Air Conditioning Install Apprentice (Level 3)

Summary

Start your career in air conditioning with SFE Services Ltd. Work alongside experienced engineers on real installation projects while completing a Level 3 qualification. Gain practical skills, college training and the opportunity to build a long-term career.

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 to Friday, working 40 hours per week between 7:00am and 7:00pm. Working hours may vary depending on project and site requirements.

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 21 September 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

The apprentice will work alongside experienced air conditioning engineers, supporting the installation of air conditioning systems in homes, offices and commercial premises.

Day-to-day duties will include:

• Preparing sites, tools, equipment and materials for installation work
• Assisting with the installation of indoor and outdoor air conditioning equipment
• Supporting pipework, cabling, containment, trunking and condensate drainage works
• Safely handling, moving and positioning equipment and materials
• Learning to read drawings and follow installation instructions
• Keeping work areas clean, tidy and safe
• Helping to complete job paperwork and look after company tools and equipment
• Representing SFE Services professionally when working at customer sites
• The apprentice will attend the College of North West London one day per week during term time to complete the Level 3 Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Technician Apprenticeship, with the remainder of the week spent gaining practical on-the-job experience

Where you'll work

60 Brimmers Hill
Widmer End
High Wycombe
HP15 6NP

Training

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

Training provider

UNITED COLLEGES GROUP

Training course

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

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

Training will be delivered through a combination of practical, on-the-job learning with SFE Services Ltd and day-release college training.

The apprentice will work alongside experienced installation engineers throughout the week, gaining hands-on experience on live air conditioning installation projects. They will attend the College of North West London in Willesden, London, one day per week during term time to complete the Level 3 Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Technician Apprenticeship.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

• English (grade 4)
• Maths (grade 4)

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
• Organisation skills
• Team working
• An interest in practical work

Other requirements

• Must live locally to High Wycombe or the surrounding area
• Comfortable working in a practical, site-based environment, including occasional work at height
• Able to travel to client sites and attend college in Willesden one day per week during term time
• Passing a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check