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

Luke Haile wins WorldSkills UK Gold

UK: Multi-award-winning apprentice Luke Haile was today confirmed as the WorldSkills UK Gold Medal winner in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning.

The online ceremony hosted by journalist and TV presenter Steph McGovern also saw Silver go to  Scott Ballantyne of Glasgow Kelvin College and AE Refrigeration and Bronze awarded to Todd Montague of Bath College and VIVO Defence Services.

Luke Haile joined Eastleigh College in September 2019, where he enrolled on a full Diploma in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, comprising of Levels 1, 2 and 3. His studies completed, he was rewarded last month by being appointed a junior technician with his employer Lightfoot Defence.

No stranger to awards, Haile was previously National Student of the Year at the Cooling Industry Awards in 2020 and Trainee of the Year in the ACR News Awards in 2021. 

More than 500 young students and apprentices took part in this year’s WorldSkills UK finals in over 60 disciplines held at seven venues across the UK.

Related stories:

Six through to Worldskills UK final – 8 July 2022
UK: Six of the best refrigeration and air conditioning apprentices from across the UK have made it through to the WorldskillsUK 2022 National Finals in November. Read more…

Latest News

13th October 2026

Security firm warns on refrigeration asset security

USA: Following Sunday night’s cyberattack on French supermarkets, security company Claroty has warned food retailers that they should not assume that their refrigeration controllers are isolated and secure.
12th October 2026

Danfoss moves to mitigate cyberattack

FRANCE: Danfoss has said it is in close contact with supermarket customers in France affected by a cyberattack on Sunday night on its refrigeration controllers.
12th October 2026

Bitzer debuts screw compressor for data centre cooling

GERMANY: Bitzer is to launch a new screw compressor specifically developed for data centre cooling at the Chillventa exhibition, which begins tomorrow.
12th October 2026

Call for action on incorrect heat pump insulation

UK: Industry groups are backing calls for a crackdown on incorrectly specified and installed thermal insulation on heat pumps.
12th October 2026

French supermarkets hit by massive cyberattack

FRANCE: Cyberattackers are reported to have taken control of the refrigeration systems in hundreds of supermarkets in France, changing temperature settings and defrosting produce.
11th October 2026

Carrier cooler protects building workers

JAPAN: Construction workers building Tokyo’s Torch Tower, Japan’s tallest building, are being kept cool thanks to a temporary cooling system jointly developed by Carrier Japan.