Requiring PAS and MCS certification, alongside Trustmark registration, was intended to protect homeowners from poor quality workmanship and fraud.29 However, gaining these certifications requires investment and time, which many installers were unwilling to do for only a 6-month scheme.30 At the Scheme’s launch, there were 880 potential installers registered with Trustmark, however, by November 2020 only 248 had registered to participate in the Scheme, eventually growing to 1,008 by August 2021.31 Many homeowners struggled to find installers who were willing to participate in the Scheme, and the Department acknowledged that in many areas there were not enough 20 Qq136, 138–142, 154–155, Note dated 1 October 2021 from Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy section 2–4 21 Qq 91, 99 22 Q103 23 Qq 39–40 24 C&AG’s report, paras 10–11 25 Q35 26 The Mineral Wool Insulation Manufacturers Association, page 2, MCS Certified and MCS Foundation, page 4–5 27 Qq 40, 42, 64 28 Qq 35, 41 29 Q60, 63 30 Q85 31 C&AG’s Report, paras 8, 2.11 12 Green Homes Grant Voucher Scheme installers.32 Despite the challenges, some businesses did invest in order to participate; a survey by the Insulation Assurance Authority found that those who did invest spent an average of £87,000 getting set up for the scheme by gaining the necessary certifications, hiring staff, and promoting the scheme.33 Subsequent issues with the administration of the Scheme, however, such as the delays in issuing vouchers and making payments, meant that rather than expanding some firms reported having to lay off workers.34