Insights from the Baxi Installer Skills Survey 2024 Event

The status of heat pumps in the UK

The 2024 Baxi Installer Skills Survey event, held on September 24th at the Baxi Solutions Academy, focused on discussing the UK's transition to cleaner, more sustainable heating solutions. The ETL had the pleasure of being invited to attend the event, and hear more about heat pump solutions across the UK – stay tuned for our video covering the event. Hosted by Jan Rijnen, Managing Director of Baxi Heating UK & Ireland, and Ian Trott, Baxi’s Head of Training, the event brought together experts and industry stakeholders - such as Wolseley, the Builders Merchants Federation, GSHPA, IMS, and the Heat Pump Association - to discuss the challenges and opportunities surrounding heat pump installations in the UK.  

The event revealed insights from the Baxi 2024 Installer Skills Survey, useful data in understanding the attitudes of the UK’s installer community—those at the heart of the move away from traditional gas boilers to low-carbon heating technologies like heat pumps. This annual survey was first conducted by Baxi in 2022, looking at attitudes, appetite and confidence in Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs) and the future of decarbonised heat. In summer 2024 the survey was re-run, using 2022 & 2023 as a benchmark to understand how views and opinions had changed one year on. The survey ran for two weeks and over 300 installers responded. The majority (61%) of respondents were sole traders or small businesses. 

Growing need for heat pump installations

The UK aims to retrofit nearly 29 million homes by 2050 and the transition to heat pumps is a vital step towards meeting the government's net-zero goals. Currently, 90% of UK homes rely on gas or oil heating, making the transition more challenging. While the uptake of heat pumps is gradually increasing, the survey showed that only 9% of installers are actively fitting this technology today, up from 7% in 2023 and 3% in 2022. However, half of installers said they are “somewhat” or “extremely unlikely” to start fitting heat pumps in the next three years compared to 46% in 2022 and 53% in 2023.

This recorded reluctance is partly due to low consumer demand, with few homeowners requesting heat pumps. The 2024 survey found that only 3% of installers reported regular enquiries about low-carbon heating systems, and many felt that government schemes were too complex and poorly communicated. Still, interest in hybrid systems shows promise, with 30% of installers indicating a willingness to explore these solutions. 

However, the Government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) provides purchasers with a discount of up to £7,500 towards the cost of replacing a fossil fuel heating system with an air source heat pump and £7,500 towards a ground source heat pump (including water source heat pumps and those on shared ground loops). The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero has given permission for Ofgem to over-allocate vouchers by up to £50 million in this financial year, to a total of up to £200 million, to provide certainty that vouchers will continue to be available for the remainder of the financial year. 

Installers have access to £500 to put towards training to become qualified heat pump installers through the government’s £5 million Heat Training Grant – this forms part of the initiative to build a skilled workforce and scale up heat pump installations. If you want to learn more about how BUS and the heat training grant intersect with the ETL, click here. 

The training challenge

One of the key barriers to wider heat pump adoption is the perception that they are more complex to install than traditional systems. The survey highlighted that a significant number of installers feel underprepared, with over 30% of respondents expressing the need for more training. Hands-on, practical training is seen as the most effective way to build confidence among installers, especially for those new to the technology. 

In recognition of this need, Baxi is offering dedicated training programmes. The company has 18 training centres across the UK, offering a range of courses including specialised heat pump training. This initiative, along with the government’s Heat Training Grant aims to bridge the skills gap, so that installers can become more confident in their ability to deliver low-carbon heating solutions, essential in scaling up heat pump installations. 

Nurturing consumer demand

Raising consumer demand is equally critical. While installers may be hesitant to take up heat pump training without clear demand, educating consumers on the long-term benefits of heat pumps—such as energy savings and reduced carbon emissions—will help to drive interest. To meet the government’s target of installing 600,000 heat pumps annually by 2028, it is essential to nurture this demand through incentives like the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and by raising awareness, installer training, and building user confidence.  

The ETL can play a key role in driving purchaser demand as a trusted source for independently verified and accredited heat pumps- making it easier for consumers to choose verified, sustainable solutions. 

How the ETL can help manufacturers increase visibility of their products

The ETL supports this transition by offering manufacturers a platform to promote independently verified, energy-efficient products. By listing products such as air-to-water and air-to-air heat pumps that meet specific energy efficiency requirements, the ETL provides confidence to potential purchasers, encouraging them to invest in low-carbon technologies. 

Listing heat pumps on the ETL increases visibility, while government backed independent verification provides reassurance to potential purchasers. Below is more information on the requirements, benefits, and process of listing on the ETL. 

• Ensure the product meets our inclusion criteria, as many domestic heat pumps, such as air-to-air systems under 12 kW and air-to-water systems, align with Commission Reg (EU) No 813/2013's "combination heater" definition. 

• Accepted types of heat pumps on the ETL are as follows: Air to Water Heat Pumps; Packaged Air to Air Heat Pumps (rooftop); Air to Air Heat Pumps, Split, Multi-Split and VRF; Water or Brine to Water Heat Pumps; Heat Pump Driven Air Curtains; Air to Domestic Hot Water Heat Pumps; and Water to Air Heat Pumps, Multi-split VRF. 

• The application process is free and straightforward: Register your company and submit the application, using existing documentation. Heat pump test standards for Ecodesign compliance (EN 14825, EN 14511, EN 27327) and energy efficiency metrics (Seasonal Space Heating Energy Efficiency, COP, EER, SCOP, SEER) align with regulatory requirements. 

• Stay government-aligned: Make sure the products comply with the latest government policies and industry standards. For example, we’ve set refrigerant limits with a GWP below 750, in advance of the 2025 regulations that may further reduce this threshold. 

• If you would like more information on how to register your product on the ETL, watch our “How-to” video. 

Manufacturers are encouraged to apply for ETL listings, which increases visibility and helps build trust in the market, and to also provide client success stories for our ETL case studies section. We feature and promote stories that highlight a journey to better energy efficiency, decarbonisation and Net Zero. If you or your customers have one to share, please contact us at: media@etl.energysecurity.gov.uk. 

Driving growth in a net-zero future

The Baxi Install Skills Survey 2024 event highlighted both the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in the UK’s journey toward decarbonising its heating sector. The transition to heat pumps is essential for meeting the country’s net-zero goals, but it will require a concerted effort from both the installer community consumers, and businesses.  

By providing hands-on training, raising consumer awareness, and promoting energy-efficient products through initiatives like the ETL, the industry can build the momentum needed to accelerate this transition. 

If you would like to learn more, please visit the ETL website. 

If you’re a purchaser looking to find energy efficient technology, browse our list here. 

Contact us at info@etl.energysecurity.gov.uk to explore how the ETL can get you closer to a net-zero reality.