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

Former plasterer is top fridge apprentice

John Thompson was named as Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Apprentice of the Year at last week’s BESA conference

UK: A former plasterer who took the decision to switch professions has been named Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Apprentice of the Year by contractors’ body BESA.

John Thompson, an apprentice at Turner (Dundee) Ltd, worked as a time-served plasterer for 15 years before taking the decision to retrain as a refrigeration engineer.

As part of his apprenticeship John gained an SVQ in Install, Commission and Maintain Refrigeration Systems at Glasgow Kelvin College. The College’s former apprentice of the year, he also won the Bronze medal in the national SkillFridge competition 2016.

John Thompson won through to the London final after winning BESA’a Scottish regional heat in the summer. He is seen here with SQA qualifications manager Diane Wilson

John received his award during the Association’s awards dinner, which took place following the Building and Engineering Services Association’s national conference in London last week. He reached this year’s final by winning the regional heat of BESA’s Scotland Training Awards.

More than 20 BESA Awards for excellence were presented at the awards dinner, including the national apprentice of the year accolade, which went to Lewis Buchanan of Hargreaves Ductwork.

Latest News

11th March 2026

Carrier completes DOE challenge

USA: Carrier reports that its 15-ton rooftop heat pump unit has passed testing in the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Commercial Building HVAC Technology Challenge.
11th March 2026

Criminal swoop uncovers 398t of F-gas

NETHERLANDS: A 12-month worldwide operation targeting organised crime networks involved in waste and pollution crime has uncovered 398 tonnes of fluorinated greenhouse gases.
11th March 2026

Carel’s 2025 revenues reach €629m

ITALY: Carel, the HVACR controls manufacturer, has reported consolidated revenues in 2025 of €629m, an increase of 8.7% compared to 2024.
11th March 2026

METUS CEO Kuntz to retire

Mark Kuntz (left) is set to retire, being replaced by Andrew Kelso (right) USA: Mark Kuntz, the CEO of the Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US joint venture (METUS) since its…
11th March 2026

Commission backs electricity tax reduction

BELGIUM: The European Heat Pump Association (EHPA) has applauded the European Commission’s recommendation for member states to reduce electricity taxation. The Citizens’ Energy Package unveiled by the Commission, yesterday, aims to…
10th March 2026

US HVAC sales down 5.9%

USA: Sales by US HVAC distributors were down 5.9% in January, compared to last year.