Cleaner Safer Group (CSG), parent company of HETAS and Woodsure, has now appointed Barry Cope as the new CEO, succeeding Bruce Allen who has retired after almost two decades at HETAS and eight years at Woodsure.
Barry brings a wealth of experience from the building and construction and air quality industries, specialising in testing and compliance, which he will be using in his new role of CSG CEO to accelerate growth and expand the organisation’s services.
Over the past decade, he served as Group Managing Director of the Building Compliance Testers Association (BCTA), where he was responsible for overseeing multiple brands and organisations, encompassing air tightness testing, sound insulation testing, ventilation, and building performance products. This has granted Barry valuable experience in the operation of certification schemes in the building compliance sector as he expanded new standards across certification, accreditation, and training.
Cleaner Safer Group
HETAS and Woodsure form Cleaner Safer Group, with both organisations specialising in certification schemes in the solid fuel and biomass sector. From product certification and competent installation to quality-assured fuel and ongoing maintenance, both organisations ensure the lifecycle of a solid fuel or biomass installation is clean, safe, and compliant.
Collectively, the Group leads on industry standards, policy, and strategy, working alongside its registrants and suppliers, local authorities, and government departments – including Defra, DESNZ, and MHCLG.
Strengthening compliance and certification
During his time at BCTA, Barry was responsible for growing multiple new standards which have been adopted by 60 different bodies and building regulators worldwide, strengthening construction compliance in countries such as the USA, Australia, and the UAE. This international experience allows Barry to continue strengthening CSG’s position both nationally and internationally, expanding training, certification and consultancy services, whilst developing the Group’s existing brands.
Barry’s technical background includes previous experience as Head of Energy Services at BM TRADA, a global testing, inspection and certification company, where he designed, built and commissioned a test laboratory accredited by United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS), and established the environmental acoustics section.
His proven track record of technical leadership in compliance and consultancy, and experience developing and managing quality systems to achieve UKAS accreditation grants the opportunity to bolster the Group’s growth with a focus on environmental responsibility and compliance, utilising existing industry-leading positions in solid fuel and biomass.
Kaye Welfare, Cleaner Safer Group Chair, commented on Barry’s appointment:
We’re delighted to welcome Barry as our new CEO. His experience across sectors and managing corporate groups make him the ideal person to continue moving Cleaner Safer Group forward, utilising the trusted, leading voices of HETAS and Woodsure as foundations to grow and set best practices.
“Bruce has been passionately dedicated to strengthening each organisation’s focus on safety for almost two decades, developing a more sustainable environment and the expansion of our services. Bruce leaves behind an incredible legacy and a strong, group-wide culture of accountability, expertise and care, all of which will continue to shape our approach as we expand further. For that, we can’t thank him enough.
Barry Cope commented on his appointment:
It’s an absolute privilege to step into the role of CEO. The strong position we find ourselves in now is down to both Bruce’s leadership and the careful, hard work of the entire team over the last two decades.
“Across the group, we are fortunate to have some of the most knowledgeable and committed people in the industry. Over the coming years it’s important that we continue to utilise this expertise, while working closely with all stakeholders, including manufacturers, tradespeople, and retailers as well as governments and local authorities, to ensure wood burning and biomass remains a trusted, sustainable heating option for future generations.
“Our mission is clear, through both HETAS and Woodsure, to continually improve the environmental performance of appliances and spearhead fuel quality across the UK, whilst educating consumers to make the right choices. Our overall aim is to set the best standards internationally across both organisations, putting the UK at the forefront and creating a model that other countries want to follow.
“I look forward to meeting and working with all our partners, experts and the wider industry over the coming months, ensuring we continue to lead the way with integrity, transparency and purpose.