Refrigeration Apprentice
COOLKIT LTD
Blackburn (BB1 3HJ)
Closes in 22 days (Tuesday 30 June 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 8 June 2026
Contents
Summary
CoolKit is a UK leader in refrigerated vehicles. This 3-year apprenticeship trains you as a Refrigeration Engineer, combining hands-on experience with formal learning. You’ll support installation, servicing and repairs, follow safety procedures, and develop technical skills while completing your level 3 qualification.
- Wage
-
Competitive
Competitive wage offered
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
- Profit Sharing Scheme
- Competitive hourly rate
- Training course
- Refrigeration air conditioning and heat pump engineering technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
To be determined upon training schedule.
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Tuesday 1 September 2026
- Duration
-
3 years
- Positions available
-
1
Work
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you'll do at work
- Supporting engineers with the inspection, servicing and basic fault diagnosis of refrigeration systems
- Assisting with the repair and replacement of components such as compressors, condensers and evaporators
- Learning how to recharge systems and work safely with refrigerants in line with regulations
- Helping with the installation and commissioning of refrigeration systems within vehicles and bespoke builds
- Accurately recording maintenance, inspections and repair activities
- Following all health & safety procedures and developing safe working practices
- Supporting stock management and learning how to identify and order parts
- Working collaboratively with engineers and wider teams to support efficient operations
- Communicating clearly with colleagues and building confidence in technical discussions
- Actively completing all elements of the apprenticeship programme, including training, assessments and portfolio work
Where you'll work
Thornley Avenue
Blackburn
BB1 3HJ
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
TOTAL PEOPLE LIMITED
Training course
Refrigeration air conditioning and heat pump engineering technician (level 3)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Comply with health and safety, regulations and standards. Apply safe systems of work, including carrying out a risk assessment.
- Comply with environmental and sustainability regulations and standards for example prevention of refrigerant emissions, segregate resources for reuse and, recycling and disposal of waste.
- Position, fix, joint and test, pipework and electrical circuits.
- Test, charge with refrigerant and commission vapour compression systems.
- Test and commission electrical and electronic control systems applicable to vapour compression systems.
- Interpret information and data from log books and diagrams.
- perform servicing, maintenance, fault diagnosis and rectification procedures and techniques on vapour compression systems including routine and reactive maintenance, installation of components and safe electrical isolation of supply.
- Perform routine service, maintenance, fault diagnosis and rectification procedures and techniques on electrical and electrical control systems applicable to vapour compression systems including carrying out safe isolation procedures.
- Decommission vapour compression systems, safe recovery and disposal of equipment, hazardous waste refrigerant transfer.
- Decommission electrical and electronic systems applicable to vapour compression systems.
- Adjust vapour compression system operating parameters to achieve reductions in carbon emissions.
- Maximise performance of vapour compression systems by determining heating and cooling loads and selecting and balancing components and systems.
- Retrofit and retro fill existing equipment to lower GWP refrigerants.
- Mitigate risks of refrigerants including environmental, toxicity and flammability hazards.
- Identify and use tools and equipment.
- Communicate with others verbally and in writing.
- Complete a customer handover.
- Work collaboratively with clients or stakeholders to solve problems.
- Apply project leadership techniques and principles.
- Use information and digital technology and comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations.
- Apply ethical principles.
- Comply with health and safety, regulations and standards. Apply safe systems of work, including carrying out a risk assessment.
- Comply with environmental and sustainability regulations and standards for example prevention of refrigerant emissions, segregate resources for reuse and, recycling and disposal of waste.
- Position, fix, joint and test, pipework and electrical circuits.
- Test, charge with refrigerant and commission vapour compression systems.
- Test and commission electrical and electronic control systems applicable to vapour compression systems.
- Interpret information and data from log books and diagrams.
- perform servicing, maintenance, fault diagnosis and rectification procedures and techniques on vapour compression systems including routine and reactive maintenance, installation of components and safe electrical isolation of supply.
- Perform routine service, maintenance, fault diagnosis and rectification procedures and techniques on electrical and electrical control systems applicable to vapour compression systems including carrying out safe isolation procedures.
- Decommission vapour compression systems, safe recovery and disposal of equipment, hazardous waste refrigerant transfer.
- Decommission electrical and electronic systems applicable to vapour compression systems.
- Adjust vapour compression system operating parameters to achieve reductions in carbon emissions.
- Maximise performance of vapour compression systems by determining heating and cooling loads and selecting and balancing components and systems.
- Retrofit and retro fill existing equipment to lower GWP refrigerants.
- Mitigate risks of refrigerants including environmental, toxicity and flammability hazards.
- Identify and use tools and equipment.
- Communicate with others verbally and in writing.
- Complete a customer handover.
- Work collaboratively with clients or stakeholders to solve problems.
- Apply project leadership techniques and principles.
- Use information and digital technology and comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations.
- Apply ethical principles.
Training schedule
This role is based in Blackburn, Lancashire (BB1 3HJ). Block release training will take place in Wythenshawe, Manchester (M22 9UH). Candidates must be able to reliably commute to both locations as required.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4)
- Maths (grade 4)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- IT skills
- Organisation skills
- Problem solving skills
- Number skills
- Team working
Other requirements
- Strong commitment to health and safety
- Good time management skills
About this employer
Established in 2005, CoolKit is a leading designer and manufacturer of temperature-controlled and refrigerated light commercial vehicles. With in-house production, multiple OEM accreditations, and award-winning innovation, we are committed to delivering high-quality, safe and environmentally responsible solutions seen on high streets across the UK.
https://www.coolkit.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
- Life Assurance
- Critical Illness Cover
- EV Salary Exchange Scheme
- Health & Wellbeing Support
- Training and Development Opportunities
After this apprenticeship
Upon completion of this course, apprentices' can then continue their engineering journey to become full refrigeration engineers, technical experts within the team, leadership opportunities, or transfer to a mobile refrigeration engineer supporting our customers across the UK.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
TOTAL PEOPLE LIMITED
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000035660.
Apply now
Closes in 22 days (Tuesday 30 June 2026 at 11:59pm)