The first session – on service and maintenance – consisted of practical exercises for non-engineers, presented by Fujitsu’s trainers, Martin Ives and James Richardson. The morning clearly showed that there was a good range of technical awareness among those in the room, and it was good to share knowledge and experiences.

Advanced Engineering’s Richard Davies led an informative session on the various chemicals used by engineers on site. It highlighted how and why they are used, and what they accomplish. It brought home the vital importance of servicing air conditioning units and condensers, illustrated with some horror stories about the kind of dirt and contamination that can build up if a system is neglected.

The personal development session in the afternoon, led by Lisa Walker from White Apple Thinking, was entitled Get Clear, Get Confident, providing a masterclass in achieving focus and staying motivated.

The value and importance of these events was highlighted by the comments and feedback from organisers and attendees. Samantha Buckell of Bitzer UK and chair of the Women in RACHP organising committee, said: “For me, it underlines the importance of meeting colleagues from across the industry, to compare notes on our roles and learn more about what other companies do. It is always fascinating and useful.

“There are not many opportunities for females – particular in non-technical roles – to do this. The Women in RACHP group provides such a focus, and we are planning to make more opportunities like this available in the near future.”