17 Oct 2018
Preparation for the last leg of the SkillFRIDGE competition has begun as the six qualifying apprentices from the national heats hone their skills and sharpen their knowledge in readiness to compete in the SkillFRIDGE final, taking place at WorldSkills UK LIVE.
Held at Birmingham’s NEC from 15-17 November, WorldSkills UK LIVE is the UK’s largest apprenticeships and careers event of which the RACHP sector, with its associated SkillFRIDGE competition, is just one part.
Vying to come away with the SkillFRIDGE gold medal are Chandler Davison and Kevin Ballantine, who are both training with Bath College and employed with Thermocold Ltd and TKB Air Conditioning, respectively; Sam Gills, who is employed and trained by Star Refrigeration; Refrigeration Lindum’s Thomas Thompson, who is studying at Grimsby Institute; Dominic Dray from Royale Refrigeration & Air Conditioning, training with Eastleigh College; and Dunbia Foods’ Edward Davis, who studies at Cardiff and Vale College.
Over the course of the three-day event, the apprentices will be tasked with the completion of a series of challenging assignments under test conditions, in a comprehensive examination of their overall knowledge, practical skills, and adherence to industry standards.
The gold, silver and bronze medallists will be announced at a ceremony on the final day of WorldSkills UK LIVE.
Those who score sufficiently highly in the SkillFRIDGE final will also be eligible to compete at a global level in the WorldSkills international competition, forming part of Squad UK and going head-to-head with the very best talent from a host of other countries across the world.
For more information on the SkillFRIDGE competition series, visit www.skillfridge.co.uk
2 Mar 2026
Members are invited to attend the launch of the IOR's Industry Skills Alliance. This event is open to individuals interested in shaping the future of the skills agenda for the RACHP sector. Find out more about the evet and the role of the Skills Alliance here.
3 Mar 2026
The Engineering and Building Services Skills Alliance (EBSSA) published recently their strategic Sector Skills Plan, as part of the work undertaken by the Construction Mission Skills Board.
2 Mar 2026
The paper for the IOR TechTalk on “Unscrambling the Refrigerant Clutter for the Future” on 5th March is now available. This is a great chance to hear the authors explore the topic in depth and put your questions to them.
26 Feb 2026
We're delighted to announce that the IOR Technician App has been shortlisted as a finalist for the ACR News Awards in the Training Initiative of the Year Category.
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.