The statistics announced by DECC last month revealed that 404 had installers left the MCS scheme in March, with just 127 signing themselves up for the quality assurance scheme. The total number of installers registered under the scheme is now at its lowest since 2010.
Neil Schofield, head of external and governmental affairs at Worcester, Bosch Group, said: “The latest MCS registration figures released by DECC are extremely disappointing, yet will come as little surprise to those who have watched the Government’s dithering over the Renewable Heat Incentive. At its peak, just two years ago, the MCS scheme was attracting over 3,000 new registrations, yet we now find ourselves in a position where the number of installers leaving the scheme is three times the number of new recruits.
“Plenty has been said of the need for the UK’s installer base to promote the Green Deal and the RHI in order to make these schemes a success, but these figures are proof, if ever we needed any, that enthusiasm for the Coalition’s so-called green revolution is evaporating at a rate of knots. It is reported that over 70 per cent of installers have not completed an MCS-registered job for six months or more, which is a worrying figure backed up by anecdotal evidence from installers.”
Neil continued: “It is a shame to see so many installers turn their backs on renewables having invested in their MCS accreditation, but the original promise of a profitable market for green technologies is simply yet to materialise.
“The key now is that the government needs to stick to spring 2014 as the introduction date for the RHI. Failure to do so could be the final nail in the coffin for what is already a faltering market.”