Apprentice Refrigeration Air Conditioning Engineer
S C HORSFIELD BUILDING SERVICES ENG S LTD
Preston (PR2 5AR)
Closes in 14 days (Friday 9 October 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 25 September 2026
Contents
Summary
Horsfield Air Conditioning is seeking an Apprentice Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Engineering Technician to join our Engineering team. Working alongside experienced engineers, you will develop the skills and knowledge required to install, service, maintain and repair commercial refrigeration and air conditioning systems.
- Wage
-
£16,640 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Refrigeration air conditioning and heat pump engineering technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday, 40 hours per week. Shifts to be confirmed.
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 19 October 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
As an apprentice you will gain hands-on experience across a variety of commercial environments, including hotels, supermarkets, retail premises, hospitality venues and industrial sites, whilst working towards the Level 3 Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Engineering Technician Apprenticeship.
Main Duties and Responsibilities The apprentice will support qualified engineers with:
- Installation of commercial air conditioning systems, including split and VRV (Variable Refrigerant Volume) multi-split systems
- Installation and commissioning of refrigeration equipment
- Installation, maintenance and repair of cellar cooling systems Installation and maintenance of commercial fridges, cold rooms and refrigerated storage equipment
- Assisting with planned preventative maintenance activities
- Diagnosing faults and carrying out repairs on refrigeration and air conditioning systems
- Replacing defective components and equipment
- Pipework installation, insulation and system pressure testing
- Assisting with refrigerant handling activities in accordance with current legislation and environmental requirements
- Supporting engineers with site surveys and project preparation
- Assisting with new commercial installation projects from initial set-up through to completion
- Maintaining accurate service reports, job sheets and installation documentation
- Ensuring that all work is completed safely and in accordance with company and industry standards
Working Environment
The apprentice will work on a wide range of customer sites, including:
- Hotels
- Supermarkets
- Retail premises
- Restaurants and hospitality venues
- Commercial offices
- Industrial facilities
The role involves travelling to customer sites and working both indoors and outdoors in varying conditions.
Where you'll work
Horsfield Place
Rough Hey Raod
Grimsargh
Preston
PR2 5AR
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
Desired Qualities We are looking for someone who is: * Enthusiastic and keen to learn. * Reliable and punctual. * Able to work effectively as part of a team. * Willing to travel to customer sites. * Safety conscious and committed to following procedures. * Able to communicate professionally with customers and colleagues.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4)
- Mathematics (grade 4)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Analytical skills
- Attention to detail
- Communication skills
- Customer care skills
- Initiative
- IT skills
- Logical
- Number skills
- Organisation skills
- Patience
- Physical fitness
- Problem solving skills
- Team working
Other requirements
Desired Qualities
We are looking for someone who is:
- Enthusiastic and keen to learn
- Reliable and punctual
- Able to work effectively as part of a team
- Willing to travel to customer sites
- Safety conscious and committed to following procedures
- Able to communicate professionally with customers and colleagues
About this employer
Building Services Engineers Ltd
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
Career Progression Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, the apprentice may progress into a fully qualified Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Engineering Technician role, with opportunities to further develop specialist technical skills and responsibilities within the business.
This role offers a fantastic opportunity to gain practical experience across commercial installations, maintenance and repair projects whilst building a long-term career within the refrigeration and air conditioning industry.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
TOTAL PEOPLE LIMITED
Jane Smith
janes@totalpeople.co.uk
0161 674 8158
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000055658.
Apply now
Closes in 14 days (Friday 9 October 2026 at 11:59pm)