UK installers warming to heat pumps
More than half (59%) of UK heating engineers are either already or likely to work with other companies to develop heat pump competencies, according to Baxi’s fourth annual Installer Skills Survey.
Despite this interest in being prepared, a lack of consumer demand remains the number one barrier to heat pump uptake – with 60% of installers citing this as the main barrier, highlighting the challenge of converting installer interest into real-world installations.
The 2025 Survey showed that attitudes of some segments of the heating engineer population are becoming more sceptical of heat pumps and towards Net Zero more broadly, reflecting the increasingly divisive narratives on the topic from across the political spectrum.
The survey – conducted with green supply chain consultancy Talan – gathered responses from almost 400 installers, making it the most comprehensive snapshot of UK installer attitudes to heat pumps to date.
The study found that 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 of installer operators are either sole traders or very small businesses with just two or three employees, the trend is to partner with other companies that can provide complementary 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 alone has seen over 1,000 installers attend its own heat pump training courses over the last 12 months.
When asked what drives them in their work, heating engineers most frequently cited providing a good service to customers (85%), solving technical problems (62%) and getting things right from a technical perspective (50%).
According to Baxi, this sense of professionalism partly explains why some installers hesitate to recommend new technologies until they feel fully competent.
“Installers clearly want to do the right thing for their customers,” said Ian Trott, Head of Training at Baxi UK. “Many take pride in their technical ability and won’t compromise on service until they’ve built real hands-on experience with the technology. Training for a qualification is one thing – but training for competence is what’s really needed to move the needle on installer engagement.”
