Entries are now open for the WorldSkills refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump (RACHP) category – a practical skills competition designed to celebrate and showcase emerging technical talent. Engineers aged 16 and above are now being invited to put their skills to the test and could ultimately win a place on the UK team that will compete at the 2028 international Skills Olympics in Japan.
Set up over 60 years ago to help young people develop through competitions-based training, assessment, and benchmarking to support economic growth and create employment opportunities, WorldSkills involves more than 80 countries and is a partnership between the education sector, businesses, and governments.
BESA is an organising partner of the WorldSkills UK competition and the Association’s head of competence Stuart Rattray comments: “RACHP has extraordinary potential and future growth prospects which we need to celebrate and promote. WorldSkills UK is a chance for our best and brightest to show off their own talent, but they will also be demonstrating what makes this industry so dynamic and important including our vital role in key economic growth areas like healthcare, data centres, food safety and heat pumps.”
The competition is suitable for students studying towards a Level 3 or equivalent apprenticeship or who have qualified within the last 12 months. They must also have no more than three years industry experience, excluding apprenticeship duration, and must hold (or be due to hold before June 23) an F‑Gas Category 1 certification.
Competitors are invited to complete an online one hour entry stage test focused on core knowledge before progressing to Regional Qualifiers at the InstallerSHOW in Birmingham this June. Six will then be chosen to take part in a series of hands-on tasks at the National Finals held over three days in Wales during November.
BESA provides a range of tests, designed by industry experts, involving fault‑finding, fabrication, refrigerant handling and assembling high‑quality system components. Clear guidance, structured tasks and pre competition resources support all learning styles, including neurodivergent entrants, and financial support is provided to ensure people from all backgrounds can access the competition.
Entrants will have to demonstrate their skills and knowledge through tasks inspired by real life industry scenarios. They will be tested on fault finding/diagnosis, fabrication, service, maintenance, and record keeping as well as their ability to charge equipment and recover refrigerants in line with environmental legislation.
“This an amazing opportunity for people in our industry to demonstrate their talent in an international competition in front of an expert group of judges,” adds Rattray. “However, it does more than showcase and develop talent, the competition also helps to raise the profile of the sector, identify skills gaps in specific areas and can make great strides towards addressing those gaps thanks to its close links with government.”
For more information about the competition and to enter now visit BESA’s WorldSkills Competition page
