There are numerous advantages to joining the IOR whatever type of job you are doing, whether this is a support role such as sales and HR or a technical role such as technician or design engineer. Member grades include:
- Affiliate for anyone working in non-technical roles
- Student and Young People for anyone new to the industry and graduates
- Associate for those on the first stage of management responsibilities
- Technician for those in service, maintenance and installation roles
- Member for those with significant management responsibilities and experience
All IOR members gain access to professional development opportunities and certification through our publications and events. They also receive regular newsletters and technical bulletins to keep them up to date.
Many of our members report that their careers have gone from strength to strength with the support of the development opportunities available from the IOR, so if you believe that you too would benefit (or if you work with an amazing female colleague and want to recommend them for membership) you can find out more about the various grades and the application process at https://www.ior.org.uk/membership.
To support this initiative and to encourage more people to get involved in the IOR in the lead up to World Refrigeration Day on 26th June, the IOR has reduced the cost of the first year of membership for new applicants - new members usually have to pay a joining fee on top of their first year’s membership subscription. IOR President Kevin Glass commented “We have a unique opportunity during the next few months to raise the profile of the Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heat Pump industries that the IOR represents. A core aim of the IOR is to promote the refrigeration in all its applications for the public good – encouraging RAC as a career for everyone is an essential part of that, so we are pleased to support both the Women in RACHPs 100 for 100 campaign and World Refrigeration Day.”
Discussing the network, Sam Buckell, chairperson of the Women in RACHP group said “100 years of the Women In Engineering Society this year gives the IOR the perfect platform to springboard our campaign ‘100 for 100’. I would be delighted for this campaign to start females in the industry thinking more seriously about becoming members of the IOR. We aim to have a 100 members by June – we are already halfway there! One thing I have experienced since being part of the Women in RACHP network is how our industry does work well in collaboration. I have now connected with people from all over the UK on the Women in RACHP initiatives that help the women in the IOR develop their careers and their hands-on technical knowledge. Although we all represent many different companies in this great industry, when we get together it doesn’t feel like that.”
The Women in RACHP has an exciting schedule of events coming up this year, including the first Women in RACHP networking lunch in Glasgow on 15 March organised by IOR Scotland and hosted by Kooltech, an event in the Midlands on 4 April and a Career Development Day hosted by Fujitsu on 21 June. All provide an ideal platform for local women working in the industry to meet and exchange ideas.
The IOR Women in RACHP welcomes both men and women to its network, and is open to anyone who wants to encourage and support diversity and promote careers in the sector.
To find out more about Women in RACHP, visit www.ior.org.uk/about/women-in-rachp.