Shaping the Future Skills Pipeline

The refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump sector is facing a critical skills challenge. An ageing workforce, persistent recruitment difficulties and a fragmented training landscape are placing real pressure on businesses and long-term sector sustainability.

The Industry Skills Alliance has been created to change this. It will bring together employers, education providers and professional bodies to shape skills, qualifications and career pathways that genuinely meet sector needs.

This launch event marks the starting point. It is designed as a working session where attendees will help define priorities, agree actions and commit to practical steps that strengthen the future workforce.

Event details at a glance

Date: 28 April 2026
Time: 09:30 – 14:30 (including lunch, networking and site tour)
Location: Hosted at BITZER UK, Third Avenue, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, MK1 1DR

Why attend

This event is for employers, educators and industry stakeholders who want to be part of the solution rather than reacting to skills shortages as they arise.

By attending, you will:

• Understand the real scale of current and future skills gaps using sector data and employer insight

• Help shape how apprenticeships, T Levels and qualifications evolve

• Contribute directly to a shared, industry-led 12-month action plan

• Build relationships with peers, providers and decision-makers

• Leave with clarity on how your organisation can get involved and make an impact

This is not a passive briefing. The outcomes of the day will inform the Alliance’s priorities, influence activity and future engagement with education and policy bodies.

High-level agenda

Arrival, registration and networking
The morning begins with informal networking over tea and coffee, alongside headline workforce data and insights from recent industry surveys. This sets a shared evidence-based context for the day.

Welcome and why the Skills Alliance matters now
The President of the Institute of Refrigeration will outline why action is needed now, the risks of inaction, and why industry leadership on skills is essential.

Introducing the Industry Skills Alliance
The ISA Co-Chairs will explain the purpose of the Alliance, how it will operate, and how employers and partners can engage in a meaningful and practical way.

Industry perspective on skills gaps
A guest speaker will share the commercial and operational impact of skills shortages, bringing the issue into sharp focus through real business experience.

Refreshment break and networking
An opportunity to continue conversations and connect with others facing similar challenges.

Current IOR initiatives and opportunities
An overview of existing activity, including STEM engagement, early years projects and T Level delivery, and how the Skills Alliance can help scale and strengthen this work.

Breakout sessions: shaping the next 12 months
Attendees will take part in focused group discussions covering talent pipeline development, apprenticeships and T Levels, qualifications, employer engagement and defining success. Each group will identify clear priorities and actions with named ownership.

Report back and shared agreement
Groups feed back key outcomes, helping to build a collective view of what success looks like and where effort should be focused first.

Commitment and close
The session concludes with clear calls to action, confirmation of next steps and how attendees can formally engage with the Skills Alliance.

Lunch, networking and Bitzer UK tour
Time to continue discussions, build partnerships and take part in a guided tour of the Bitzer UK facility.

What you will gain

You will leave with a clearer understanding of where the sector is heading on skills, how decisions are being shaped, and where your organisation can contribute. More importantly, you will have helped influence a shared plan that aims to improve recruitment, training and retention across the industry.

This event is ideal for employers of all sizes, training providers, educators, membership organisations and anyone with a stake in developing the next generation of RACHP professionals.

Terms and conditions

By booking to attend this event, you agree to the IOR Terms and Conditions. The terms and conditions can be viewed here