30 Jan 2018
Registration for SkillFRIDGE 2018 is now open with a new refreshed format. Any apprentice studying Level 2 RACHP upwards can now take part following the removal of the upper age limit.
The SkillFRIDGE competition is composed of three stages:
Registration Stage
To ensure that competitors have been verified and are of a standard to enjoy and benefit from the skills competition, a preliminary test must be carried out by a training provider and scores must be submitted at the point of registration.
National competition
Regional heats will be held from May to August throughout the UK. Registered competitors will complete a series of tasks under strict time schedules and have their work assessed by a panel of specially selected industry experts.
The competitor that achieves the highest score nationally will be crowned the SkillFRIDGE National Winner, and will be invited to receive their accolade at the BESA Awards in October.
WorldSkills UK National Final (Eligible competitors)
The seven highest scores from the national competition (subject to being eligible under WSUK guidelines) will be invited to compete at the WorldSkills UK Skills Show in November.
The highest scoring competitor during the WorldSkills UK final will be presented with a trophy and their respective training provider will receive the SkillFRIDGE shield at the ACR News Awards in January 2019. High scoring apprentices will also be considered to represent Great Britain at the International WorldSkills competition.
An exciting and and competitive platform, SkillFRIDGE aims to attract and inspire a new generation of engineers thus addressing the growing demand for skills in the refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump sector.
For more information and to get involved, visit www.skillfridge.co.uk.
29 Oct 2025
At the IOR Annual General Meeting held on 29 October 2025, election results were announced. Stephen Gill FInstR was voted President-Elect, and Stephen Benton FInstR together with David Bostock FInstR were elected as Trustees to the IOR Board.
28 Oct 2025
The IOR and the ACES have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen collaboration and promote the exchange of ideas and expertise during the Clean Cooling Network Conference on the Sustainable Cold Chain for the Global South, taking place at the University of Birmingham from 28–29 October 2029.
22 Oct 2025
On 20th Oct the Department for Education (with others) published this document outlining future skills policy and new V levels to sit alongside A levels and T Levels in key sectors such as engineering. The RACHP industry will need to consider what these changes mean for our work to promote skills and careers to ensure sufficient supply of well trained new entrants to our sector. IOR education committee members are digesting the content...
21 Oct 2025
The IOR’s RACHP EngTech Section innovative mobile technician’s app has over 200 subscribers!
6 Oct 2025
HSE is gathering information and evidence relating to the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 (PSSR) and whether their scope and application are still fit for purpose.