HETAS Who are they?

First off. Be aware that HETAS is NOT a government run organisation. It is a private, limited company.

HETAS LIMITED Company number 02117828

That suggests that its first motivation is profit. (Bit like water companies, except in Scotland where the water utility is nationalised)

There are five directors listed on Companies house, Helen Thomas, Bruce Norman Allen, Andrew John Harvey, Kaye Fiona Jean Welfare, and Barry Trevor Wyatt (As at 10/8/24) presumably all receiving remuneration from the company. (Interestingly their other directorships involve, a joinery company supplying fire doors, a wedding venue in Surrey, a golf course in Crowborough sussex, a Georgian manor wedding venue in Wiltshire, a chartered surveyor in Stroud Gloucestershire, a centre for sustainable energy in Bristol, and a wildlife trust in Gloucestershire. (Phew! How do they find the time!)

Secondly. Be aware that there is a substantive and important difference between Scotland and England with regard to HETAS status.

In England, Supported by Section J of English building regs, trade members of a competent persons scheme, (Of which the HETAS scheme is an example) can "Self certify". This means, in effect, that by declaring that building regs have been followed, no reference need be made to local authorities for building warrants. 

This is the ONLY substantive difference between Scotland and England in this regard. This proposition was rejected by Holyrood, and if works in Scotland require a building warrant...they require a building warrant!

Scottish building regs states clearly

"There are (other) organisations representing the solid fuel industry but neither they nor HETAS have a mandatory status"

That'll do for "Who are they?", blog shall return with "What do they do?"

(NB All director information verifiable at Companies House.Gov.UK)