Dave Marwaha receives IOR Northern lifetime achievement award
UK – KGM Refrigeration managing director Dave Marwaha received the IOR Northern Region Branch Lifetime Achievement Award at its 2026 annual dinner at the Hilton Newcastle Gateshead on 3 September, recognising a refrigeration career spanning more than six decades.
The evening also recognised emerging talent across the RACHP sector, with Jacob Keenleyside of Nationwide Heating & Cooling named the branch’s Apprentice of the Year. Nathan McNiven of Up North Group was runner-up, with Kieron Alpin of ADS AirCon taking third place.
More than six decades in refrigeration
Marwaha began his refrigeration career in 1962 with J&E Hall in Dartford.
He moved to the company’s Leeds operation in 1972 before later transferring to Tyneside. In 1984, he established KGM Refrigeration.
The Gateshead-based company specialises in industrial refrigeration, including compressor racks, condensing units and custom chillers.
The Lifetime Achievement Award was sponsored by Daikin Applied Service.
Apprentice of the Year
Jacob Keenleyside, of Nationwide Heating & Cooling in Cramlington, was named the Northern Region Apprentice of the Year.
The award recognised his development since joining the industry in 2022 and his progression to working independently on complex air conditioning and refrigeration systems.
Nathan McNiven, of Up North Group in Gateshead, was named runner-up, while Kieron Alpin, of ADS AirCon in Wallsend, took third place.
The apprentice awards were sponsored by Education Partnership North East, which also supported apprentices attending the dinner.
Building the RACHP skills pipeline
The IOR also highlighted its work to attract more people into refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump careers through its Industry Skills Alliance and STEM Ambassador activity.
The programmes support industry professionals engaging with schools and promoting technical careers across the RACHP sector.
An auction during the dinner also raised funds towards the Institute’s education initiatives.
