Cleaner Safer Group (CSG), the parent organisation of HETAS and Woodsure, has announced the appointment of Barry Cope as its new Chief Executive Officer. He takes over from Bruce Allen, who has retired after nearly two decades leading HETAS and eight years at Woodsure, reports Bioenergy Insight.
Barry Cope brings extensive experience from the building, construction, and air quality sectors. His background includes a strong focus on compliance, testing, and certification – expertise that CSG says will help drive the organisation’s future growth and service expansion.
CSG oversees HETAS and Woodsure, two key certification bodies in the solid fuel and biomass sector. Together, they help ensure safe and environmentally responsible installations and promote high standards in fuel quality, product certification, competent installation, and system maintenance.
The group also collaborates with government departments—including Defra, DESNZ and MHCLG—as well as local authorities and industry partners to influence policy and raise standards across the sector.
Cope previously served as Group Managing Director of the Building Compliance Testers Association (BCTA), where he led work on air tightness, sound insulation, ventilation, and overall building performance. Under his leadership, BCTA helped develop compliance standards that are now used in over 60 countries, including the United States, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Before that, Cope was Head of Energy Services at BM TRADA, where he helped establish a UKAS-accredited test lab and launched a division focused on environmental acoustics. His technical background and expertise in accreditation are seen as a strong asset as CSG looks to further strengthen its environmental focus.
Kaye Welfare, Chair of Cleaner Safer Group, welcomed the appointment, saying:
“We’re very pleased to have Barry on board as our new CEO. His wide-ranging experience and leadership in the sector make him a great choice to take the organisation forward. He’s coming into a strong team and will build on the trusted reputations of HETAS and Woodsure. We also want to thank Bruce for his years of dedicated leadership, which have been key in improving safety and sustainability across the industry.”
Barry Cope said he was honoured to take on the new role.
“It’s a real privilege to become CEO of Cleaner Safer Group. Bruce has built a strong and respected organisation, and I’m excited to continue that work with such a dedicated and expert team.
We’ll keep working with manufacturers, installers, retailers, government, and local authorities to support safe and sustainable wood and biomass heating. Our focus will be on improving appliance performance, raising fuel quality, educating consumers, and promoting the best standards not just in the UK but internationally. I’m looking forward to working closely with our partners and the wider industry to lead with purpose and transparency.”
