WAVE Supports Industry Skills Development at IOR Skills Alliance
5th August 2026
Mark Williams M.Inst.R, Gary Ernest M.Inst.R, Sam Parris F.Inst.R and Connor Wilcox from WAVE enjoyed a very worthwhile day at the IOR Skills Alliance on the 2nd July in Sheffield. It was privilege to be in a room with our peers and people who genuinely care about the future of our industry.
Joining employers, educators and industry representatives from across the RACHP sector to discuss one of the industry’s most pressing challenges: attracting, developing and retaining the skilled workforce needed for the future.
The event brought together organisations with a shared ambition to strengthen career pathways into refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pumps, creating an opportunity to exchange ideas and contribute to initiatives that will help shape the next generation of engineers.
One of the key highlights of the day was the unveiling of the new careers roadmap developed by the NOCN Group.
The roadmap was presented to the working groups for review, with attendees invited to provide feedback and identify opportunities for further development.
The aim is to create a practical resource that clearly maps the many routes into the RACHP profession, helping students, apprentices and career changers better understand the opportunities available within the industry.
The meeting also explored a wide range of topics affecting skills development, including STEM Ambassador engagement, T Levels, apprenticeship funding, competence assessments, professional qualifications and the ongoing need to upskill the existing workforce.
Discussions reinforced the importance of supporting today’s engineers to ensure their knowledge and experience can be passed on to future generations.
Funding for apprenticeships remained a significant topic of conversation, particularly among SMEs. Many attendees shared similar experiences of navigating complex funding processes and highlighted the administrative challenges that can discourage employers from investing in apprenticeships, despite their willingness to do so.
Another area of concern was the availability of dedicated RACHP training at colleges across the UK.
Although demand for skilled engineers continues to grow, many employers reported difficulties finding suitable local training provision. The cancellation of specialist courses due to low enrolment was recognised as a challenge for the industry, emphasising the need to raise awareness of refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pumps as rewarding and technically diverse career choices.
While much of the discussion centred on field engineering and technician shortages, WAVE was pleased to contribute to conversations around another important skills gap: the development of competent design engineers.
As buildings become more complex and legislation continues to evolve, the industry also requires engineers with the technical knowledge to design safe, efficient and compliant refrigeration and HVAC systems.
WAVE believes that investing in future talent is a responsibility shared by everyone in the industry. Although securing external funding is not always straightforward, the company remains committed to developing new engineers.
This year, WAVE chose to self-fund a placement for Mechanical Engineering student Connor Wilcox, providing valuable industry experience and supporting his journey into the RACHP sector.
Connor shared his own experiences during the event, highlighting the need for refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump engineering to have a stronger presence within university engineering degree programmes. The sector offers highly skilled, technically challenging and rewarding careers, yet it often remains overlooked by students considering engineering professions.
Perhaps the most encouraging outcome from the meeting was the collaborative spirit across the industry. it was great to see so many companies and individuals working together on the same challenge: building stronger career pathways and supporting more people into our industry.
Progress made since previous Skills Alliance meetings demonstrated that ideas are being translated into meaningful action, with organisations working together to improve education, training and career opportunities throughout the sector.
WAVE would like to thank the Institute of Refrigeration, the IOR Skills Alliance, NOCN Group and all of the speakers and contributors for organising such a valuable event.
We look forward to continuing to support initiatives that help build stronger career pathways and ensure the RACHP industry has the skilled workforce it needs for the future.
