World News

Industry news and insights from Europe and around the World

UK News

Latest news and developments in the United Kingdom

Products

Keep up-to-date with the latest new products and technology

Features

General articles, applications and industry analysis

Funding increase for RACHP apprenticeship

UK: The government funding cap for the RACHP EngTech Apprenticeship has been increased up to £18,000 (Band 12) with an additional £2,000 funding for younger or disadvantaged apprentices.

The announcement by the Institute of Refrigeration follows a review prompted by the Employer Group and evidence from colleges of anticipated delivery costs. The new rate is effective immediately and includes any registrations from 1st May 2017. 

The Trailblazer RACHP Apprenticeship is Level 3 occupation so there is no Level 2 Apprenticeship available in the new scheme. Employers who only want their trainees to gain basic theory knowledge can still enrol on Level 2 qualifications instead but will not be entitled to claim government funding for this training after April 2018.

Automatic registration is now available through the City & Guilds website for City centres that currently deliver Level 3 qualifications. Information and documents about the apprenticeship package is available from City & Guilds website. This includes 6090 Diploma handbooks, assessment materials and sample tests for the on-programme qualifications. 

Work is reported to be continuing on the end point exam theory test questions and practical test guidance as well as the candidate work evidence gathering templates (Apprentice Development Journal). The IoR says detail are expected to be available at the end of June. In the meantime the RACHP Apprenticeship Assessment Plan gives an outline of how the Apprenticeship works.

A searchable list of Trailblazer apprenticeship training providers has been added to the ACRIB website.

Latest News

23rd June 2026

Enex signs €35.5m ESG-linked refinancing facility

ITALY: Enex Technologies, the Treviso-based industrial and commercial cooling equipment manufacturer, has signed a €35.5m ESG-linked refinancing agreement.
23rd June 2026

Rainer Grosse-Kracht named EPEE president

BELGIUM: Rainer Grosse-Kracht, chief technology officer at compressor manufacturer Bitzer, has been named as president of the European Partnership for Energy and the Environment (EPEE).
22nd June 2026

Green group calls for end to subsidies for EVs using R1234yf

GERMANY: The influential German environmental aid association Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) is calling on the German government to end subsidies for electric cars with R1234yf refrigerants in their AC systems.
22nd June 2026

Daikin agrees $8.5m penalty over hazardous PTAC

USA: Daikin has agreed to pay an $8.5m civil penalty for failing to immediately report that one of its US-made Amana packaged terminal air conditioners could overheat.
21st June 2026

Korea project to improve refrigerant management

KOREA: The Korean Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment and the Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute has announced an initiative to improve the country's HFC refrigerant management.
21st June 2026

Ammonia leak kills 7 and sends 70 to hospital

INDIA: Seven people are reported to have died and over 70 hospitalised following an ammonia gas leak at a seafood factory in Tamil Nadu.