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

Starring role for young engineers

UK: Two Star Refrigeration engineers have had their career stories featured in a new campaign to encourage more young people to consider technical careers.

Sam Gills and Tom Woolston, who both completed apprenticeships with Star, were selected to tell young people aged 11-16 about their fulfilling and enjoyable careers as refrigeration and heating technicians. 

Their stories have been featured in the Gatsby Foundation’s campaign, Technicians: We Make the Difference, to help raise awareness of technician careers and the various routes into them.

Sam Gills, who described his involvement in the campaign as “a great experience”, said: “Doing an apprenticeship as a technician is a fantastic opportunity for young people because it allows you to earn a salary while gaining valuable experience and working towards a qualification.

“Industrial refrigeration is a great trade to work in,” he added.

Research by Gatsby shows that while parents are becoming more supportive of technical education routes and qualifications, such as T-Levels, 40% still do not understand what a technician is. Furthermore, two thirds say their child has expressed an interest in a future career that they know very little about.

“Together with Gatsby, we want to help parents and young people learn more about technician careers options and routes available,” explained Star’s head of marketing Astrid Prado. 

Founded in 1967 by David Sainsbury, the Gatsby Foundation also launched Technicians: The David Sainsbury Gallery at the London Science Museum on November 3.

Star Refrigeration offers young people apprenticeships in refrigeration engineering to support them on their journey to becoming a technician. The company employs over 100refrigeration and heating technicians across 11 UK locations and provides technical apprenticeships and fast-track opportunities for young people.

Visit the website to read Tom Woolston and Sam Gills‘ stories. Information on Star’s career opportunities can be found here.

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.