Industrial Cooling Equipment Ltd is proud to announce that two of our rising stars, Luc Dwyer and Samuel Jones, took home top honours at the ACR & Heat Pump Trainee of the Year Awards 2025 in Leeds. With three categories up for grabs: Refrigeration Trainee of the Year, Air Conditioning Trainee of the Year, and Trainee Sales & Support, ICE securing two out of the three awards is a remarkable achievement and a testament to the strength of our apprenticeship programme.

The ceremony, held at the Leeds Marriott Hotel, brought together the most talented young engineers from across the UK.

Air Conditioning Trainee of the Year – Luc Dwyer

Luc has undergone an incredible journey during his apprenticeship. After initially spending time in service, he moved into installations where his development accelerated rapidly. His confidence, capability and the standard of his work have all grown significantly, leading him to take charge of complex installations, including high-profile projects such as a new MRI facility.

Clients and colleagues alike consistently describe Luc as professional, hardworking and dedicated. His growth has been nothing short of impressive, and this award is a clear reflection of that.

Speaking about his win, Luc said:
“I’m incredibly proud to be named Apprentice of the Year in air conditioning. This achievement reflects countless hours of learning, persistence, and dedication. It proves that hard work, commitment, and believing in the process truly pay off. I’m grateful for the support that helped me reach this milestone.”

Refrigeration Trainee of the Year – Samuel Jones

Sam’s award comes less than a week after achieving silver at the WorldSkills UK National Finals, an achievement many felt deserved gold. In only three years at ICE, he has progressed to become one of our lead installation engineers, carrying out complex refrigeration work as well as air conditioning and ventilation projects to an exceptional standard.

Sam’s passion for the trade is evident in everything he does. He studies in his own time, invests in his tools, and constantly seeks ways to improve. His calm, mature approach on site, combined with outstanding technical ability, has earned him a reputation as a highly dependable engineer and a pleasure for customers to work with.

Reflecting on his award, Sam told us:
“I’m really made up to receive this award for the hard work I’ve put in during my apprenticeship. I’m grateful the judges have recognised my efforts, and I couldn’t have achieved it without the guidance and support of my dedicated mentors.”

A Reflection of Our Apprenticeship Programme

The UK is facing a significant shortage of skilled engineers. Refrigeration and cooling are critical sectors, yet they often don’t receive the recognition they deserve. The work is technical, essential and secure — and the industry continues to grow rapidly.

Many engineers specialise in one area, which can limit them. Air conditioning specialists often struggle with refrigeration, and refrigeration engineers can find air conditioning challenging. At ICE, the nature of our work means we need engineers who can do it all, and do it to the highest standard.

Five years ago, we made the decision to heavily invest in developing our own engineers. Today, over half of our engineering team began their careers as ICE apprentices. Many have progressed into senior roles, mentoring the newest recruits. Even our Managing Director began as an apprentice here, highlighting the opportunities available for those willing to work for them.

Our apprentices start by shadowing both installation and service engineers, giving them a full understanding of the business before deciding where they excel. Alongside practical work, they attend college one week a month, progressing from NVQ Level 2 to Level 3, a level of training we believe is essential. We recruit for attitude and work ethic above all else, because skills can always be taught.

By investing in young, local talent, we’re strengthening our workforce, supporting our community and developing engineers who understand exactly how ICE operates. Luc and Sam are outstanding examples of what this approach can achieve.

Thinking About an Apprenticeship?

If you’re considering a career in refrigeration, air conditioning or cooling, and want to join a company that invests in your development from day one, we’d love to hear from you. Apply here and get on the shortlist for our next intake.