Last week, the IOR outreach team had the privilege of attending the Harris Academy Orpington Careers Fair 2026, a  brilliantly organised event that brought together hundreds of students across Years 9 to 13, all eager to explore future pathways and understand the world of work.

Across four structured sessions, our team engaged with a diverse mix of learners — from early‑stage curiosity in Year 9 to the more focused, next‑step thinking of Year 12 and 13. What stood out throughout the day was the genuine interest students showed once they realised just how essential refrigeration, air‑conditioning, and heat pump technologies are to everyday life and to the UK’s future workforce needs.

Throughout the day, we focused on raising awareness of:

• The scale and importance of the RACHP sector, underpinning everything from hospitals and vaccines to supermarkets, data centres, transport, and net‑zero infrastructure.
• The breadth of career opportunities, including engineering, digital diagnostics, environmental technologies, sustainability roles, and technical apprenticeships.
• The future of the industry, with growing demand for skilled professionals as the UK transitions to low‑carbon, energy‑efficient cooling solutions.
• The pathways available, from post‑16 technical routes and apprenticeships to higher education and professional development through the IOR.

Students were particularly engaged when exploring real‑world examples — how cooling protects food security, how heat pumps support decarbonisation, how data centres rely on precision cooling, and how technicians and engineers are at the forefront of climate‑critical innovation.

Impact of the Day

The Careers Fair created a meaningful platform for early engagement, helping students:

• Connect STEM subjects to real‑world, high‑impact careers
• Understand the skills and behaviours employers value
• Explore industries they may never have previously considered
• Build confidence in asking questions and exploring future options

The enthusiasm, curiosity, and openness from students made the day genuinely rewarding. Many left with a new appreciation for the sector — and for the opportunities it offers for progression, purpose, and long‑term career growth.

A huge thank you to the staff team at Harris Academy Orpington for hosting such a purposeful and well‑coordinated event. The welcome, structure, and support throughout the day were exceptional, and the commitment to raising aspirations was clear in every session.

Events like this are vital in strengthening the talent pipeline for UK engineering and technical industries — and the IOR is proud to play its part.

The IOR outreach team remains committed to supporting schools, colleges, and community partners to increase visibility of the RACHP sector and inspire the next generation of engineers, technicians, and innovators.

If you are interested in collaborating on future outreach activity, the IOR be delighted to connect and please contact us here.