The future of MCS chair and interim chief executive Gideon Richards is in doubt after the scheme’s Steering Group agreed to disband earlier this week, Solar Power Portal can exclusively reveal.
The Microgeneration Certification Scheme, the DECC-supported body tasked with quality assurance of small-scale renewable generators, is nearing the end of a transition to charity status which will see its organisation and management structure completely revamped.
The MCS Charitable Foundation was established last year and has now been ratified. As a result, the management of the scheme will pass over to its appointed trustees, while the MCS Service Company – which will be charged with the scheme’s day to day operations – will be managed by a board of directors.
SPP understands that during a meeting earlier this week, the MCS Steering Group – chaired by Gideon Richards – agreed that it would not meet again and would disband as a result of its restructuring.
Richards is also understood to not be among those to sit on the future board of directors, casting doubt over his future involvement with the management of the scheme.
When contacted by SPP, a spokesman for Gemserv, the private company that administers the scheme, confirmed that the MCS Steering Group had agreed to disband and that there would no longer be a requirement for the MCS to have a Steering Group chair.
“The Steering Group will disband once appropriate reporting structures for the MCS Panels and Groups have been established under the MCS Service Company Ltd’s Board of Directors. At this stage there is nothing further to add,” the spokesman said.
When pressed on a timeline for the changes the MCS did not respond, however SPP understands it could be a matter of weeks before the group is formally disbanded.
