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Apprentice Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineer
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Start your career with MGI as an Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineer.
Gain hands-on experience installing, servicing and maintaining AC and refrigeration systems alongside experienced engineers.
Earn while you learn, gain nationally recognised NVQ qualification/s and build a career in a skilled, in-demand trade.
Wage: £20,000 a year. Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab). x1.5 / x2 overtime rate after basic 40 hours worked. Annual salary reviews.
Training course: Refrigeration air conditioning and heat pump engineering technician (level 3).
Hours: Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm, may work evenings and weekends. 40 hours a week.
Start date: Wednesday 21 October 2026.
Duration: 3 years.
Positions available: 2.
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you'll do at work:
- Attend a variety of customer sites alongside experienced engineer/s.
- Assist with all aspects of installation, servicing, maintenance & repairs.
- Become involved with advanced manufacturers diagnostics and fault-finding tooling, utilising the latest technologies.
- Learn to safely and correctly use a variety of tools, specialised equipment and testing instruments.
- Complete electrical and mechanical works under the supervision of an experience engineer.
- Learn to complete service and maintenance records for F-Gas requirements.
- Communicate professionally with customers and colleagues.
- Develop technical skills through practical, hand-on training.
- Assist with managing your engineer’s vehicle stocks to ensure you always have the parts required.
Where you'll work:
UNIT 2
OAKFIELD INDUSTRIAL ESTATE
EYNSHAM
OXFORDSHIRE
OX29 4TS
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider: ABINGDON AND WITNEY 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.
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Training schedule:
Delivery model - Blended delivery approach, including:
- Workplace (on-the-job) training
- College-based learning (day release)
- Online learning and portfolio development
- Minimum 20% off-the-job training
- Ongoing progress and wellbeing reviews with a dedicated training coordinator
- 4 assessor site visits per year during the first 2 years
- Support from a qualified trainer/assessor throughout
Qualifications included:
- Level 2 & 3 Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Engineering Diplomas
- Level 2 Functional Skills in English and maths (if required)
- F-Gas Certification (Category 1 or equivalent, depending on employer requirements)
End Point Assessment:
The EPA is made up of three assessment methods:
- Multiple-choice knowledge test
- Practical assessment with questioning
- Professional interview underpinned by a portfolio of evidence
Grades available: Fail, Pass, Distinction
Off-the-job training will follow the time allocations outlined in the occupational standard.
More training information:
Please apply as soon as possible for this role. Should the right candidate be found prior to the closing date, then the vacancy may be closed early.
Apprenticeship Onboarding Session and Eligibility Checks:
Any new person applying for apprenticeship roles where Abingdon & Witney College deliver the training will be required to complete some eligibility checks. This will consist of a series of initial assessments and an interview with the team. There will be the opportunity to find out more about the apprenticeship process, the training included, and for any questions you might have. You may also be required to attend an Apprenticeship Onboarding Session at Witney, Abingdon or Bicester campus.
This will consist of a series of initial assessments (required prior to any apprenticeship offer), completion of essential paperwork, the opportunity to find out more about the apprenticeship process, the training included, and a forum for your questions.
As a new Apprenticeship applicant, you will only have to undergo this process once. If you would like to talk to us about the assessments or if you would need any extra support to attend the Apprenticeship Assessment and Information Session, please call us on 01235 216216.
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Qualification checks:
By applying for this vacancy, you are giving Abingdon and Witney College permission to undertake a Learner Record Service check on your previous qualifications. We make every effort to ensure that applicants from non-traditional academic backgrounds or those who may not have the formal GCSE entry requirements can access apprenticeships where possible.
The National Minimum Wage (NMW) for Apprentices is £8.00 per hour from April 2026. This applies to 16-18-year-old apprentices and those aged 19 and over during the first year of their apprenticeship. After this, the National Minimum wage appropriate to their age applies. The Wage for apprentices applies to both time spent on the job plus time spent training.
Essential qualifications:
- GCSE in:
- Maths & English (grade A*- C / 4 - 9)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills:
- Communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Team working
- Initiative
- Physical fitness
The role involves travelling to different customer sites. Working both indoors and outdoors, with working at height or in confined spaces sometimes required.
Some manual handling and lifting of equipment will be required.
Applicants should be comfortable working in different environments and following strict health and safety procedures.
Apprentice must have own vehicle.
McAlpine Grant Ilco Ltd (MGI) is an established HVAC company based in Eynsham, Oxfordshire. We specialise in air conditioning, refrigeration, heating and ventilation systems.
We provide installation, servicing, maintenance and repair services to a wide range of clients.
At MGI, we are committed to a high standard of workmanship, excellent customer service and developing the next generation of skilled HVAC engineers.
Benefit from:
- Ongoing manufacturer training and development
- Support from a network of experienced engineers
- Gain recognised industry qualifications
- Opportunity for career progression within MGI
https://mgiltd.co.uk (opens in new tab)
Company benefits:
- Full uniform provided
- Full PPE provided
- Company mobile phone provided
- Bi-annual company social event/s
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
Progression is always encouraged within the company. The aim for all our apprentices is to be leading their own team/s eventually. Our Managing Director started at the company as an engineer!
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
ABINGDON AND WITNEY COLLEGE
Mike
apprenticeships@abingdon-witney.ac.uk
01235216216
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000054128.
Closes in 21 days (Friday 9 October 2026 at 11:59pm)
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