Installers warming to heat pumps: but demand is holding them back

Baxi’s Installer Skills Survey has once again delved into installer attitudes to heat pumps to date and how these have changed over time. Now in its fourth year, the survey was carried out with Talan (formerly Gemserv) and gathered insight from nearly 400 installers, making it a comprehensive snapshot.

More than half (59%) of heating engineers are either already or likely to work with other companies to develop heat pump competencies, according to the survey.

Although 6 in 10 installers are ready, they say lack of consumer demand remains the main barrier to uptake, highlighting the challenge of converting their interest into real-world installations. The 2025 survey showed that some heating engineers are becoming more sceptical of heat pumps and towards net zero more broadly, reflecting the increasingly divisive narratives on the topic.

Some 59% of installers are either already developing the skills to fit heat pumps or intending to do so within the next few years.  As the majority are either sole traders or businesses with just two or three employees, the trend is to partner with other companies that can provide complimentary services, such as system design, installation support or financing.

The number of installers citing a lack of training as a barrier has fallen by 18 percentage points compared with 2024, suggesting that industry investment in training is beginning to pay off. Baxi itself has seen more than 1,000 installers attend its heat pump training courses over the past year.

While attitudes to heat pumps have shifted positively, consumer demand is developing more slowly. Although many households continue to prefer a straightforward like-for-like boiler replacement, 2024 was still a record year for UK heat pump sales.

Almost half of respondents – 46% – named the paperwork involved in government schemes as a major obstacle to installing heat pumps, saying it slows down projects and can deter customers from making the switch.

A recurring theme in Baxi’s annual surveys has been a generational divide in attitudes to retraining. Installers approaching retirement are generally less inclined to invest in developing new skills, while those earlier in their careers are more open to diversifying their expertise.