The UK’s newest renewable installation certification scheme has appointed three senior positions to help support companies applying to join the scheme.
The Flexible Energy Oversight Registration Board, (Flexi-Orb), has been running a beta test with installers for the last three years and launched its UKAS-accredited scheme through two certification bodies in June of 2024.
Following a successful initial period of applications, parent company Certi-fi has appointed the new roles across consumer, compliance and technical, supporting the company’s aim to become the premier industry certification scheme – focusing on quality, installer and consumer support.
Michael Collinge joins the business as Head of Technical, Julia Morris as Head of Consumer Services, and Jo Johnson as Business Solutions Manager.
Michael has vast experience across many renewables technologies and enjoyed a long career with NAPIT before moving into technical consultancy with the Awarding Organisations, City & Guilds and EAL.
Julia was formally operating in a similar role for a major consumer lender – an experience that will add value to both Flexi-Orb and its sister scheme, the Energy Performance Validation Scheme (EPVS).
Jo has held a variety of senior positions within compliance-led organisations and will ensure that relationships with installers and other stakeholders are fully supported.
David Lindsay, Managing Director of Certi-fi Schemes says:
Flexi-Orb is now entering a period of growth and further development. We already offer domestic installation technologies of Solar Photovoltaics, Electrical Energy Storage Systems and Electric Vehicle Charge Points and are looking to add heat pumps in the near future.
It was key for us to attract people who are the very best at what they do. I couldn’t be more delighted with the start that they’ve all made.
Jo, Julia and Michael join recent recruits, Mark Nelson and James Livingstone – both of whom we were able to attract from their previous positions at UKAS to increase our certification competency – and together they’ve already demonstrated that they will be a strong and innovative senior leadership team.
But it’s not all been about recruiting the best talent. Matt Hopkins and Mike Buhagiar have been recent internal promotions, and we’re very proud to be heading for a sixth successive year of zero employee turnover. If we want to be seen as the premier installation scheme, supporting one of the world’s most critical industries, it’s vital that we have the experience and quality to be able to deliver it.
The government has stipulated that all homes with an energy rating (EPC) of D and below must retrofit energy-efficient measures before 2030, in line with carbon net zero targets. There are currently 17 million homes in the UK that fall below this EPC rating. Including a renewable energy source, along with other improvements such as insulation and draught proofing can assist in improving this rating.
Image (l-r) Michael Buhagiar, Matthew Hopkins, Jo Johnson, Julia Morris, Michael Collinge
