15 April 2026
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Graeme Fox CEng, Technical Director at Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers Society (RACES), discusses how, although RACES may only be a few months old, it is already changing how the sector operates and supports its trainers.
RACES have teamed up to help distribute over 50 Air to Water heat pump units completely free of charge to our network of training centres and colleges – thanks to a kind donation by Dimplex.
A 4kW and a 6kW heat pump system are currently being arranged for delivery to each of our very grateful trainers around the country and we look forward to helping roll out training on these systems with our trainers in due course.
This support for the training sector is just a small part of what makes RACES unique: our approach is to represent the grass roots of the industry – the tens of thousands who have never felt represented despite being the heart of everything our sector is about. The passion and dedication being demonstrated by some of our volunteers has been breathtaking: Derbyshire Refrigeration coordinating some amazing monthly prizes – awarded by a random draw of our membership list every month; Mark Denford and Dean Wheldale coordinating our Training team and Technical teams respectively; Lilly Richardson pulling everything together; and our Managing Director Michael Smart getting out and proactively visiting sponsors and colleges alike – it’s a new approach with several names not well known yet in the sector, but rapidly becoming the new faces of a new approach to serving the industry better and driving our sector forwards with meaningful impact.
With big sponsorship news to be announced in April alongside our current sponsors, RACES is already established and making waves.
First in-person event
With our first in-person event already planned and rapidly approaching this also promises to change the way our sector works. Hosting an evening of technical talks and networking at Lincoln City FC on April 1st we have pulled together sponsors to give practical talks rather then usual sales slanted talks at industry events and have laid on food and drinks for registered attendees at this free to attend event. There are still some free places left but you need to register at www.races.org.uk/ races-events-and-training-opportunities to book your place.
Technical presentations from Yellow Jacket, Green Point, Logicool Air Conditioning, Daikin, DSU, and TF Solutions alongside The F-Gas Register and Derbyshire Refrigeration it really promises to be an exciting evening – and our plan is to repeat this type of event around the country to give all of our members the opportunity to attend an event, network, meet your peers, and learn from experts.
Membership
With membership at only £65 plus VAT giving you free access to an incredible peer reviewed technical library and including technical and service manuals for dozens of manufacturers already, inclusion in the monthly prize draws, and access to subsidised or free training courses – the only question for those who haven’t already joined is “why are you not supporting this revolution in our industry?”
Registration is free to apprentices – ask your college lecturer to get you registered.
RACES was formed because hundreds of RACHP engineers had complained for years that they “had no representation, nobody looking out for their interests” and we are setting out to deliver on that demand. The more engineers register with us, the better we can represent the sector meaningfully.
