23 March 2026
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The Institute of Refrigeration (IOR) has announced a major step forward in the development of its new Industry Skills Alliance, confirming that Andrew Bowden FInstR and Mark Harris MInstR have been appointed as Co-Chairs and that the Alliance’s inaugural meeting will take place on 28 April 2026 at Bitzer UK in Milton Keynes.
This free meeting, open to IOR members and non-members, will include a series of talks outlining the alliance’s purpose and strategic objectives, and will be complemented by structured breakout sessions focused on topics including talent acquisition, qualifications, and employer engagement. These discussions will encourage the exchange of ideas and play a central role in shaping the alliance’s future direction.
Andrew and Mark's appointment marks a significant milestone in the IOR’s work to bring industry and training partners together to address long term skills challenges across the refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump sector.
Speaking about his new role, Andrew said: “As Co-Chair, I am committed to helping steer the direction for the Industry Skills Alliance with clarity and collaboration. As a serving member of the IOR Education Committee, I intend to leverage both positions to ensure the Industry Skills Alliance remains a powerful catalyst for progress across the industry as a strategic education, training and skills forum. This role is an opportunity to help unite partners, strengthen shared standards, and drive meaningful innovation—supporting not only the success of the initiative itself, but the long-term growth and resilience of our entire sector.”
Focus of the first meeting
The 28 April meeting will introduce the purpose and structure of the Industry Skills Alliance and outline how members and the wider sector can participate. A key aim is to establish a set of measurable outcomes that will guide the Alliance’s work, particularly in areas such as employer engagement, Alliance growth, and strengthening apprenticeship and T Level pathways.
The group’s initial priorities include:
• Strengthening apprenticeship and T Level pathways
• Influencing qualification design
• Expanding STEM and early engagement initiatives, including the LEGO project
• Increasing the number of young people entering and joining the profession
• Growing employer and student IOR membership
Reflecting on these objectives, Mark Harris added: “Through the Institute of Refrigeration Industry Skills Alliance and drawing on 32 years as a refrigeration engineer before becoming a college lecturer, I want us to align education with real employer needs: whether at Level 2, Level 3 and T-Level Growth, apprenticeships, quality, and shaping future standards and pathways. I’ll contribute by strengthening employer partnerships, expanding engagement with schools, leading national outreach and careers programmes, and opening entry routes that bring new entrants into the sector. Together we can grow learner numbers and engagement and build a reliable pipeline of skilled, work ready technicians.”
IOR’s ongoing commitment to skills and education
In addition to hearing about the latest news on the IOR Industry Skills Alliance and taking part in interactive breakout group discussions, participants will receive updates on current IOR initiatives supporting education and skills development, including STEM engagement programmes designed to inspire the next generation of engineers.
The Industry Skills Alliance is designed to align training provision with the needs of employers across the sector and to act as the industry’s authoritative voice to awarding bodies, government, and policy stakeholders. Alongside its focus on increasing skills and supporting providers, the Alliance will also serve as a valuable mechanism for encouraging investment in training and engagement between employers and trainers. It will become a central platform for sharing labour market intelligence, helping to inform future skills planning across the industry.
Registration for the Industry Skills Alliance Launch event is available at https://ior.org.uk/events/ISA-Apr26
If you are unable to attend the meeting, but are still interested in getting news about the skills alliance, register your interest at https://bit.ly/4aY3qN5
