The much-anticipated and important consultation about the competence requirements for companies wanting to become accredited through the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) has now been launched - and businesses shouldn't underestimate the importance of having their say, according to SummitSkills.
The consultation has been launched online at http://mcs.online-consultation.co.uk/, where a video explains what it's all about, and documents are available to download. The website also shows how to submit a response to the consultation, which will run until 5pm on Monday 9 July.

As the sector skills council for building services engineering, SummitSkills will be compiling a response on behalf of the electrotechnical, heating and ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration and plumbing industries. It is keen to hear the views of those in the sector, to help inform this response.

Keith Marshall OBE, chief executive of SummitSkills, said: 'The MCS needs to know what industry thinks so I can't stress enough how important it is that businesses respond to this consultation before 9 July. We have been working for some time to ensure that competency is at the heart of the MCS and now is the time for the views of those working in the sector to be heard loud and clear.'

As SummitSkills is compiling a response on behalf of the sector, it is asking businesses to respond to the mcsconsultations@gemserv.com email address, but to copy in summitskills.news@summitskills.org.uk so that staff compiling the sector's response can make sure they take on board the wide range of views that are expressed.

SummitSkills has for some time been calling for a requirement on companies that are potential installers, before they can be MCS-certified, to prove that members of their workforce have the right skills. This should help to ensure that microgeneration installations are correctly designed, fitted and maintained in order for customers to secure the maximum benefits and for the UK to secure the greatest possible reduction in its carbon emissions.

SummitSkills is the sector skills council for building services engineering. For more information see www.summitskills.org.uk