Apprentice Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Engineer (Transport Refrigeration)
PETIT FORESTIER UK LIMITED
Bristol, Dartford, Warrington, Warwickshire
Closes in 21 days (Friday 7 August 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 16 July 2026
Contents
Summary
An apprenticeship offering skills to install and repair a range of mobile and rental refrigeration equipment. You will be working with highly skilled engineers helping to keep critical refrigeration systems operating. This will include travel to and from refrigeration systems, routine maintenance, breakdown response and subsequent repair.
- Wage
-
£16,640 to £26,436.80, depending on your age
National Minimum Wage
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
On completion of the apprenticeship qualified engineer’s rates will apply.
- Training course
- Refrigeration air conditioning and heat pump engineering technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
Typically Monday to Friday but some overtime and weekend work may be required. Exact shifts to be confirmed.
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Tuesday 1 September 2026
- Duration
-
3 years
- Positions available
-
4
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
- You will be working with highly skilled engineers helping to keep critical refrigeration systems operating
- This will include travel to and from the refrigeration systems, their routine maintenance, break-down response and subsequent repair
- Throughout your apprenticeship you will gain skills in mechanical engineering, electrical and electronic control systems as well and diesel engine technology
- You will gain an F.Gas award along your apprenticeship journey, allowing you to work with environmentally sensitive refrigerants
Where you'll work
You can select which locations you want to apply for in your application on Find an apprenticeship.
This apprenticeship is available in these locations:
- Unit 16, Humber Way, Bristol, BS11 8AE
- Crossways Point 15, Victory Way, Crossways Business Park, Dartford, DA2 6DT
- 38-39 Hardwick Grange, Woolston, Warrington, WA1 4RF
- Birch Coppice, Dordon, Warwickshire, B78 1SZ
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
THE CITY OF LIVERPOOL COLLEGE
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
- Refrigeration air conditioning and heat pump engineering technician Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard
- All apprentices will attend The City of Liverpool College on a block release programme for 3 years
- On completion of your programme you will receive a Level 3 award in Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Technologies, and your F.Gas qualification
- Apprentices without Maths and English will attend Level 2 Functional Skills alongside their apprenticeship programme
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 5 or Above)
- Maths (grade 5 or Above)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- IT skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Problem solving skills
- Team working
- Motivated
About this employer
As a family business founded in France in 1907, Petit Forestier’s refrigeration know-how is second to none on the market. The company is backed by a vast fleet for hire: 62,000 refrigerated vehicles, 47,500 display chillers and freezers and 4,200 refrigerated containers, and is served by a large branch network that covers 22 countries in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the United States. Petit Forestier relies on this coverage to serve over 15,000 customers, always focused on delivering quality and excellent service.
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
- Once qualified, apprentices will be employed by the company in the role of fully qualified engineers
- There will be opportunities for all employees to progress their studies following completion of the apprenticeship
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
THE CITY OF LIVERPOOL COLLEGE
Emma Langshaw
apprenticeships@liv-coll.ac.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000043289.
Apply now
Closes in 21 days (Friday 7 August 2026 at 11:59pm)