What TrustMark does

TrustMark is the only UK Government-Endorsed Quality Scheme for home improvements, established in 2005 and headquartered in Basingstoke. It operates as a not-for-profit social enterprise under a Master Licence Agreement with the Department for Business & Trade, with oversight from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) on energy efficiency programmes. TrustMark functions as a three-tiered trust and certification platform: it licenses 40+ Scheme Providers (trade associations and certification bodies including FENSA, NAPIT, NICEIC, NFRC, MCS, and ECA), which in turn vet and manage 18,000+ Registered Businesses across 115 service types ranging from plumbing and electrical work to landscaping and retrofit installations. End consumers (UK homeowners) access these vetted tradespeople through the Find a Tradesperson directory, the Homeowner Portal, and the Home Improvement App developed with the Health and Safety Executive.

Name

TrustMark

Legal name

TrustMark (2005) Limited

Website

https://trustmark.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

TrustMark is the UK Government-Endorsed Quality Scheme for home improvements, operating as a not-for-profit social enterprise that licenses 40+ Scheme Providers and 18,000+ Registered Businesses across 115 trades to connect vetted tradespeople with UK homeowners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Basingstoke

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Scheme Provider Licensing: TrustMark operates as a not-for-profit organization under a Master Licence Agreement with the Government. Revenue is generated through licensing fees from Scheme Providers who in turn manage Registered Businesses. Profits are reinvested into the scheme to improve levels of service and enhance consumer protection.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

TrustMark is the UK Government-Endorsed Quality Scheme for home improvements, operating as a not-for-profit social enterprise under a Master Licence Agreement with the Department for Business & Trade. The organisation licenses and audits a network of 40+ Scheme Providers who in turn manage 18,000+ Registered Businesses across 115 service types, while providing consumers with a vetted directory, project tracking portals, dispute resolution, and payment protection services. Its infrastructure also underpins government retrofit schemes (ECO4, GBIS, HUG, SHDF) through a centralised Data Warehouse and Retrofit Portal.

Product overview

TrustMark operates as the only UK Government-Endorsed Quality Scheme for home improvements, functioning as a platform that connects homeowners with vetted tradespeople. The core product is the TrustMark Directory (Find a Tradesperson) which enables consumers to locate registered businesses across 115 different service types. The ecosystem includes two interconnected portal products: the Homeowner Portal for consumers to track projects and the Business Portal for tradespeople to manage their operations and customer communications. Data management is handled through the Data Warehouse and its Retrofit Portal submodule, which supports PAS 2035/2030 compliance and government scheme lodgements. Supporting services include a Consumer Vulnerability Support framework, a three-stage Complaints Process with ADR escalation, Transpact payment protection for secure transactions, and a Home Improvement App providing HSE collaboration guidance. TrustMark's Scheme Provider Network of 40+ certification bodies and trade associations underpins the quality assurance system. Additional offerings include the Find & Fix Audit programme for government insulation schemes, Licence Plus for retrofit adoption, Trading Standards Approved certification, and an Exclusive Business Offers discount programme with partner organisations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• TrustMark Directory (Find a Tradesperson) Online searchable directory that allows UK homeowners to find and locate TrustMark Registered Businesses by trade, location, or service type across 115 service categories. Includes guided search and advanced search to match vetted tradespeople to consumer needs.
• Homeowner Portal
• Business Portal Free resource for TrustMark Registered Businesses to promote their services, manage customer communications, track project progress, and collect reviews. Includes personalised profile pages and integration with the TrustMark directory.
• TrustMark Data Warehouse Central data repository and system for recording and managing home improvement work lodgements, particularly for government-funded retrofit schemes including ECO4, PAS 2035, and GBIS. Supports data submissions from Registered Businesses.
• Retrofit Portal Web-based interface within the Data Warehouse system for Registered Businesses to manage retrofit projects, upload assessments (RdSAP), create project records, lodge completed work, and submit remediation evidence for non-compliant installations.
• Free Find & Fix Audit Government-backed audit programme for homes that received external wall insulation under ECO4 or GBIS schemes. Qualified TrustMark surveyors inspect properties to verify work quality, photograph condition, take measurements, and identify any defects requiring remediation.
• Transpact Payment Protection Escrow-based payment protection service in partnership with Transpact that provides secure financial arrangements between consumers and tradespeople for home improvement work, protecting both parties throughout the project lifecycle.
• Home Improvement App Mobile application developed with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) that provides UK homeowners with practical guidance on common risks when undertaking home improvement projects, distributed via iOS App Store and Google Play.
• Scheme Provider Network Licensed network of over 40 Scheme Providers (accreditation bodies and trade associations such as FENSA, NAPIT, NICEIC, NFRC, ECA, and MCS) that vet and manage TrustMark Registered Businesses, providing local accreditation and audit services across 115 different service types.
• Trading Standards Approved National Trading Standards Approved scheme priced at £90+VAT that provides additional consumer confidence through enhanced trading standards vetting, available as an add-on credential to TrustMark Registered Businesses.
• Licence Plus TrustMark scheme supporting Registered Businesses in the transitional adoption of fabric-first, whole house retrofit approaches, providing key routes for quality retrofit energy efficiency works in UK homes.
• Exclusive Business Offers Discount programme offering TrustMark Registered Businesses exclusive deals on tools, equipment hire, materials, insurance, fuel cards, website services, vehicle leasing, and customer finance from partner organisations including AA, ARMD, Wickes TradePro, Octopus Electric Vehicles, and Smart Comms.
• Complaints Process Three-stage dispute resolution process guiding consumers through complaints against Registered Businesses, with structured escalation to Scheme Providers and independent Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) providers where resolution cannot be reached.

