The Department told us that it had a high-risk appetite in getting the scheme up and running due to the ongoing effects of the pandemic, and the short 12-week timescale was necessary to boost jobs as 60% of the construction industry were on the furlough scheme which was due to end. It argued that if it had pushed the launch back to November or December then the Scheme would have started in winter, when it is less practical to install energy efficiency measures.62 Despite the short timescales, the Department was confident that it was still possible to implement the Scheme due to its experience of setting up other energy efficiency schemes with similar timescales, such as the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund.63