Baxi has published its 2024 Installer Skills Survey, which has revealed that attitudes of heating engineers towards low carbon heating are hard to shift.
According to Baxi, around 18% of all carbon emissions in the UK come from home heating, with around 85% of homes using natural gas boilers.
In August 2024, over 300 installers took part in the Installer Skills Survey, which was conducted in partnership with Gemserv.
Baxi stated that although this year’s survey revealed more positive sentiment towards heat pumps compared to the first edition in 2022, it implied that many installers still lack the training, knowledge and incentive to help homeowners begin their transition away from gas boilers.
The survey found that 9% of installers say they are fitting heat pumps. This is an increase from 3% in 2022 and 7% in 2023. Sentiment towards heat pump installation in the future looks weak, it suggested, with half of installers saying they are “somewhat” or “extremely unlikely” to start fitting heat pumps in the next three years. This compares to a decrease from 53% in 2023. There is more enthusiasm for hybrid systems, where a heat pump is combined with a gas boiler, with 30% of installers showing interest.
Government schemes, such as the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS), are met with frustration in the survey, due to perceived complexity, excessive paperwork and lack of consumer awareness. The survey showed that 9% of installers rate government schemes as “good” or “excellent” and 42% say customers never mention the BUS.
A lack of confidence to promote and install low-carbon heating technologies has been a feature of the Installer Skills Survey since it began in 2022, Baxi said. This year, there is a slight improvement, as 35% of installers said they are ‘moderately confident’ and 11% that said they are ‘extremely confident’ in discussing low-carbon technologies, which is up from 7% in 2023.
The research found that 34% of respondents indicated a preference for practical learning. The perceived high cost of training, along with the complexities of MCS accreditation, are an ongoing obstacle to learning, Baxi noted.
The company added that a lack of consumer demand for heat pumps further contributes to installers’ low engagement. In the 2024 survey, 3% of installers said customers always ask about low-carbon heating.
A recurring theme in all three surveys has been a generational divide among installers, with those nearing retirement less inclined to invest in training. As more new installers enter the industry, Baxi said it’s expected that more will be willing to embrace new technologies. However, the company stated that the transition will require further intervention from both government and industry to create a more supportive environment.
Baxi shared the findings of the survey at an event held at the Baxi Solutions Academy in Warwick on 24 September. Invited industry stakeholders shared their perspectives on the role of skills in the energy transition,
Ian Trott, Baxi’s head of UK training, said: “While the 2024 survey shows some positive developments, particularly regarding hybrid systems, many of the challenges highlighted by previous surveys, such as insufficient training, poor government support, low consumer demand, haven’t moved on. The transition to low-carbon heating will require more targeted interventions to support installers in overcoming these barriers.”