NEWS
IOR names Co-Chairs for new Industry Skills Alliance
T
he Institute of Refrigeration (IOR) has appointed Andrew Bowden and Mark Harris as co-Chairs of its new Industry Skills Alliance, and confi rmed that the group’s fi rst meeting will take place on 28 April 2026 at Bitzer UK in Milton Keynes. The event is free to attend and open to anyone in the sector. The Alliance has been set up to bring
employers, training providers and industry bodies together to tackle long-term skills needs across refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pumps. The fi rst meeting will outline the Alliance’s purpose, how organisations can get involved, and the outcomes it aims to deliver. Attendees will hear short talks and take part in breakout discussions on topics such as talent pipelines, qualifi cations and employer engagement. Bowden said he plans to use his experience on the IOR Education Committee to help guide the Alliance’s direction and support stronger collaboration across the sector. He described the role as a chance to unite partners, strengthen shared standards and support long-term industry resilience.
Harris said his focus will be on ensuring
training refl ects real employer needs, drawing on his background as both a refrigeration engineer and college lecturer. He highlighted the importance of employer partnerships, school engagement and clear entry routes that help more young people join the profession. The meeting will also provide updates on
current IOR education and skills initiatives, including STEM programmes aimed at inspiring future engineers. The Alliance is expected to become a central forum for aligning training with employer needs, infl uencing qualifi cation design and sharing labour market insight to support future planning. Registration for the launch event is available at
https://ior.org.uk/events/ISA-Apr26. Those unable to attend can register for updates at
https://bit.ly/4aY3qN5.
“Bowden said he plans to use his experience on the IOR Education Committee to help guide the Alliance’s direction and support stronger collaboration across the sector. He described the role as a chance to unite partners, strengthen shared standards and support long-term industry resilience.”
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www.acr-news.com • April 2026 11
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