Refrigeration Apprentice

Summary

We offer a wide range of services including break down repairs, maintenance plans, equipment sales and parts, installation and project work. Broad purpose of Refrigeration Engineer is to install, commission, maintain and repair commercial fridge equipment. This includes but not limited to, undercounter, freestanding and walk in fridge and freezers.

Wage

£15,704 to £25,396.80, depending on your age

National Minimum Wage

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course

Refrigeration air conditioning and heat pump engineering technician (level 3)

Hours

Monday-Friday, 40 hours a week with a paid 30 minute lunch. Company operating hours are 7am-5pm, company happy for flexible hours in those core times

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 8 September 2025

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

In your daily work, you will interact with venue personnel, such as chefs, catering managers, facilities managers, managers/owners and kitchen staff. Personnel from equipment manufacturers technical support services, and equipment and spares suppliers’ sales and technical staff. You may also liaise with Environmental Health Officers and other trades personnel, such as builders, electricians etc. Internally, you will interact with company management, office staff and other technicians.

Installations involve unpacking and in some cases assembling equipment, connecting in accordance with the equipment manufacturer’s instructions to suitable services (gas, electricity, water and drainage) and commissioning.
Where an installation involves the removal of equipment, engineers disconnect the redundant item, remove it to a safe area for disposal and make safe any services no longer required.
On maintenance visits, engineers visually inspect the equipment, check the services for any problems, carry out maintenance tasks as specified by the manufacturer, and test the equipment is functioning as designed.
On repair visits, engineers establish the problem from the customer, check the faulty item to confirm the problem, diagnose the fault, adjust or repair or replace faulty components, and test the equipment after repair to ensure that it is working correctly.
Engineers are qualified and registered with F-gas for the types of appliances they are working on and retain their competency.

Once qualified you will be responsible for planning your schedule and logistics to meet customers’ requirements and location. Reporting to the correct person in the customer’s premises and agreeing the purpose of their visit and managing customer expectations. At all times, presenting a professional image of the company. Engineers largely work on their own and unsupervised – self-managing, however occasionally on maintenance visits to larger kitchens, you may work alongside other Engineers or a Supervisor. You must ensure the quality and accuracy of work carried out, ensuring the health, safety and welfare of self and others - working in line with legislation. You will have the authority to determine action, including the disconnection or isolation of equipment. You will be responsible for ensuring that your tools and equipment are fit for purpose and that your work vehicle is roadworthy. You will also be responsible for maintaining a stock of spares to an agreed level.

Where you'll work

Unit 7 Pintail Business Park
165 Christchurch Road
Ringwood
BH25 3AL

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

CITY OF PORTSMOUTH COLLEGE

Your 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.

Your training plan

What attendance is required?

A thirty six month apprenticeship programme delivered on a day-release basis (one day per week) at City of Portsmouth College's North Harbour Campus in North Harbour, Portsmouth.

Following successful completion of the course and End Point Assessment you will achieve the Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Engineering Technician (Level 3) apprenticeship standard which includes a Level 2 NVQ Diploma in either Refrigeration or Air Conditioning, a level 3 Diploma in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning and an F-Gas Handling Fluorinated Gases and Ozone-Depleting Substances Category 1 certificate.

More training information

What does the RACHP programme include?

Key activities are: the design, installation, Service & maintenance, commission and de-commissioning of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heat Pump systems (RACHP). Technicians require a thorough competency in their understanding of the engineering principles of thermodynamics and the vapour compression cycle in order to perform operations.

Apprentices are expected to acquire the required transferrable knowledge, skills and behaviours identified in the RACHP Engineering Technician Standard and to provide evidence of their application in their specific work environment. This apprenticeship has been designed by industry representing a wide range of employers diverse in terms of size, location and type of work and supported by Professional Institutes and Trade associations.

During on-programme training apprentices must achieve the mandatory qualifications “F-Gas and ODS Regulations Category 1, a Level 2 NVQ or Diploma in RAC and a level 3 Diploma in RAC” as defined in the apprenticeship standard. The F Gas Certificate, Level 2 and Level 3 certificates must be submitted as part of the Gateway. All apprentices must complete an Apprentice Development Journal on-programme. This must be completed before the apprentice can pass through to the End-point Assessment at the Gateway stage and will be used to produce the Apprentice Development Journal synopsis which the apprentice will discuss about for a section of the End Point Assessment test.

This standard is designed to meet the professional standards of the Engineering Council for registration as an Engineering Technician (EngTech) in partnership with the Institute of Refrigeration and CIBSE.

Learning and assessment

Refrigeration Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Engineering Technician is a specialist occupation involved in planning, preparing and safely carrying out work activities in process, product and space cooling. Knowledge must be transferrable between any of the core activities of refrigeration, air conditioning or heat pumps.

Apprentices will spend typically 36 months on-programme working towards the apprenticeship standard, with a minimum of six hours a week off-the-job training.

First twenty-four months will be spent learning the basics of being a Refrigeration Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Engineering Technician. By the end of this the apprentice will have achieved the Level 2 NVQ that incorporates the F Gas and ODS Regulations Category 1, they must pass this to then progress onto the final twelve months which solidifies the Level 3 learning and ensures they can progress after the apprenticeship into more senior and supervisory roles once they have the relevant experience.

The End-point Assessment (EPA) will provide summative synoptic assessments to test apprentices against the full apprenticeship standard. Before accessing EPA they must pass through the Gateway stage at which evidence will have to be provided for each apprentice to confirm their readiness to progress to EPA.

At Gateway the employer confirms the apprentice has acquired the required knowledge, skills and behaviours to progress to EPA.

End-point Assessment (final 3-6 months) - apprenticeship results and grading is generated on aggregate of three assessment methods. Performance in the EPA will determine the apprenticeship grade of Distinction, Merit, Pass or Fail.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade 4/C/Functional Skills Level 2)
Maths (grade 4/C/Functional Skills Level 2)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Problem solving skills
Team working
Creative
Initiative
Patience

Other requirements

Apprentice will be required to work on site across the south. Driving licence and confident to drive a van (think Ford Transit). This role is subject to a successful DBS check.

About this company

Aperion Catering are a family run team of commercial catering engineers and equipment installers based in Ringwood, serving Bournemouth, Poole, Southampton, Eastleigh, Portsmouth, Weymouth, Basingstoke, Guildford, Salisbury, Reading, Dorchester, Chichester and surrounding areas. Our team of experienced professionals are fully qualified and complete any job with care and efficiency. Our team comprises of six office staff and eight engineers reporting to our two Managing Directors. We pride ourselves in being a close knit team who work together cohesively and support each other as we grow rapidly as a business. Our aim is to do the simple things well. We have recently completed a project with AFC Bournemouth to complete their new training ground facility. We worked with this project end to end starting with design and completing the installation. We work with many high profile local customers.

https://apeironcatering.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

Holiday entitlement is 25 days inclusive of bank holidays. Some work outside of 7am-5pm may be required but discussed in advance. Overtime is available paid at time and a half.

After this apprenticeship

Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, and subject to progress as an employee, the job role could lead onto a Refrigeration Engineer post. The company is growing rapidly and therefore, supervisory roles will be available in the future for the right candidate.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

CITY OF PORTSMOUTH COLLEGE

Heather Murray

heather.murray@copc.ac.uk

02394 211959

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000318976.

Apply now

Closes on Friday 8 August 2025

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