MCS umbrella scheme for heat pump installers
Want to install heat pumps without the hassle of becoming MCS accredited?
With Alto Energy’s umbrella scheme, you can start installing heat pumps straight away. We take care of the design, supply, commissioning and compliance. It also means your customers can benefit from government grants through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
On top of that, when you join as an Installation Partner, you become Alto Assured — giving you full support, MCS compliance, and the opportunity to be recommended to homeowners after just a few installs.
Mitsubishi Ecodan hot water cylinder and pipework installed by Shires Gas Services, an Alto Assured installation partner.
Why Installers Choose Our Umbrella Scheme
Our service is designed to provide installers with the confidence, support, and structure they need to grow in the low-carbon heating market. Benefits include:
- MCS-compliant heat loss calculations completed before equipment delivery
- Full on-boarding into the Alto Assured Installer Network
- Heat pumps delivered from stock - next-day delivery available
- Our own engineers to commission the system and handover to the customer
- Dedicated compliance team to manage certification and ensure accuracy
- Full responsibility taken by us for the system from the point of commissioning
- Return visits to new build sites once plots are sold, giving homeowners a full handover on how to use their heat pump
- Up to 7 years parts and labour warranty as part of your package
Do I Need to Be MCS Registered to Install Heat Pumps?
You don’t need to be MCS accredited to start installing heat pumps. But to access the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, the work must be carried out by an MCS certified installer. By joining our umbrella scheme, you can offer customers these grants without going through full accreditation yourself.As a heating engineer, you can start installing almost immediately after completing our Introduction to Installing Heat Pumps course. The training covers the essential principles and brand-specific details for leading manufacturers such as Mitsubishi, Samsung, Worcester Bosch, and Viessmann.
The course takes just half a day and can be done at our training centre or online. Once complete, the process to begin installing is straightforward:
send us a project
Send us the property details and we’ll review and guide you on the next steps.
We design & supply
Our in-house team designs a bespoke, MCS-compliant system tailored to the property.
You install the Heat Pump
You carry out the installation with full phone support from our technical team.
We commission & Support
We commission the system to meet MCS standards and ensure full compliance.
If your customer is eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, we’ll also handle all the paperwork. That means no grant admin, no chasing, and no errors. Once you’ve completed three projects with us, you’ll also be eligible to receive customer referrals from our own network.
What it means to be Alto Assured
Becoming Alto Assured is about more than just choosing a heat pump system or joining an umbrella scheme. It’s a commitment to quality, compliance, and long-term support.
Every system is designed to meet the latest MCS standards, so your installation is fully compliant with industry regulations. You’ll receive clear technical support and training from our experienced team, giving you the tools to install with confidence. If you ever need help, our Tech Support team is just a call away.
Homeowners benefit too. Every Alto Assured system is installed by a trained and experienced installer, with Alto Energy taking full responsibility from day one.
What have other plumbers said about our MCS Umbrella Scheme?
As a trusted heat pump supplier, we work with hundreds of installers across the UK, helping them expand their services and offer energy-efficient solutions with confidence. Many installers have found that our MCS umbrella scheme offers a straightforward way to access the heat pump market without the administrative burden, or cost of full MCS accreditation.
Here’s what some of our installers had to say about our service:
CASCADE HEATING
“There’s nothing easier than sending over a set of plans, with set requirements and getting everything back, fully costed, all transparent and all clear. It makes it effortless.”
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Mitchell and Bond Plumbing and Heating
“It allows us to focus on what we’re good at, installing heating systems rather than filling in paperwork.”
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Shoosmith heating and plumbing ltd
“Alto Energy have provided us with a complete start-to-finish package, giving our company the confidence, knowledge and logistical support to carry out heat pump installations time and time again.”
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Why Alto Energy?
Alto Energy pioneered the MCS umbrella scheme to make it easier for plumbers to install heat pumps without the cost or admin of gaining full MCS accreditation. While other schemes offer minimal support, we provide a complete service, from system design and compliance paperwork to commissioning and after sales support.
In our latest NICEIC audit, we recorded zero nonconformities, despite supplying around 100 heat pumps a month. The auditor put it down to one word, ownership.
We do not just tick boxes, we take full responsibility for every installation, ensuring MCS compliance, protecting funding, and delivering better outcomes for installers and their customers.
FAQs about our MCS umbrella service
An MCS umbrella scheme allows installers to work on low-carbon heating systems without needing their own MCS certification. By operating under an approved provider such as Alto Energy, you can access MCS-compliant system designs, government funding like the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, and full technical backup—all without the administrative burden.
This route is ideal for heating engineers and plumbers who are new to air source or ground source heat pumps, or those who want to avoid the cost and time involved in becoming accredited.
This scheme is best suited to professionals who want to install heat pumps but do not want to hold their own MCS certification. Whether you’re just getting started or simply want to focus on the installs while we manage the compliance, we can support you.
We work with:
- Independent installers and sole traders
- Small-to-medium plumbing and heating firms
- Engineers working on domestic retrofit or new build projects
MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) is the recognised quality mark for heat pump installations in the UK. It’s also the route to unlocking government support, including schemes like the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, and can help with Building Control compliance.
For plumbers or businesses where heat pumps are not yet the main focus, gaining full MCS certification can be a big commitment in terms of time and ongoing responsibility.
When you join our umbrella scheme, you carry out the installation while we handle the design, supply, commissioning, compliance, and all the necessary paperwork. The installation will be MCS-accredited and, where eligible, your customers can benefit from grants such as the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. You’ll also have ongoing support from our Technical team throughout the process.
This lets you focus on what you do best, while still offering your customers the advantages of a fully certified heat pump installation.
Benefit From Our Industry Accreditations
When you work under the Alto Assured MCS Umbrella, you and the homeowner benefit from our industry accreditations.
