A Year for Connection, Cooperation and Bold Steps Forward

IOR President Lisa-Jayne Cook FInstR reflects on the power of working together

As I begin to settle into my term as President of the Institute of Refrigeration, I’m thrilled to focus on a theme that, I hope, will guide us throughout the year: collaboration.

The RACHP industry doesn’t work in isolation - it’s deeply intertwined with the worlds of sustainability, engineering, and public wellbeing. That’s why it’s vital for the Institute to have a seat at the table with fellow engineering organisations. I’ve already had the privilege of seeing this in action at the recent Presidents’ Breakfast Meeting in London with ASHRAE, IMechE, and CIBSE. It was inspiring to witness leaders from across our field coming together, sharing ideas, and focusing on how we can support each other and create meaningful change.

This collaborative spirit is also at the heart of the Institute’s recent strategic priorities review. Members from our technical, education, environment, service, international, membership, and publications groups came together in November to identify the key issues our industry must address. The consensus was clear: education and skills are the unifying priority for the refrigeration, air conditioning, and heat pump (RACHP) industry. This focus builds on the momentum of the past two years, with achievements such as the launch of new STEM toolkits, the expansion of our educational website, and the award-winning Masterclasses for apprentices.

This renewed emphasis on education isn’t just about equipping our workforce with the skills to meet today’s demands, it’s about preparing for the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow. As John Skelton FInstR, Chair of the Educational Committee, rightly pointed out, “The IOR needs to continue to show leadership.......ensuring the right training for the right role, and the right skills for the future.”

To advance this critical priority, the IOR is initiating a project to map out gaps in training provision, qualifications, and skills. This will involve close collaboration with training providers, employers, and other industry bodies, with the goal of producing a white paper to guide discussions with Government and training organisations. Already, members across the education, technical, and environment sectors are stepping up to shape this work. If you’d like to contribute your expertise and help influence the future positively, I’d love to hear from you.

As we embark on this exciting journey, I’m incredibly optimistic about what we can achieve together. This is a year for connection, cooperation, and bold steps forward. Let’s make it a success—together.

Editor: Miriam Rodway