The accreditation allows Carillion Energy Services to carry out energy efficiency home improvements and offer finance to customers.

Under the Government’s Green Deal initiative, Carillion will now be able to set out the financial terms of the agreement, including extra consumer protections such as warranties to cover the measures and installation.

The firm will then be responsible for arranging installation of the energy efficiency works, which will be carried out by an authorised installer.

In addition, Carillion will offer access to alternative energy efficiency funding such as the Energy Company Obligation (ECO), which will replace the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) and Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP) by March 2015.

Carillion joins Preston-based Forrest and Shropshire-based Dodd Group among big social housing repairs firms to have been approved.

Nearly 270 specialist installers have been approved to carry various elements of Green Deal upgrade work, but few of the big name contractors have actually been certified ahead of the launch of the “hard” launch of the Green Deal at the end of January.

Siobonne Brewster, CES Strategy Director, said: “We believe that this scheme has the potential to deliver widespread home improvements and offers an excellent tool for tackling the serious problem of fuel poverty throughout the UK.

“In addition, the Green Deal offers a wealth of training and employment opportunities – which is why we are actively focusing on engaging with our supply chain partners, particularly local small and medium-sized businesses and social enterprises, to deliver service solutions that support the economic and social development of the communities in which we operate.”

Green Deal approved installers are listed here.