A first for Forrest

Forrest has become the first firm to achieve certification for Green Deal by NICEIC.

Forrest, which specialises in social housing regeneration, is now one of just a few businesses in the country to be certified against the Green Deal standard PAS 2030 – the requirement firms must have in place in order to be registered to install Green Deal measures.

The register for Green Deal opens in August. Only those firms with the appropriate approval in place will be able to carry out Green Deal work when the initiative launches later this year.

Forrest’s chief executive Lee McCarren, said: “We have placed green technology and techniques at the heart of our business and continually invest to keep ourselves at the cutting edge of sustainable building practice.

“The Green Deal is a once in a generation opportunity for UK homeowners, affordable housing providers and the construction industry and Forrest will be at the forefront of its delivery.”

In May this year NICEIC was one of a few organisations selected by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) to provide Green Deal certification. It can now offer certification to any business wishing to become a Green Deal installer.

Forrest were invited by NICEIC to take part in a pilot programme to test the certification process and standards which Green Deal certification bodies use to assure quality for businesses undertaking Green Deal installation work for consumers.

Green Deal approval involves checks of all quality procedures within an organisation in addition to an ability to carry out the work. By going through these rigorous checks customers can have confidence in the firm they select to carry out the work.

Green Deal is the Government’s flagship initiative to reduce energy emissions from homes and buildings across the UK.  Set to launch this autumn it is aimed at making up to 14 million homes more efficient through insulation, draught proofing, double glazing and other measures which are designed to reduce the energy usage.