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Welcome to the 2023 Cooling Industry Awards, the biggest and most prestigious awards in the refrigeration and air conditioning sector. After 19 years, the awards continues on its mission to celebrate the progress of the industry. Our mission remains the same: to celebrate achievement on all fronts – innovation; environmental progress; best practice; and personal development.
These awards have won a reputation as the most sought-after industry accolades, thanks in no small part to our two-stage judging process, enabling entrants to tell judges all about their entries in person.
All finalists selected after the initial entry process will be invited to present to the judges, which this year will be via Zoom . This requires a major logistic exercise by RAC, involving 50 industry judges and over 100 presentations but we believe it is worth it, because it allows everyone to pitch what they believe are the important points of their entries, rather than simply relying on the judges’ interpretation.
Entry is free, so we encourage you to give it your best shot!
Andrew Gaved
Editor in Chief, RAC and H&V News
FINAL ENTRY DEADLINE: Friday 12 May
Air Conditioning Innovation of the Year
This award recognises the cutting-edge use of air conditioning technology, where the new technology provides a definitive change to existing techniques or equipment.
The judges will be looking for entries that make a contribution to environmentally friendlier cooling or heating, whether through reduced emissions, energy efficiency or improved performance.
Submissions can come from distributor, manufacturer or designer alike. Whilst this category still requires evidence to back-up claims, as it is for innovation judges will be weighing ‘pushing boundaries’ and innovation more heavily than volume production.
In 1,000 words or less, please tell the judges why your entry should win. Successful finalists will be invited to pitch to judges in the video face-to-face round at the end of July.
Qualifying period
Jan 2022-May 2023
Air Conditioning Product of the Year: Components or Peripherals
As we bid to put small-but-important products into the spotlight, entries are invited from companies that have launched a new air conditioning component, accessory or peripheral item into the market within the qualifying period. Submissions can come from distributor, manufacturer or designer alike.
The judges will be looking for entries that have made a substantial contribution to environmentally friendlier cooling, whether through reduced emissions, energy efficiency or improved performance. Data to back up claims is important.
In 1,000 words or less, please tell the judges why your entry should win. Successful finalists will be invited to pitch to judges in the video face-to-face round in July.
Qualifying period
Jan 2022-May 2023
Air Conditioning Product of the Year: System or Standalone
Entries are invited from companies that have launched a new air conditioning system or standalone unit into the market within the qualifying period. Submissions can come from distributor, manufacturer or designer alike.
The judges will be looking for entries that have made a substantial contribution to environmentally friendlier cooling, whether through reduced emissions, energy efficiency or improved performance. Data to back up claims is important.
In 1,000 words or less, please tell the judges why your entry should win. Successful finalists will be invited to pitch to judges in the video face-to-face round in July.
Qualifying period
Jan 2022-May 2023
Building Energy Project of the Year
The impact of air conditioning, heat pumps and controls on a building’s energy is a key area for the industry and this category is designed to reflect this importance. Nominations are invited for projects involving air conditioning, heat pumps or controls (or a combination of the three), where the end result has been a significant reduction in building energy.
The judges will be looking for solutions that push forward the boundaries, either through developments in conventional approaches or the use of novel methods or technology, but merit will be given to projects that seek an integrated approach. The award will go to the project team, including (where relevant) manufacturer, designer, consultant, client and contractors.
Data showing operational performance should be provided.
NB For installations, the project must be completed, and some tangible results produced.
In 1,000 words or less, please tell the judges why your entry should win. Successful finalists will be invited to pitch to judges in the video face-to-face round in July.
Qualifying period
Jan 2022-May 2023
Contractor of the Year
Contractors are the front line of the cooling industry and the standard of their work has a major influence on the success of an installation – and therefore on its environmental impact. This category rewards the firms that provide exemplary service and outstanding performance throughout the year and is open to all refrigeration and air conditioning contractors and installers, large or small. Smaller contractors who aim high are particularly encouraged to apply.
Judges will be looking at projects completed, along with the way the business is organised. Winners will be those who demonstrate excellence across their business, from installation to back office and who provide evidence, whether through data or testimonials - customer testimonial is particularly welcomed
In 1,000 words or less, please tell the judges why your entry should win. Successful finalists will be invited to pitch to judges in the video face-to-face round in July.
Qualifying period
Jan 2022-May 2023
Customer Initiative or Campaign of the Year
This category seeks to reward an initiative that has had an impact on the cooling industry in the qualifying period. It is designed to recognise the wide diversity of developments and innovations in the cooling industry that are not related to specific projects or product developments – such as in efficiency or environmental improvements; training; awareness raising and education: or marketing campaigns. We have called it ‘customer initiative or campaign’ so that it is open to the whole cooling supply chain, including wholesalers and distributors and end-users themselves.
In 1,000 words or less, please tell the judges why your entry should win. Successful finalists will be invited to pitch to judges in the face-to-face round in July.
Qualifying period
Jan 2022-May 2023
Diversity and Inclusion Award
The cooling industry is embracing the need to encourage women and ethnic minorities and this award seeks to recognise the progress being made on sites, offices and branches in improving inclusion in all its forms.
The Diversity and Inclusion Award is open to individuals who have made a particular impact in their organisations and to companies who have introduced initiatives that help promote the role of women or encourage diversity and inclusivity in other ways, such as ‘neurodiversity’ or thinking differently

