Trainee Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Engineer
Based from Stevenage
Learn a skilled trade with long-term career prospects.
Herts Cooling Ltd is looking for a Trainee Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Engineer to join our team.
This is a full apprenticeship, combining one day a week at college with practical, hands-on training alongside experienced engineers. No previous industry experience is required – we're looking for someone with the right attitude, a willingness to learn and an interest in building a long-term career.
Established in 1989, we're a family-run business specialising in commercial refrigeration and air conditioning throughout the hospitality sector. Our customers include Fuller, Smith & Turner, McMullen's and Samuel Smith's, and we maintain equipment in pubs, breweries, hotels and restaurants across the South of England.
What you'll be doing
From day one you'll be working alongside experienced engineers, learning how to service, maintain and repair equipment including:
- Cellar cooling systems
- Coldrooms
- Ice machines
- Refrigerated cabinets
- Split and small commercial air conditioning systems
As your confidence grows, you'll become more involved with servicing, fault finding and repairs before eventually managing your own work.
No two days are the same. One day you could be repairing an ice machine in a restaurant, the next servicing a cellar cooling system in a brewery or diagnosing a refrigeration fault in a hotel.
Training
You'll attend college one day a week (Stevenage or North West London) while working towards your Level 2 NVQ in Refrigeration & Air Conditioning.
Alongside college, you'll receive practical training from experienced engineers, with additional manufacturer training throughout your career as your skills develop.
Career Progression
With a 30+ year history of training apprentices, we see you as future engineers and are investing in the next generation for our industry.
Your salary will be reviewed every year based on your progress, qualifications and development.
A typical career path looks like this:
- Years 1-3 – Apprentice Engineer
- Years 4-5 – Junior Engineer
- After around five years – Fully qualified Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Engineer, typically earning around £40,000, plus overtime and performance-related bonus.
What we're looking for
Experience isn't essential - attitude is.
You'll need to be:
- 18 or over
- In possession of a full UK driving licence
- Reliable and punctual
- Practical and willing to learn
- Friendly and professional with customers
- A good problem solver
- Happy working as part of a team
- Someone who takes pride in doing a job properly
What you'll do
- Monday to Friday
- 42.5hours per week minimum
- Based from Stevenage, working all over the south east.
- College one day each week after completion of probation.
What we offer
- National Minimum Wage with annual pay reviews based on your progress
- Full apprenticeship and college support
- Company phone
- Uniform and specialist tools provided
- 28 days holiday including Bank Holidays
- Performance-related bonus
- Overtime opportunities
- Ongoing manufacturer and technical training
- A friendly, family-run business where you'll be supported by experienced engineers who want to help you succeed
Before You Apply
This isn't a standard 9-5 job.
Depending on demand you'll be up early, travelling to customer sites and working in all sorts of environments, including pubs, breweries, hotels, coldrooms and commercial kitchens. Some days you'll be working outdoors in the rain, others you'll spend the day fault finding or carrying out planned maintenance.
Summer is our busiest time of year, so there will be occasions when the days are longer and overtime is available. Winter is generally much steadier.
If you're practical, enjoy solving problems and want to learn a skilled trade with genuine long-term prospects, we'd love to hear from you.
Apply today or contact Daniel Workman for an informal chat about the role.
Pay: £24,000.00-£29,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