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Department for Business & Trade (DBT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrustMark operates under a Master Licence Agreement issued by the Government's Department for Business & Trade. This agreement sets out what TrustMark does and how it operates as the only UK Government-Endorsed Quality Scheme.
• Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDESNZ oversees government energy efficiency schemes (ECO4, GBIS) that require TrustMark registration for participating businesses. TrustMark provides quality assurance and lodgement services for these government programmes.
• Age UKminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAge UK offers a Business Directory, a free service to help older people find a trustworthy business in their local area, promoting TrustMark Registered Businesses to vulnerable consumers.
• Citizens Advice BureauminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCitizens Advice provides advice on consumer rights via their consumer helpline and works with TrustMark to ensure consumers find trustworthy traders.
• Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCTSI represents trading standards professionals and works with TrustMark on consumer protection initiatives.
• Electrical Safety FirstminorGTM or Marketing PartnerA campaigning charity aiming to reduce deaths and injuries caused by electricity in UK homes, partnering with TrustMark on electrical safety initiatives.
• Energy Saving TrustminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAn independent organisation working to address the climate emergency, collaborating with TrustMark on energy efficiency guidance.
• National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNFRC is one of over 40 Scheme Providers that license and manage TrustMark Registered Businesses, promoting standards in the roofing sector.
• FENSAcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFENSA is a government-authorised scheme monitoring building regulation compliance for replacement windows and doors, operating as a Scheme Provider for TrustMark.
• NAPITcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNAPIT is a government-approved UKAS accredited membership scheme operator in building services and fabric, serving as a Scheme Provider for TrustMark.
• NICEICcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNICEIC is dedicated to ensuring electrical installations meet standards expected to keep people safe, operating as a Scheme Provider for TrustMark.
• The AAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership offering TrustMark Registered Businesses exclusive discounts on business breakdown cover through the AA.
• Octopus Electric VehiclesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOctopus Electric Vehicles helps TrustMark Registered Businesses work towards net-zero and offers more cost-effective vehicle leasing options.
• Wickes TradeProminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTrustMark Registered Businesses can save 10% off every time they shop with Wickes TradePro, with no minimum spend.
• Coventry Building SocietyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCoventry Building Society offers homeowners a lower rate when borrowing more for energy efficiency improvements when using TrustMark Registered Businesses.
• LendologyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLendology provides council-funded loans for home energy improvements and renewable energy measures available to eligible homeowners using TrustMark Registered Businesses.
• Health and Safety Executive (HSE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrustMark collaborated with HSE to provide practical guidance on common risks when undertaking home improvement projects through the Home Improvement App.
• RetrofitWorksminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRetrofitWorks is a not-for-profit cooperative offering services at the lowest possible cost, operating as a Scheme Provider for TrustMark.
• MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMCS creates and maintains standards for certification of products, installers and installations, serving as a Scheme Provider for TrustMark.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bark.com: UK-based services marketplace connecting consumers with local professionals across many categories including home improvement. Competes with TrustMark's directory for the same consumer demand-generation funnel.
• Checkatrade: UK's largest privately-run vetted-tradesperson directory. Directly comparable to TrustMark as a consumer-facing directory that vets and monitors tradespeople across the same home improvement categories, but without government endorsement.
• TrustATrader: UK directory that vets and rates tradespeople by region and trade. Closely comparable positioning to TrustMark as a vetting-led directory, though smaller in scale and without a government licence.
• Rated People: UK online marketplace that matches homeowners with tradespeople based on reviews and ratings. Directly competes with TrustMark's Find a Tradesperson directory for the same homeowner hiring flow.
• MyBuilder: UK tradesperson marketplace where homeowners post jobs and tradespeople quote. Overlaps TrustMark's core homeowner-to-tradesperson matching use case across the same trades.
• Local Heroes: British Gas-owned UK platform for booking vetted tradespeople for home repairs and improvements. A direct competitive overlap with TrustMark's homeowner-facing directory, though backed by a utility rather than government.
• Which? Trusted Traders: Consumer-organisation-backed directory of vetted UK tradespeople run by Which?. Closest direct peer to TrustMark in terms of vetting, endorsement-style positioning and consumer-trust brand, albeit backed by Which? rather than the UK Government.

Others

• NICEIC: UKAS-accredited electrical certification body and one of TrustMark's core Scheme Providers. Comparable as a trade accreditation body, but functions as a partner/distributor channel into TrustMark rather than a competing consumer brand.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/trustmarkuk
• GitHubgithub.com/trustmark-2005-ltd
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/trustmarktradesmen
• Facebookfacebook.com/trustmarkuk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/trustmark
• Instagraminstagram.com/trustmarkuk

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about TrustMark