Environmental Collaboration of the Year
This category has become increasingly important, as meeting tough environmental goals requires companies to share expertise and work together as a team across disciplines. This category will reward partnerships across the supply chain where collaboration has resulted in real innovation or outstanding projects.
In this category, judges will be looking for evidence of how bringing together different disciplines has created a successful outcome – demonstrating contributions beyond simple customer-client relationships.
In 1,000 words or less, please tell the judges why your entry should win. Please include names of all collaborating companies – a single company cannot win this category!
Successful finalists will be invited to pitch to judges in the video face-to-face round in July.
Qualifying period
Jan 2022-May 2023
Fred Jamieson Award
This award will be presented to the individual who is judged to have made a significant contribution to the refrigeration and air conditioning industry in the course of their career.
Presented in the memory of Ryan-Jayberg founder and chairman, Fred Jamieson, this award will go to the person who has been similarly influential with colleagues and customers alike.
The special judging panel will particularly be looking for candidates in all levels of the industry who embody some or all Fred’s characteristics: entrepreneurial flair, innovation, determination and passion for the industry and the people within it.
Please describe in 500-1000 words why your nominated candidate should win this category and please enclose a photo and supporting material, with testimonials if possible. Please do not simply attach the whole entry as a pdf!
Due to the nature of this category, there is no published shortlist and no face-to-face judging round – instead finalists will be contacted by the organisers

Heat Pump Project of the Year: Commercial
There has been a huge amount of attention paid to heat pumps recently as a key way to reduce carbon and thus to meet our Net Zero goals. As heat pump technology originated in the cooling industry and it depends on refrigerant, the Cooling Awards is looking to reward projects that make innovative, efficient or energy-saving use of heat pumps. In this category, we are particularly looking for demonstration of the skills of the cooling engineers, whether it is making use of heat recovery, using very low-GWP refrigerant, making good use of heat sources, or some other application of the technology.
As with the other project awards, the judges will be looking for solutions that push forward the boundaries, either through developments in conventional approaches or the use of novel methods or technology, but merit will be given to projects that seek an integrated approach. The award will go to the project team, including (where relevant) manufacturer, designer, consultant, client and contractors in a commercial or industrial setting.
Data showing operational performance should be provided.
NB For installations, the project must be completed, and some tangible results produced.
In 1,000 words or less, please tell the judges why your entry should win. Successful finalists will be invited to pitch to judges in the video face-to-face round in July.
Qualifying period
Jan 2022-May 2023

