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If you’re new to the solar or heat pump installation business you may have heard of the MCS qualification and be wondering if it’s something that you need.
The short answer is no, you do not need MCS accreditation to install solar panels or heat pumps.
However, without this qualification, you will significantly limit the scope of the installations you can do - unless you make use of an MCS umbrella scheme.
But what is the MCS qualification, why is it important and will you be able to win any work without it?
We’ve got all your questions covered in this article. Read on to find the answers you’re looking for.
MCS stands for Microgeneration Certification Scheme and is a nationally recognised quality assurance scheme.
The accreditation was set up in 2006 with the aim of providing a national standard for the installation of renewable technologies.
For anyone in the business of installing heat pumps, solar panels, wind turbines or any other forms of microgeneration tech, the MCS provides a recognised standard to guarantee the quality of your work.
You do not need a certification to install solar panels. In fact, anyone can install their own solar panels as long as they are for their own use.
However, if you want to perform any installation professionally, then you will need to be qualified as an electrician. Even if you do perform an installation yourself, connecting the panels to the mains grid should be done by an electrician.
If you are an electrician, then you do not need any further qualifications unless you want to make use of the Smart Energy Guarantee, in which case you will need your MCS.
As with solar installations, you do not need an MCS to install a heat pump, in fact, there is no legal requirement for you to have any qualification to install you’re own heating system. However, in both cases, it is recommended.
Heat pumps are complex and finely adjusted pieces of tech that need to be very carefully designed and customised to the property in which they are installed. This means that if they don’t reach the required standards, they will not work effectively.
The MCS accreditation guarantees that your installation has met a minimum standard and allows you to claim the UK BUS grant. Without your MCS, you will not be able to make use of this grant - unless you use an umbrella scheme.
Although MCS isn’t a legal requirement, it is necessary if you want your work to be eligible for the 7.5K BUS grant or if you want to qualify for the SEG scheme for your solar installations.
These and a number of other renewable energy schemes are only eligible for installations completed by an MCS-qualified installer.
For most prospects, they won’t commission any work with you unless they are able to claim any available grants.
This means that unless you are MCS qualified or operating under an MCS umbrella scheme, you will be unable to claim these grants on your installations and will struggle to find customers.
So although MCS isn’t a legal requirement for the physical installation of renewable tech, it is a legal requirement for the relevant renewable energy grants.
Despite what we’ve already said, you don’t actually need to be MCS-qualified yourself to be able to take advantage of the Smart Export Guarantee or Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
The only requirement is that your work meets the necessary MCS standards and is verified by an MCS installer.
This can be achieved through an MCS umbrella scheme.
An MCS umbrella scheme is a framework designed to support smaller or new renewable energy installers who may not yet have the capacity or resources to achieve full MCS certification on their own.
The installer is able to complete the install as usual but is overseen by a qualified MCS installation company.
This allows an installer to perform MCS-accredited work without the need for an MCS qualification.
Furthermore, the umbrella company will usually assist you in the whole process, helping you to complete any paperwork and generally ensuring that the process is as easy as possible.
There are a number of companies that offer MCS umbrella schemes. Usually, these are large established renewable installation companies that have the capacity to support other smaller installers.
VitoEnergy are a great example of a heat pump umbrella scheme operator.
Founded in 2018, VitoEnergy is a major player in the heat pump market, installing over 150 pumps a year.
They offer an umbrella service in which they will provide office and technical support and take care of your invoicing, MCS paperwork, compliance, DNO applications, warranties, and more.
You can find out more about VitoEnergy’s service here.
Services like this are also available for solar panel installations although there are fewer established players in this market than there are with heat pumps.
Unfortunately VitoEnergy don't support solar installations so you will need to approach an MCS-accredited solar installer yourself, and see if they offer umbrella scheme services.
To get started with an umbrella scheme you first need to find a suitable company that offers MCS umbrella services. For heat pumps, VitoEnergy is a great option.
Each company will have its own application process but it will usually involve you providing some information about your heating qualifications, experience and current skill level.
Once you have provided this information the umbrella company will provide you with more details about the next steps.
With a company like VitoEnergy, they offer a three-tier service depending on the level of experience and support you require for your heat pump installation. They will provide someone to validate and sign off on your work and will even help you with training to progress through the tiers.
Please be aware that VitoEnergy don't currently support solar installations.
To become a certified MCS installer you will need to undertake an assessment by an MCS certification body.
An official will perform an on-site assessment where they will inspect your company’s procedures. They will also review a sample installation to ensure it meets MCS standards.
During the assessment process, you will need to ensure you can provide a list of your documented procedures, complete with evidence of quality management systems, health and safety policies, and records of completed installations.
Once you have passed this assessment you will be issued an MCS certificate.
To maintain your qualification you will need to complete periodic assessments.
Typically MCS registration costs £1090.00 but will cost more if you are registering more than 6 members.
This cost includes the following:
Given that an MCS isn’t a requirement and the fact that an installer can still complete MCS installations without the qualification, you may wonder if it is really necessary.
It is certainly worth becoming MCS-qualified if you intend to install microgeneration tech in the long term rather than the occasional job here and there.
For one, it will cost you more to use umbrella schemes if you are performing a high volume of work. Over the long term getting qualified is the cheaper option.
Furthermore, if you are ambitious about your business and want to grow and build your reputation then adding an MCS qualification is a must. Your MCS accreditation is a mark of quality and lets prospective customers know that you are a professional outfit.
While it’s fine not to have this qualification when you are starting out, gaining your MCS is certainly a worthwhile investment as you and your company progress.
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