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.