The Institute of Refrigeration launched its plans for the IOR Industry Skills Alliance at its Annual Dinner on 12 February 2026. This new strategic education and skills forum is designed to align training provision with the needs of employers across the sector and to act as the industry’s authoritative voice to awarding bodies, government, and policy stakeholders. Alongside its focus on increasing skills and supporting providers, the Alliance will also serve as a valuable mechanism for encouraging investment in training and engagement between employers and trainers. It will become a central platform for sharing labour market intelligence, helping to inform future skills planning across the industry. 

The Alliance will organise quarterly meetings, alternating between strategic discussions, working groups, and networking sessions. 

The IOR is inviting employers, apprenticeship and training providers, awarding bodies and careers professionals who want to help advance skills, education, and career development across the sector to get involved. The Alliance will be organised by IOR Education Outreach Project Manager Matt Harvey, who is already in conversation with the IOR Education Committee, the BRA Training Section and BESA education specialists to coordinate work across the section and encourage their involvement in the Alliance. Early discussions within the Alliance will explore topics identified from the recent IOR survey on skills for the future - such as apprenticeship quality, skills shortages, recruiting and developing trainers and career pathways, with the aim of codeveloping solutions, sharing best practice, and coordinating national initiatives. 

If you are interested in joining the IOR Industry Skills Alliance, please click here.