13 May 2025
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Aira, Head of Scotland, Nicola Mahmood, comments: "The Home Energy Scotland (HES) Grants and Loans Scheme is overdue for reform, and we welcome First Minister John Swinney’s commitment to simplifying the process for households. Aira, alongside many industry partners, has been campaigning relentlessly for action—and now is the time to deliver it.
“The current timeline of three months or more to navigate the complex HES application process is unacceptable. These delays are leaving households in limbo and creating serious cash flow concerns for smaller businesses trying to work within the scheme. Installers are facing frustration, and consumers are losing confidence in a system that should be enabling - not hindering - Scotland’s net zero transition.
“To rebuild public trust and unlock the scheme’s full potential, we're calling on ministers to take three immediate and transparent steps:
- Commission an independent audit to identify system bottlenecks and set clear, enforceable timelines for grant approvals
- Publish end-to-end customer journey data, including the average time from application submission to grant award
- Release monthly reports detailing how many applications are received, processed, and approved.
“These are not administrative tweaks, they are critical reforms. Without them, the generous scheme risks falling short of its potential to tackle Scotland’s most urgent challenges: the climate emergency, rising energy bills, and persistent fuel poverty.”
www.airahome.com/en-gb
