Microgeneration Certification Scheme

The Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS)is the first product and installer certification scheme to cover all the microgeneration technologies. The MCS Mark is currently owned by the Secretary of State for Energy. The industry-led MCS Steering Group evaluates microgeneration products and installers against strict criteria using European and ISO technical standards for micro wind turbines, heat pumps including ground and air source heat pumps, photovoltaics, biomass, CHP, Micro Hydro and solar thermal.

The Scheme's overall aim is to contribute to creating a safe, reliable and low carbon energy source to meet challenging EU 2020 targets on renewables. The Microgeneration Certification Scheme is designed to raise standards, protect consumers and the Scheme's approach is to assess installer company procedures and skills, as well as to inspect microgeneration installations.

CHAS

CHAS (Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme) is a Government run scheme. Each month thousands of contractors and consultants apply for work with public and private sector organisations. In order to be awarded the relevant contract, the companies and individuals applying must meet health and safety standards.

CHAS assesses applicants on their health and safety policy statement, their organisation and how it deals with health and safety and their specific health and safety arrangements. This means that everyone will work to an acceptable standard. All members of the CHAS scheme are stored on a database which is accessible by members only.

Gas Safe Register

Gas safety is one of the most important factors in having a safe home and work place. The dangers that surround unsafe gas appliances are deadly serious. Poorly maintained, faulty or badly installed gas work leads to carbon monoxide poisoning, the effects of which can be fatal.

Gas Safe Register is the official gas registration body for the United Kingdom, Gas Safe Register replaced CORGI as the gas registration body in Great Britain and Isle of Man on 1 April 2009 and Northern Ireland and Guernsey on 1 April 2010. The sole focus of the register is on improving and maintaining gas safety to the highest standards.

NICEIC National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting

NIC-EIC has been assessing the technical competence of electricians for over 50 years. There aim is to protect everyone who uses electricity from unsafe electrical installations anywhere. To achieve this, They maintain a register of qualified, competent electricians. They look at a representative sample of the electrical contractor’s work, their premises, documentation, equipment, and the competence of their key supervisory electrician. Once the contractors become registered with NIC-EIC, they are re-assessed on a regular basis to ensure high standards.

Safe Contractor

In 1999 SupplyLine was born. After further development the product was expanded to provide web based access to its clients and was re-branded as SAFEcontractor in 2003.

Steady growth and the adoption of the system by some major names such as Kellogg, Debenhams Retail Plc, Home Retail Group and General Motors UK, Atlantic Contracting saw entry into new client markets and further growth in contractor members.

CSCS

CSCS was set up to help the construction industry to improve quality and reduce accidents. CSCS cards are increasingly demanded as proof of occupational competence by contractors, public and private clients and others. They cover hundreds of occupations so whatever you do in construction there will be a card that is suitable for you.

ConstructionLine

As a supplier, you’ll know that jumping through the same vetting hoops every time you tender is not a brilliant use of time and resources. And for buyers, sifting through pre-qualification data and keeping it up to date adds up to a similarly wasteful job. Constructionline helps both sides of the deal bypass these problems, saving everyone time, money and hassle in the process.

Real Assurance Scheme

We have set up the REAL scheme to help companies provide high-quality products and services to consumers. The Consumer Code, the centrepiece of the scheme, is aimed at all those companies that have contact with domestic, community and small-business consumers.

There is a copyright symbol called the 'REALity Check', which may be used only by Scheme members and provides an assurance of quality to consumers.

Wherever appropriate, the Code must be used with two other important quality-assurance mechanisms that also form part of the scheme:

• Installer accreditation standards for installers
• Certification standards for products suitable for domestic, community and small-business use.