Grants · 4 min read
What is MCS accreditation, and why does it matter?
The certification that decides whether you can access Boiler Upgrade Scheme funding, how to check a number yourself, and what MCS does not tell you.
What MCS is
The Microgeneration Certification Scheme certifies both products and installers of small-scale renewable technology. For a homeowner it does two things: it is the quality standard the installation is assessed against, and it is the gateway to government grant funding.
BBI Heating is MCS accredited under registration NIC601962. Our homepage describes this as our "gold standard" accreditation because, in practice, it is the one that gates access to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
What it gates
You cannot claim the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant through a non-MCS installer. The application is made by the installer, not by you. This is the single most common reason a homeowner discovers late that the quote they accepted cannot access the grant.
What MCS does not tell you
MCS certifies the process. It does not tell you whether the company will do the electrical work themselves, whether they can service the system afterwards, or whether they can also quote you a gas or oil alternative for comparison.
Those are worth asking about separately. Our own answer: we are MCS accredited for heat pumps, NICEIC approved for the electrical work, Gas Safe registered, F-Gas qualified and WaterSafe approved — so the whole system is covered by one contractor.
Check it yourself
Every MCS registration is publicly searchable on the MCS certified register. Ask any installer for their number and check it before you sign anything, including ours.
Questions we get asked
Is BBI Heating MCS certified for solar?
Our MCS accreditation covers heat pump work. We state clearly on our solar thermal page that we are not MCS certified for solar thermal installations.
What is your MCS number?
NIC601962. It is published on our heat pump pages and is checkable on the MCS register.
Want this checked against your own property?
A survey costs nothing and turns general advice into specific numbers. We are Gas Safe, NICEIC and MCS accredited (NIC601962), so whichever direction the answer points, the same team can do the work.
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Is a heat pump right for my Hampshire home?
The honest version: the appliance is rarely the problem. Whether a heat pump works in your home is decided by heat loss, emitter size and the control setup.
Read guideGrantsThe Boiler Upgrade Scheme explained — £7,500 for Hampshire homeowners
What the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme covers, who qualifies, why your installer must be MCS accredited, and how the money actually reaches you.
Read guideHeat pumpsHeat pump vs gas boiler: how the running costs actually compare
A straightforward way to compare the two without spreadsheets — and the three variables that decide the answer for your house.
Read guideReady to get started?
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