TrustMark names Guy Thompson as chief executive as scheme provider consultation nears close

TrustMark, the government-endorsed quality scheme for work in and around the home, has appointed Guy Thompson as its new chief executive officer, the organisation announced on 20 October 2026.

The announcement on TrustMark's website is brief. It names Thompson as the new CEO in a photo caption but gives no start date, biography or reason for the change, and carries no quotes.

TrustMark's senior leadership and board pages still list Simon Ayers MBE as chief executive officer. The leadership page describes Ayers as having a career in the energy and construction industry spanning more than 30 years. TrustMark announced on 29 December 2023 that Ayers had been awarded an MBE in the King's New Year Honours 2024 for services to consumer protection.

The role

TrustMark's careers page set out what it wanted from its next chief executive. The vacancy description said the CEO would report to the board and lead the organisation through what it called its next challenging transformation.

It sought a commercially minded and purpose-driven executive able to navigate complex stakeholder environments, drive organisational change and build long-term sustainability. The description also cast the post-holder as TrustMark's principal ambassador, building relationships across government, industry, regulators and commercial partners.

According to TrustMark's board page, the board works with the senior leadership team to set strategy and oversee the operation of the scheme. The leadership team includes Charlotte Carter as chief operating officer, who TrustMark says is responsible for identifying areas in need of transformation and overseeing change.

The organisation

TrustMark says it is the only UK government-endorsed quality scheme for work carried out in and around the home. It started in 2005 and is a not-for-profit organisation operating under a Master Licence Agreement issued by the Department for Business & Trade.

According to its about page, TrustMark licences and audits more than 40 Scheme Providers and has more than 18,000 registered businesses. Those businesses cover 115 service types, including plumbers, electricians and builders.

Consultation on Scheme Providers

Thompson's appointment comes as TrustMark consults on proposed changes to how it works with its Scheme Providers. Responses are due by 11:59pm on 27 October 2026.

The proposals, as set out on TrustMark's consultation page, include building a direct relationship with every TrustMark registered business and individual, and TrustMark becoming a single point of contact for consumers when things need resolving.

TrustMark also proposes strengthening the financial protection that covers work carried out under its scheme, opening up the TrustMark Data Warehouse, and introducing changes to registration and lodgement fees.

Government review of consumer protection

The change at the top of TrustMark also follows a government consultation on the wider consumer protection framework for home upgrade work. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) ran a consultation on reforming consumer protection for home upgrade schemes from 3pm on 17 June 2026 to 11:59pm on 10 September 2026.

DESNZ said the reform was intended to support delivery of the Warm Homes Plan. It cited evidence of failings in Energy Company Obligation 4 and the Great British Insulation Scheme as exposing weaknesses in the current consumer protection framework.

TrustMark's own consultation on its Scheme Provider model closes on 27 October 2026.