Education and careers initiatives

The Institute of Refrigeration takes a lead in supporting individual professional development, whether you are a technician, manager, researcher, consultant, designer or student.  We also support careers initiatives to encourage more people to join this growing and varied business sector.  

Quick links to find out more about careers in refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pumps

• Careers in Cooling - a video highlighting opportunities in the sector
• Fantastic Fridges site for school children - the IOR schools initiative with games and information about refrigeration science
• Careers YouTube Channel - interviews and videos of people working in the RACHP sector
• Find an apprenticeship - a searchable database of employers looking for apprentices (provided by Dept for Education on gov.uk)
• Find a training centre - a searchable database of national specialist RACHP training centres (provided by ACRIB)

Quick links for anyone wanting to talk to schools about RACHP careers

• Ideas for working with schools (IOR free Guidance note)
• How to become recognised as a STEM Ambassador (IOR free Guidance note)
• More about the STEM programme (IOR free Guidance note)
• Using the IOR Fantastic Fridges website with schools (IOR free Guidance note)
• Careers in Cooling with the IOR  youtube video

Quick links for employers 

• Apprenticeship Trailblazers - more about the new RACHP Engineering Technician Apprenticeship 
• Find a training provider near you - a searchable database of training providers from ACRIB the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry Board
• SKILLCard - the registration scheme for refrigerant handlers
• Presidents' fund for education - supporting initiatives to raise the profile of the sector 
• IOR Skills Specification for Technicians  - use this specification to help check skills levels and identify training needs
• IOR Skills Specification for Design Engineers use this specification to help check skills levels and identify training needs

Quick links for anyone currently working in the sector

• E-learning - sign up to one of the IOR's free e-learning programmes
• REAL Zero and REAL Skills - tools and resources to reduce leakage
• REAL Alternatives - learn about low GWP refrigerants
• Find a training course - a searchable database of training providers from ACRIB the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry Board
• Recommended textbooks, webinar library and guidance notes - useful reference guides on RACHP theory
• SKILLCard - the registration scheme for refrigerant handlers
• SkillFRIDGE competitions - the practical skills competition for young engineers