STATE OF THE INDUSTRY
presumably there will be, in general, fewer new EU workers attracted to coming to the UK. “Unfortunately, companies will not invest sufficiently in staff training initiatives and apprenticeships unless there are financial incentives,” says Mr Manning. “This is very short- sighted and every company has a duty of care to put something back into our industry to build a strong platform for the future.”
“There’s a lack of sponsored schemes from end-users to develop people in the industry,” adds Mr Marriott. “As the rate of growth has slowed over the previous years, a lack of emphasis has been on training and unfortunately it’s not a tap that is easy to turn back on again with any great speed.
“We need partnerships with end-users with longer contracts to ensure confidence and commitment to the industry. Cooperative apprenticeship schemes would also be a good start to show commitment.”
“This is a very hot topic right now and with the growth of flammable refrigerants in use, very much in the ascendency,” says Mr Fox. “Although many of the new gases with lower GWP in use for medium temperature applications are classed as mildly flammable and are very hard to ignite,
nevertheless they are still classed as flammable by the HSE.
“Contractors need to ensure that their technician engineers have had some additional training on handling flammables as a duty of care matter. The F-Gas review left it hanging with a need to have ‘knowledge of the alternatives’ to high GWP gases, but the existing qualification levels were to be left alone without re-training required, which does leave a skills gap that needs addressing.”
“We have been working through ACRIB to help develop and deliver suitable top up training courses for working with flammables that will hopefully remove some of the confusion in industry and assist the rapid roll out of lower GWP gases that is needed to meet our F-Gas phase- down and Montreal Protocol obligations. “Some publicity from Government for the sector would not only help raise awareness of the need for using a properly registered company for all their refrigeration works, but would also raise awareness of the sector at school level, where tomorrow’s engineers will be coming from essentially. With a refrigeration and air conditioning qualification under your belt, the world really is open to people nowadays.”
“There are countless opportunities for people who have the right attitude, and have a strong work ethic,” adds Mr Manning, “but we must raise the awareness of the rich variety of roles there are available within the industry and ensure there are adequate training modules available for every skill, to ensure the industry continues to grow with the right calibre of people.”
There is much happening in the industry at the moment, and there are a lot of barriers to overcome, but the acr industry is a strong one, populated by highly skilled and passionate people. Commenting on the industry’s strength, Mr Fox commends its “ability to adapt and evolve while driving the positive changes that everyone benefits from. Energy efficiency, clean energy, the ability to get life-saving drugs to remote areas and in hostile conditions – none of this would be possible without the refrigeration sector. We touch on so many aspects of modern living that most people don’t even realise we are there, keeping it all working.”
Mr Manning concludes: “It is much bigger, more demanding and cut throat than when I first started 45 years ago and it has its ups and downs, but I wouldn’t do anything else.”
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