Hiya Loyal Readers,

This month, we bring to you a blog from Matt at the IOR, the Institute of Refrigeration’s Education and Outreach Manager. Here, he highlights the importance of Careers Week and how it can help raise awareness of our industry among young people. An industry, where I think it is fair to say, that a few of us ‘fell into’.

It is beneficial to sit and read, in one place, some facts about the refrigeration industry and some challenges that are often discussed about the future, but I think they are upon us already.  Some more clarity on issues that you may be vaguely aware of already.  While also highlighting the continued need for STEM collaborations.

I say ‘Our Issues’ because Matt very clearly highlights areas that need all of our attention.  Some with urgency too.

Thank you to Matt for the contribution and I look forward to working with colleagues from across the industry to realise a strong future for all of us.

National Careers Week 2026 — Refrigeration & Cooling: The Career Pathway the UK Can’t Ignore

National Careers Week is an opportunity to widen young people’s understanding of the careers available to them. For many students, engineering already feels like a broad and sometimes abstract idea. What they often do not see are the industries behind the technology that shapes everyday life.

Refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump engineering is a good example. It is a sector that quietly underpins modern society, yet it rarely appears on the radar of students considering their future.

At a recent STEM engagement event attended by the Institute of Refrigeration’s Education and Outreach Manager, students were eager to talk about science, technology and engineering careers. But only a handful had come across refrigeration engineering before. Once the conversation turned to what the industry actually does and the range of careers within it, interest grew quickly. It was a reminder that awareness, more than anything else, is often the missing piece.

The Cooling Systems Behind Everyday Life

Cooling technologies are woven into the fabric of modern life. They keep food safe from production through to retail. They protect medicines and vaccines. They maintain stable environments in hospitals, laboratories and data centres. They regulate temperatures in workplaces, schools and homes.

Without these systems, much of the infrastructure we rely on would simply not function.

At the same time, the role of the sector is expanding. As the UK moves towards net zero, refrigeration and heat pump technologies are becoming central to low carbon heating and cooling strategies. Engineers working in this field are directly involved in improving energy efficiency, reducing emissions and supporting the transition to more sustainable systems.

Despite its importance, the sector continues to face a challenge that is common across many technical industries. Demand for skilled people is rising faster than the workforce is growing.

Growing Demand, Limited Awareness

Recent workforce research from the Institute of Refrigeration highlights a clear trend. Nearly three quarters of employers expect the demand for engineers and technicians to increase over the next two to three years. Yet more than half say they are already struggling to recruit for technical roles.

Part of this reflects demographic change. A significant proportion of experienced engineers are approaching retirement age, while the number of mid career technicians is relatively small. This creates pressure for businesses that need experienced professionals to train and mentor new entrants.

Employers also highlight skills gaps in areas such as natural refrigerants, advanced controls, system integration and practical system design. These are areas that require both technical training and real world experience.

The opportunities for new entrants are significant, but many potential recruits simply do not realise the sector exists.

Careers Across a Diverse Industry

One of the misconceptions about refrigeration engineering is that it is a single type of job. In reality, it is an industry with a wide range of roles and career paths.

Many professionals begin as refrigeration or HVAC technicians, installing and maintaining systems in commercial buildings, supermarkets, industrial sites and transport refrigeration units. Salaries typically range from around £25,000 to £45,000 depending on experience, with opportunities to progress as skills develop.

Commissioning and service engineers work on more complex systems, ensuring equipment is installed correctly, operating efficiently and meeting performance standards. With experience and additional specialisms, earnings in these roles often reach £45,000 to £60,000 or more.

Beyond field engineering, the sector includes many other specialist roles.

Controls engineers work with smart building technologies and digital management systems that optimise energy use. Design and project engineers develop cooling systems for new buildings and industrial processes. Technical consultants and sales engineers work closely with clients to design solutions and guide major projects.

There is also a growing need for professionals focused on sustainability and regulatory compliance as refrigerant technology and environmental standards continue to evolve.

Together, these roles form a diverse professional landscape that combines practical engineering, design, digital technology and environmental expertise.

Routes Into the Sector

The refrigeration and cooling industry offers several entry routes, allowing people with different interests and strengths to find their place.

Apprenticeships remain one of the most established pathways. They allow individuals to earn while training, combining practical workplace experience with formal qualifications. The Level 3 Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Engineering Technician apprenticeship is a common starting point, providing a strong technical foundation for long term career development.

Further education colleges across the UK also offer courses in building services engineering and HVACR. These programmes provide core knowledge and can lead directly into apprenticeships or higher technical study.

Newer technical qualifications such as engineering related T Levels are beginning to provide another option, combining classroom learning with extended industry placements.

For those interested in design, research or analytical roles, university degrees and higher technical qualifications in areas such as mechanical engineering, energy systems and sustainable technologies can provide a route into more specialised positions.

Strengthening the Link Between Education and Industry

If the sector is to attract the next generation of engineers, awareness needs to improve. Many students simply never encounter refrigeration engineering as a career option during their time at school.

Industry engagement can make a real difference. Through the Institute of Refrigeration’s network of STEM Ambassadors, professionals from across the sector visit schools and colleges to talk about their work, demonstrate technologies and explain the pathways available.

These interactions help bring engineering careers into sharper focus for students who may never have considered them.

Colleges and training providers also play a crucial role by developing programmes aligned with industry needs and maintaining strong partnerships with employers.

Employers themselves remain central to the process. Recruiting apprentices, offering placements and participating in outreach activities all help create a clearer pathway from education into employment.

A Career Sector for the Future

The transition to net zero, the expansion of heat pump technologies and the increasing demand for sustainable cooling systems are reshaping the engineering landscape.

Refrigeration and cooling professionals will be at the centre of that change. Their work supports food security, public health, energy efficiency and the safe operation of critical infrastructure.

For students considering their future, it is a sector that offers stability, variety and the chance to work on technologies that matter.

National Careers Week is a timely moment to bring those opportunities into the spotlight and ensure that more young people discover a career path that, until now, many have simply never been shown.