26 Feb 2024
The IOR's Annual Dinner, held in London on 22 February, served as a stage for President Graeme Fox to highlight the Institute's forward-thinking initiatives in shaping the future of the RACHP sector. He highlighted the work that the IOR is leading to support emerging talent entering the industry and to encourage commitment to environmental goals.
Winners of the various industry student and trainee awards were invited to take part in the dinner as guests of the IOR and joined a networking session with industry leaders to help them establish connections within the RACHP sector as they embark on their professional journey. Graeme Fox highlighted the work the Institute has been doing to promote careers in the industry to young people including the Fantastic Fridges website which now boasts a new section for post GCSE students and apprentices, as well as the Fantastic Fridges STEM Tool kit, a resource packed with activities and games to support members during their talks to schools and career fairs.
The newly launched IOR Masterclasses also got a mention - these free online webinars support colleges and students (or anyone wishing to refresh their knowledge) with live online educational sessions across a range of subjects from pressure enthalpy charts to heat pump technology.
He also paid tribute to members actively involved in promoting the sector to young people from STEM Ambassadors to female members who have taken part in the IOR-funded STEMAZING training programme. While stressing that still more needs to be done to attract and retain new talent, he said “We have 20 members who are already STEM ambassadors. So, we encourage you to sign up, to go out there are start promoting our industry - if you aren’t already.”
Progress in addressing environmental issues also featured in the speech with the launch of a new IOR “Beyond Refrigeration Environmental Award” for emissions reduction achievements which went to Sustain for its work on recycling circular economy in the cooling industry. Additionally, Graeme Fox mentioned the Global Cooling Pledge which the IOR has signed up to this year, and the net zero research project the Institute is part of which covers emissions reduction in the transport, industrial and commercial refrigeration sectors (TICR) and will produce valuable technical guidance for end users to help them understand and reduce emissions.
Closing the evening, he underlined the importance of pursuing these challenges to prepare the RACHP industry for the future saying “please continue to support your Institute as we strive to meet that challenge and contribute towards developing and delivering a fit for purpose training landscape, to turn out competent refrigeration engineers and more future leaders just like the ones we have met this evening.”
For further information, see the pages on the IOR's educational and environmental pages.
29 Oct 2025
At the IOR Annual General Meeting held on 29 October 2025, election results were announced. Stephen Gill FInstR was voted President-Elect, and Stephen Benton FInstR together with David Bostock FInstR were elected as Trustees to the IOR Board.
28 Oct 2025
The IOR and the ACES have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen collaboration and promote the exchange of ideas and expertise during the Clean Cooling Network Conference on the Sustainable Cold Chain for the Global South, taking place at the University of Birmingham from 28–29 October 2029.
22 Oct 2025
On 20th Oct the Department for Education (with others) published this document outlining future skills policy and new V levels to sit alongside A levels and T Levels in key sectors such as engineering. The RACHP industry will need to consider what these changes mean for our work to promote skills and careers to ensure sufficient supply of well trained new entrants to our sector. IOR education committee members are digesting the content...
21 Oct 2025
The IOR’s RACHP EngTech Section innovative mobile technician’s app has over 200 subscribers!
6 Oct 2025
HSE is gathering information and evidence relating to the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 (PSSR) and whether their scope and application are still fit for purpose.