Heat Pump Project of the Year: Residential
There has been a huge amount of attention paid to heat pumps recently as a key way to reduce carbon and thus to meet our Net Zero goals. As heat pump technology originated in the cooling industry and it depends on refrigerant, the Cooling Awards is looking to reward projects that make innovative, efficient or energy-saving use of heat pumps. In this category, we are particularly looking for demonstration of the skills of the cooling engineers, whether it is making use of heat recovery, using very low-GWP refrigerant, making good use of heat sources, or some other application of the technology.
As with the other project awards, the judges will be looking for solutions that push forward the boundaries, either through developments in conventional approaches or the use of novel methods or technology, but merit will be given to projects that seek an integrated approach. The award will go to the project team, including (where relevant) manufacturer, designer, consultant, client and contractors in a residential application.
Data showing operational performance should be provided.
NB For installations, the project must be completed, and some tangible results produced.
In 1,000 words or less, please tell the judges why your entry should win. Successful finalists will be invited to pitch to judges in the video face-to-face round in July.
Qualifying period
Jan 2022-May 2023
Refrigeration Innovation of the Year
This award recognises cutting-edge systems, standalone products and components and processes in refrigeration, where the new technology provides a definitive change to existing techniques or equipment. Submissions can come from distributor, manufacturer or designer alike. Whilst this category still requires evidence to back-up claims, judges will be weighing ‘pushing boundaries’ and innovation more heavily than volume production.
In 1,000 words or less, please tell the judges why your entry should win. Successful finalists will be invited to pitch to judges in the video face-to-face round in July.
Qualifying period
Jan 2022-May 2023
Refrigeration Product of the Year - Components or Peripherals
As we bid to put small-but-important products into the spotlight, entries are invited from companies that have launched a new refrigeration component, accessory or peripheral item into the market within the qualifying period. Submissions can come from distributor, manufacturer or designer alike.
The judges will be looking for entries that have made a substantial contribution to environmentally friendlier refrigeration, whether through reduced emissions, energy efficiency or improved performance. Evidence to back up claims is important.
In 1,000 words or less, please tell the judges why your entry should win. Successful finalists will be invited to pitch to judges in the video face-to-face round in July.
Qualifying period
Jan 2022-May 2023
Refrigeration Product of the Year - System or Standalone
Entries are invited from companies that have launched a new refrigeration system or standalone product into the market within the qualifying period. Submissions can come from distributor, manufacturer or designer alike.
The judges will be looking for entries that have made a substantial contribution to environmentally friendlier refrigeration, whether through reduced emissions, energy efficiency or improved performance. Evidence to back up claims is important.
In 1,000 words or less, please tell the judges why your entry should win. Successful finalists will be invited to pitch to judges in the video face-to-face round in July.
Qualifying period
Jan 2022-May 2023

Retail Project of the Year
Entries are invited for retail refrigeration or air conditioning projects for which significant environmental advantages can be demonstrated in areas such as emissions reduction, cooling performance, energy efficiency, leak containment etc. This category is open to retail in its widest sense, so can include foodservice and shopping outlets alongside supermarkets.
The judges will be looking for solutions that push the boundaries, either through developments in conventional approaches or the use of novel methods or technology. The award will go to the project team, including (where relevant) designer, consultant, installation contractor and end-user.
NB For installations, the project must be completed, and some tangible results produced.
In 1,000 words or less, please tell the judges why your entry should win. Successful finalists will be invited to pitch to judges in the video face-to-face round in July.
Qualifying period
Jan 2022-May 2023

Small Company Achievement of the Year
The cooling industry is notable for the contribution of a large number of small companies, but because they are not able to shout as loudly as the bigger companies, they do not always get the credit they deserve.
This Award aims to change that, specifically highlighting the contribution of small companies – defined as those with under 50 employees. Companies will be judged on their achievements, not specifically on their size, but the additional challenges of ‘micro’ companies (under ten employees) will be factored in.
The terms of this category are broad and can be entered by companies in all parts of the supply chain, provided they meet the size criteria. Judges are looking for evidence of all or most of the following: best practice; notable achievements; new initiatives; collaboration and innovation.
Testimonials are always beneficial for this category from customers or collaborators.
In 1,000 words or less, please tell the judges why your entry should win. Successful finalists will be invited to pitch to judges in the video face-to-face round in July.
Qualifying period
Jan 2022-May 2023
RAC and IOR National Student of the Year 2023
The RAC and IOR National Student of the Year 2023 prize seeks to honour students and apprentices that are presently or have recently completed training to work across the RACHP sector in a range of roles.
Entrants are asked to fill in the application below and also provide a reference from trainers or employers where applicable.
Individuals shortlisted for this year’s prize will be asked to have a 15-minute online discussion with our judges to help give them a understanding about the candidate’s studies and their ambitions for working in the sector.
This year’s judging panel is led by Jacinta Caden of data centre specialist USystems. She will be joined on the panel by John Skelton of Marks and Spencer and IOR President Graeme Fox.