The glazing industry is changing, and the bar for what a professional installer looks like, and what they can demonstrate, has never been higher.
Across the UK, homeowners are starting conversations with installers better informed than ever before. They have researched products, compared specifications, read reviews and, increasingly, consulted AI tools that make regulatory guidance more accessible than at any point in history.
It is against this backdrop that Mandatory Technical Competence (MTC) should be understood. Not as a burden imposed from above, but as a framework that gives installers the tools to meet a market that is already moving in this direction.
“The conversation around MTC has changed,” says Sam Davies, Technical Manager at FENSA.
“Early on, a lot of installers heard ‘mandatory’ and assumed it meant more pressure, more paperwork, more cost. But what we’re actually seeing is that the installers who have got ahead of it are the ones winning more work, building stronger reputations, and standing out in a market where homeowners are more discerning than ever.”
The shift from Minimum to Mandatory Technical Competence – introduced under the Building Safety Regulator – represents one of the most significant regulatory developments in the glazing sector for more than a decade.
At its core, the updated framework requires every surveyor and installer responsible for building regulation compliance to hold current, verifiable evidence of their technical knowledge and professional competence.
That evidence is assessed against four key factors, known collectively as SKEB: Skills, Knowledge, Experience, and Behaviours.
Skills refers to the practical ability to carry out installations correctly and to the required standard. Knowledge covers a current understanding of building regulations, product standards, and technical requirements. Experience reflects the real-world application of that knowledge across a range of situations and challenges. Behaviours speaks to the professionalism and mindset an installer brings to the role – a consistent commitment to quality, safety, and doing the right thing.
These are not abstract categories. They are practical, assessable criteria designed to reflect what a genuinely capable installer looks like in the real world.
“MTC isn’t just about ticking a box,” explains Sam. “The four factors are designed to reflect what a genuine competence looks like in practice. And, when you break it down like that, most experienced installers realise they’re already doing the right things. MTC gives them a way to prove it.”
Nowadays, that proof matters more than ever.
Today’s homeowners are not simply comparing quotes – they are comparing credentials.
They are asking whether a FENSA certificate will be issued, checking installer profiles online, and seeking reassurance that the work carried out on their property meets industry standards and compliance.
“Homeowners are doing their research before they even pick up the phone,” says Sam. “An installer who can demonstrate current, verifiable competence isn’t just ticking a regulatory box, they’re ahead of the game.”
Installers who cannot clearly demonstrate compliance risk losing work before they have a chance to quote. Not because they lack the skill, but because they lack documentation.
Conversely, those who hold a current MTC are immediately positioned as lower risk, more professional, and more trustworthy in the eyes of a homeowner making what is often a significant financial decision.
There are two established routes to achieving MTC compliance.
The FENSA Skills Card offers a straightforward path for experienced installers, verified through on-site assessment by an independent assessor, typically within a two-week period.
For those seeking a more formal academic pathway, an NVQ qualification in Fenestration Installation or Surveying often completed over 12 to 18 months.
Under the updated rules, qualifications must have been achieved or renewed within the last five years – historical credentials, however credible at the time, no longer satisfy the current requirements.
“FENSA’s job isn’t to make compliance harder – it’s to make it achievable,” says Sam. “We’ve worked hard to make sure both routes are accessible, practical, and straightforward for installers at every stage of their career. There’s no reason this should feel like a barrier.”
The commercial case is equally compelling.
Installers who hold current MTC certification are better placed to win work, easier for homeowners to recommend and stronger in a market where reputation is increasingly the deciding factor.
“Compliance has always been good practice,” Sam concludes. “What’s changed is that it’s now clearly good business too. That’s not a burden – that’s an advantage.”
For more information visit forms.fensa.org.uk
