Today, the IOR continues to spotlight urgent challenges facing the Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heat Pump (RACHP) industry, including skills shortages, a growing workforce gap, and persistent underrepresentation of women in the sector.

NOCN Group is proud to be working alongside the IOR to develop clear career roadmaps that strengthen progression pathways and long-term workforce sustainability across this important sector.

To help address these challenges, the IOR has launched the IOR Industry Skills Alliance – a new partnership-driven initiative that unites education providers, employers and industry bodies behind a common goal. The Alliance, of which NOCN Group is part, aims to address the skills gap and ageing workforce by developing skills and pathways that support long-term workforce readiness, while ensuring training and qualifications remain relevant, accessible and aligned with industry needs. Through quarterly meetings, the Industry Skills Alliance will also act as a collective, authoritative voice to awarding bodies, government and policymakers.

Last week, colleagues from NOCN Group attended the Industry Skills Alliance launch event, including Tyron Wain, Business Development Manager, Kris Dean, Product Development Manager and Darren Reski, Senior Product Developer. Our attendance reflects our long-standing commitment to supporting high-quality skills development and progression pathways across technical and vocational sectors.

During the event, Tyron delivered a presentation on reforms across the skills landscape and announced the creation of new, clear and cohesive career roadmaps, being developed in partnership with the IOR. These roadmaps will provide employers, training providers and individuals with greater clarity on qualifications, progression routes and career opportunities within the RACHP sector. This work represents a significant step forward in strengthening workforce planning and supporting long-term sustainability across the industry.

As members of the Industry Skills Alliance, we will lead the Skills Alliance Working Group 3, which focuses on aligning courses and continuing professional development (CPD) with employer needs. Our involvement will include supporting structured employer feedback, contributing to improved training provision and helping to develop updated qualifications and recommendations that strengthen skills pathways and career progression.

Commenting on the partnership, Lisa-Jayne Cook FInstR, President of the Institute of Refrigeration and only the second female President in the organisation’s 126-year history, said:

“We’re delighted that NOCN Group is developing new career roadmaps in partnership with the IOR. This initiative will give employers, training providers, and professionals across the industry a clear and comprehensive overview of the qualifications and pathways available. The sector has been calling for this level of clarity, and we’re pleased that the IOR, working alongside NOCN, is able to deliver it.”

Tyron Wain, Business Development Manager at NOCN Group, added:

“The launch of the IOR Industry Skills Alliance is an important step in tackling the skills gap in RACHP. By having industry at the heart of this group, it ensures that the next generation of workers have future-fit skills solutions to excel in the sector. NOCN Group is proud and excited to be a key part of this process, supporting industry and educators to teach the future RACHP workforce.”

Our next Skills Alliance meeting is on the 2nd of July at the Mercure Hotel in Sheffield, hosted by NOCN Group. We welcome educators, industry, colleges and training providers to join us. Click here to find out more and reserve your place.