Tighean Innse Gall’s Management Committee met yesterday to decide on the future delivery of TIG services to continue to meet islanders’ immediate needs of warm and affordable housing, support for vulnerable members of the community and essential energy advice provision.

TIG has over the last year faced the onslaught of changes to regulations brought in by UK and Scottish Governments, purportedly to raise standards when insulating homes. TIG have gone from Scotland’s most successful Installer for levering Utility company funds (ECO) (pro rata per 1000 homes) to support such work, being the fourth in Great Britain to being entirely stopped by such regulations. Technical solutions, which TIG have taken years to perfect and met with 100% pass in inspections (‘the best we have ever seen’ said the last inspector) are no longer allowed to be installed. Application of ventilation systems’ requirements are being imposed not only by a distant UK government but also by Holyrood who adopted them and in effect simply ignored the implications for island homes.  No consideration was given to undertaking an islands impact assessment by the Scottish Government on the introduction of the new standards despite the impact for local delivery issues being flagged via Government consultation responses. The overall effect in adopting these standards when set in the context of COVID 19 restrictions has been to devastate the local supply chain, increase costs massively and halt all installs.

In these circumstances and with a view to protecting TIG’s other services, it is with a real sense of loss that we can confirm TIG will upon the conclusion of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s 2021-22 Area Based scheme, cease the installation of such insulation measures in the fight against fuel poverty and to help householders stay warm in their homes. Consequently, the surpluses from such activity which have historically cross funded other essential services will be eliminated and we will see a reduction in our ability to fulfil our Community Benefit mission.

Notwithstanding the above TIG will continue to deliver its other essential services in Care & Repair, Energy Advice and Development services.

Brian Chaplin, Chair of Tighean Innse Gall Management Committee said:

“We are committed to providing services which meet community needs – affordable housing, adaptations in the home for those with disabilities or special needs and desperately needed energy advice as utility bills explode. If ever there was a time for TIG it is now, but we have been hit by the perfect storm of regulatory changes which make no sense, government intransigence, worldwide supply shortages and like a roof in a gale we are being battered. But Tighean Innse Gall will stand, and work with partners to help protect our communities through a reduced but effective range of services”.

Ends

Notes to Editors

  1. For further information contact Stewart Wilson, TIG CEO on stewart.wilson@tighean.co.uk
  2. Tighean Innse Gall is the principal agency for tackling fuel poverty in the Outer Hebrides and it did this by delivering the Home Energy Efficiency Scotland Area Based Scheme on behalf of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. It also delivers the charitable work of The Energy Advisory Service SCIO, advising residents of the islands on ways to afford energy use.
  3. The insulation department of Tighean Innse Gall is to be closed down and the business including its core, administrative and senior staff team being restructured or made redundant with the loss of 14 jobs.
  4. The local supply chain will be affected from lower draw down of future funds or delivery by national contractors and this may affect up to a further 10-20 jobs.
  5. The Scottish Government’s Area based insulation scheme delivered via Comhairle nan Eilean Siar for 2021-22 has been significantly impacted as a result.
  6. Other parts of Scotland are facing similar challenges as those being experienced in the Western Isles.