their engineer’s have the skills and know-how—there’s no other red tape stopping a service business from installing solar panels or other low-carbon devices for their customers.
However, there are compelling reasons to become an MCS registered installer. Reasons that will benefit businesses like yours and your customers, too…
Reason to become an MCS Registered Installer
First, MCS registration is a requirement for any business that wishes to benefit from a number of government-funded incentive schemes. These schemes can provide huge discounts for residents who are eager to install low-carbon products—like heat pumps or solar panels—in their home, which saves installers money, too.
To qualify for these certain grants, it’s necessary for a company to become an MCS registered installer as well as for the products that they install to be MCS certified, too. After all, many of these consumer grants and incentives are only available with proven MCS accreditation.
Discounts can be massive, too. For instance, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) gives installers the chance to claim up to £7500 off of an air source heat pump installation. There’s also the Smart Export Guarantee (SG) where individuals and/or small-businesses can receive money by exporting excess electricity back to the national grid. As such, for consumers:
Before going ahead with [their] renewable installation, it’s important to check that [their] installer is MCS certified and uses MCS certified products.
Without it they could miss out on fantastic financial perks.
Another benefit for homeowners is to have MCS approved devices installed by MCS registered installers for insurance purposes. The terms & conditions of certain types of insurance policies will often require very detailed paperwork about the products and installations that have been carried out.
Due to its credibility as the industry standard, evidence that an installation is MCS compliant is fast becoming standard as the quality assurance gives homeowners, businesses, and insurers greater security.
Customers may need to produce an MCS certificate to insurance companies, mortgage lenders and planning authorities. From a consumer’s perspective, using an uncertified installer is more trouble than it’s worth.
Renewable Energy Installer & Specifier
As anyone who owns their home will tell you, they’re required to provide a lot of detailed information should they wish to sell or even simply insure their home.
Additional Benefits to being an MCS Registered Installer
With MCS certified products (and all the paperwork that comes with it) it’ll be easier for customers to do this and may be more complicated (or even impossible) if an installation isn’t backed by an accreditation scheme.
As well as the financial benefits, being MCS registered can also give businesses greater credibility and more weight to win customers over.
For instance, MCS has introduced a search tool that helps consumers to easily find an installer registered with MCS, so they can be confident in selecting who to install their heat pump and other low-carbon devices.
If your business appears on that list, it could help you attract new customers!
With the UK government directly backing this scheme and giving residents the tools to find a heat pump installer, they can rest reassured that the service they pick should comply with the highest standards.
Do I need to pay for MCS Registration?
Yes, there are fees involved for businesses who wish to be MCS registered and certified.
The average cost for signing up sits at just over £1000 in the first year. The total cost can vary depending on a few factors, such as the number of employees you have registered, as well as the number of installations that are carried out and certificates required.
It’s important to note that different paperwork will be required depending on what you intend to install as well, which may require more time and money.
At time of writing (July 2024), the fees for being MCS Certified (excluding VAT) as found on the MCS Certified website, include:
- Consumer Code: £100 joining fee + an additional membership fee. This fee can vary based on the number of employees included. An approximation for 1-6 employees is £285, for a total of £385.
- Certification Body: £650 (average) in the first year, with an annual fee of £550.
- MCS: To join this scheme itself, per company, is £55 each year.
- MCS Certificate: a cost of £30 per installation.
Again, similar to other certifications like Gas Safe, the cost is a necessary one.
Not only does it cement a businesses commitment to quality, but it helps the institution to grow and improve efficiency. This will only support efforts to improve standards across the industry at large and work toward achieving the UK’s Net Zero goals, too.
How long does it take to become an MCS Certified installer?
Becoming certified (also known as being MCS Accredited) can take a few months.
Again, it’s important to note that there are numerous steps to follow and this will require a healthy amount of digital paperwork to be completed.
Evidence is required to showcase your:
- Understanding of the Standards
- Demonstrate Competency
- Commitment to Demonstrating Quality
- Commitment to Customer Care
- Commitment to Quality Workmanship
Application will include assessments and frequent auditing with evidence-based investigations that include on-site audits of installation sites you’ve worked on. After all, with government funding at stake, it’s understandable that a lot of information will be required and that you’re able to show that your company is both capable and committed.
If you’re interested in becoming MCS Certified, we’d encourage you to explore the MCS website. They have developed a useful step-by-step guide to walk you through the process of becoming certified, which elaborates on the summary we’ve provided in this blog.
In addition, you may also wish to explore the MCS approved training on their website, or exploring services likes Easy MCS, who may be able help you streamline your application.
What is an MCS Certificate?
If you’re an electrical company installing solar panels or a heating business, or installing heat pumps, an MCS certificate makes it clear that the installation is MCS certified.
[It’s] proof that your installation has been designed, installed & commissioned to the highest standard using only MCS certified products by MCS certified installers
MCS Certified
As mentioned certificates will be required for the successful application of government grants or provided for customers’ insurance claims and certificates will be required for every installation you complete.
How do I get an MCS Certificate?
There are three specific requirements needed to get your hands on an MCS Certificate.
- The certificate must be commissioned by a company that is MCS certified
- The installed products must also be MCS certified
- The certification has been commissioned after 15th July 2009.
How long does it take to get an MCS Certificate?
This can be a useful answer to have in your back pocket, should customers wish to know.
For example, if you’re installing solar panels for a client, then let them know that they can expect to be issued with their certificate within 10 working days.
Of course, whilst they wait, it’s already reassuring to know they’ll have worked with an accredited business. And when working with an MCS Certified Installer, homeowners will know that the company meets the expected standards for quality, safety, and compliance.
For more specific information regarding certificate queries, such as finding and obtaining certificates after an installation, check out the MCS website.
Certificate Management with Commusoft
The benefits of MCS membership for installers are numerous, helping you to improve customer relationships, diversify your work with new job opportunities, and help you to grow your business.
Whether you’re running an electrical or heating business and looking to pursue working more with renewable technology, I hope we’ve helped to shine a light on how MCS can help.
Of course, we know that field service businesses like yours will be used to creating and sharing a wide variety of certificates, forms, and documents for the installations you complete. But it’d be great if it were always easy to complete, right?
With Commusoft it can be.
Our software is capable of helping you to manage practically every single one of your needs for generating and sharing digital forms and certificates. We have a premade template library that offers a wide collection of ready-made templates for industries including electrical certificates, and gas certificates.
It’s our intention to grow this further and empower your business with all sorts of amazing tools. If you’re interested in learning more about building bespoke forms, explore Custom Forms with Commusoft by clicking the banner below:
