A GOVERNMENT-backed certification scheme is set to move its headquarters from London to Daresbury.

The Microgeneration Certification Scheme - a nationally-recognised quality assurance scheme supported by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy – will relocate to the Innovation Centre at Sci-Tech Daresbury.

Founded in 2007, the MCS certifies the microgeneration technologies used to produce electricity and heat from renewable sources.

Newly-appointed chief executive Ian Rippin said: "Our move to new headquarters represents the start of the next chapter for the MCS - it is a key stage in our evolution as we realise aspirations to build a successful, standalone company led with a strong consumer focus to help shape the future landscape of the UK's small-scale renewable electricity and heat products market.

"It comes at a time when we are seeing record levels of the UK's electricity generated from renewable sources.

"The Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy reported that almost a third of electricity was generated by renewables in 2018."

Warrington Guardian:

The MCS' chief executive Ian Rippin and helpdesk manager Sarah Howard

Having become fully-independent of the Government in April last year, the MCS will move a helpdesk function and several other operational roles to Daresbury.

Sci-Tech Daresbury chairman John Downes added: "We are very pleased to welcome the MCS to Sci-Tech Daresbury.

"Every business that arrives on the campus finds that we are committed to ensuring our ecosystem is underpinned by collaboration, co-development and business support which will bring great benefit to the MCS.

"Furthermore, the north west is one of the UK's key locations for delivering the Government’s green, clean renewable energy challenge and I am confident they will fulfil their growth ambitions here."