-
Technical
Throughout 2021 meetings took place with employers and specialist trainers, with support from the Institute of Refrigeration and City & Guilds, to review the RACHP "Trailblazer" apprenticeship originally developed by an employers’ group in 2021-2015 and approved for delivery in 2015. In 2021 the first successful new Apprenticeships have been awarded.
The Occupation Standard and Assessment Plan below will set the requirements for government-funded Apprenticeships at Level 3 and are aligned to the Engineering Council requirements for Engineering Technician. The documents follow the mandatory requirements of Government funded Apprenticeship programmes. The review has identified some areas for amendment to ensure that the apprenticeships continue to meet employer needs, are practical to deliver and provide a consistently high standard of assessment across centres.
Input is now sought from a wider group of employers of apprentices on the proposed changes as part of industry consultation. The documents showing proposed changes are available for download from these links. The deadline for the consultation is 15th December 2021.
- Comment Form - summary of proposed changes
- Apprentice Standard - showing marked up proposed changes
- Assessment Plan - showing marked up proposed changes
If sufficient support for changes is received by employers these changes will be proposed to the approvals body The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education and in due course the changes will be introduced to training centres and assessment bodies.
For more background on the Apprenticeship please see https://ior.org.uk/careers/apprenticeship-trailblazers
We also expect to hold a webinar later in the year to review the proposed changes and industry feedback.
Recent posts
IOR Industry Skills Alliance: meeting fully booked
2 Mar 2026
Fully Booked - wait list open. The launch of the IOR's Industry Skills Alliance for individuals interested in shaping the future of the skills agenda for the RACHP sector. Find out more about the event and the role of the Skills Alliance here.
Live event
Members invited to feedback on update and review of IOR Constitution
24 Feb 2026
A review of the IOR Constitution has been carried out to ensure it complies with current Charity Commission guidance and improve the wording for clarity. Open for consultation and comment by members until 30th April 2026.
Consultation
Skills Alliance Event Fully Booked - But Still Many Ways to Join In
23 Mar 2026
The IOR Skills Alliance's first meeting in Milton Keynes is at capacity, but there are still many ways to take part in the alliance's work.
Education
IOR Board of Trustees Members Honoured at the ACR Awards
23 Mar 2026
Congratulations to Steve Benton FInstR and Craig Girdlestone FInstR for this well‑deserved recognition for their dedicated, often behind‑the‑scenes contributions to the industry.
News
Recording Now Available for March IOR TechTalk
9 Mar 2026
The recording for the IOR TechTalk on “Unscrambling the Refrigerant Clutter for the Future” on 5th March is now available from the IOR Webinar Channel.
RecordingSitemap
