Cleaner Safer Group (CSG) is the Tewkesbury-headquartered parent company of not-for-profit organisations HETAS and Woodsure.
HETAS and Woodsure deliver training, education, certification and testing across the solid fuel, wood and biomass heating industries, combining expertise and resources under the CSG banner to support businesses in the heating sector.
This July 2025, it announced the appointment of a brand-new CEO, after the retirement of its outgoing chief executive, Bruce Allen, who held the position for nearly 20 years.
Barry Cope takes the reins as chief exec this summer, working alongside Bruce until he officially retires in September 2025, to ensure a smooth transition.
Barry joins the group from the Building Compliance Testers Association, where he was managing director for ten years. Before this he was head of energy services at BM TRADA, a global testing, inspection and certification company.
He said: '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.'
Through CSG, HETAS and Woodsure work with key stakeholders, government departments and local authorities to deliver industry initiatives such as Defra’s Ready to Burn certification scheme, the Biomass Suppliers List and the HETAS Cleaner Choice Scheme for appliances, all of which are driven by the mission to create a cleaner, safer and more sustainable environment.
Kaye Welfare, chair of CSG, said: 'Over almost two decades as CEO of CSG, HETAS and Woodsure, Bruce has been passionately dedicated to strengthening each organisation’s focus on safety, 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.
'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.'
