What is an MCS Umbrella Scheme?
The heat pump market is expanding fast, driven by government grants like the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) and the UK’s wider decarbonisation targets.
MCS umbrella schemes allow heating engineers and plumbers to carry out work that meets MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) standards without being fully MCS certified themselves. It’s designed to help smaller or new businesses enter the renewable market and install systems like air source heat pumps without the hassle and cost of being MCS certified themselves.
Why it matters for your business
If you’re a heating engineer looking to grow your heat pump business, selling air source heat pumps through an MCS umbrella scheme like HPIN Direct is a smart, low-risk way to scale.
Why do installers opt for an MCS umbrella scheme?
Most heat pump installers will opt for an umbrella scheme to save on the costs of getting their own MCS accreditation. For most installers, getting their MCS accreditation is cost-prohibitive and joining an umbrella scheme removes this barrier.
Here are the benefits of using HPIN Direct to sell and install air source heat pumps.
HPIN is free to join with no subscription fees
Some MCS umbrella scheme costs can also be prohibitive, especially if an installer is just starting out with heat pumps. Fees could be either on a monthly or annual basis whilst some schemes will charge per install. With HPIN, there are no subscriptions of any kind and no cost per job for installers to worry about. It’s the first free-to-use MCS umbrella scheme of its kind.
Unlock the Boiler Upgrade Scheme for your customers
To access government funding like the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, installers must be an MCS registered installer. Without this accreditation, your customers could be missing out on the £7,500 government grant to help them install their heat pump. An umbrella scheme like HPIN Direct gives you access to the BUS grant and increased heat pump installations.
- Give your customers access to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. If you are not MCS certified, your customers can’t access it.
- If you’re not an mcs registered installer, HPIN Direct provides a compliant pathway under our umbrella.
- We handle all the BUS grant application and admin for you so you can focus on the install.
Reduced admin and paperwork
- We’ll do the technical assessment, design and heat loss for you
- We’ll supply the heat pump, cylinder and controls in a simply priced bundle
- We’ll provide the full quote for you to add your labour costs to for your customer
- We’ll audit and commission the install and supply the customer handover pack
Under HPIN’s MCS umbrella scheme, the compliance structure is already in place. You get support with design, paperwork and quality standards aligned to mcs installer requirements, meaning you can focus on what you do best: installing high-quality heat pump systems.
Less admin means more installs. More installs means more revenue.
Simple heat pump bundle pricing
HPIN offers installers ready-made, priced bundles, making quoting and ordering straightforward. You know exactly what’s included, and how much it’s going to cost from the start. With heat pump bundles from leading manufacturers like Ideal Heating, Daikin and Vaillant, each bundle includes all the components you need including:
- Heat pump, cylinder and controls
- Connection kit
- Feet and tray
Fully compliant heat pump installs
Using HPIN means we do the audit and commissioning for you at the end of the installation. We’ll check that everything is installed correctly, make sure the customer is happy and issue all the relevant certificates and paperwork. If remedial work is needed, we’ll help you get everything sorted to make it as painless as possible.
Dedicated support and training
Beyond each project, our team is on hand with guidance, best-practice updates and signposting to further MCS training courses, so you can upskill as demand grows. We also have a great support network on our Inner Circle Facebook group where you can get help form your peers.
The Bottom Line
Demand for air source heat pumps is growing. Customers want lower energy bills, grant funding and future-proof heating. You want opportunity without drowning in compliance and paperwork.
Installing air source heat pumps through the HPIN umbrella means you can:
- Access the BUS grant
- Stay compliant
- Reduce admin and paperwork
- Protect your reputation
- Grow your business with lower risk
If you’re serious about increasing your heat pump installs while keeping control of your customer relationships, the HPIN MCS umbrella scheme is a commercially smart way to do it.
The market is moving — and this gives you a straightforward route to move with it. Installers can fast-track their heat pump installations.