Star Refrigeration are hiring!
Category: Job Finding
Publish date: 03/04/2023
Having attended the CTP’s Employment Fair at Telford earlier this year, and regularly visiting the CTP Refrigeration Training course to speak with Service leavers about job opportunities, Star Refrigeration are looking to continue recruiting Service leavers into their organisation, as they have done since 2018.
Dave Bartlett, Star Refrigeration’s UK Operations Training Manager, said:
“Being ex-forces myself, I very much appreciated the opportunity Star Refrigeration gave me when I was transitioning out of the military, and believe that many Service leavers would appreciate the same. Since 2018, we’ve recruited from all 3 branches of the Armed Forces and have enjoyed success with everyone that has joined us.
"Unsurprisingly, we plan on continuing this success and are looking to recruit even more ex-forces personnel into roles based in Newcastle, Leeds, Manchester, Derby, Oxford, Bristol & London; all of which are being advertised on the CTP’s online job portal RightJob.
"I, and everyone here at Star Refrigeration, strongly believe that recruiting from the ex-military talent pool brings a huge number of benefits; maturity, discipline and work ethic being just a few. We are very much a business that focuses on work-life balance and job security – values that have served us well in succeeding within the business sector.”
Meet our colleague:
Marc Gault, Compliance Manager - North, and fellow Service leaver, sheds some light on his journey from the army to a career with Star Refrigeration:
When and why did you decide it was time for a career transition?
“I had spent most of my adult life away from home and thought it was time for a change and a new challenge while I was still relatively young. During my last posting in the army, I decided it was the perfect time to transition into a new career away from the military. Once the decision was made, it was all systems go. I’ve never looked back and enjoy every minute of it.”
Being an engineer in the army is very different to what you are doing now with Star Refrigeration – how did this career move come about?
“I always wanted to remain in an engineering role. When I left the Armed Forces I was an engineering manager and was keen to continue in that vein, although in a different trade. Refrigeration has a funny way of getting you hooked. It’s fast paced and no two days are the same, which is the way I like it. Once I graduated as an Industrial Refrigeration Engineer I was given the opportunity to move into a managerial role as Regional Branch Contracts Manager. Two years ago I was again promoted within the organisation to the role of Compliance Manager – North, a position that I very much enjoy as I continue to grow and develop the responsibilities associated with the business's environmental and health & safety aspects. ”
What skills were you able to carry over from your role in the army to your career with Star Refrigeration?
“I had lots of mechanical and electrical experience on a variety of equipment which helped me during the fast-track training pathway. In my current role, there is a lot of time and resource pressure, something which the army definitely prepared me for, not that I knew it at the time!”
What were the biggest changes you noticed when you moved from the army to Star Refrigeration?
“Star and the army share similar values and standards, so the transition to civilian life was relatively easy for me. At the time of leaving, I was regarded an SME on many platforms and initially found it difficult being the new guy, having to start at the beginning again. The fast-track training programme is aimed at engineers from other industries and got me up to speed quickly. Star has so many experienced colleagues who are more than willing to give you as much of their time as needed.”
What advice would you give to anyone who is switching from a career in the army to one in a completely different industry, such as refrigeration?
“Keep an open mind. Many of the skills and experiences gained whilst serving are transferrable. Soldiers are very adaptable and fast learners, capable of showing both initiative and humility, often in adverse conditions. Be open to new opportunities and don’t pigeonhole yourself too early.”
What tips can you give to your job seeking ex-colleagues?
“Give yourself plenty of time and have a plan of what you want to do when you leave - it may not work out so have a backup plan as well. Make use of your learning credits wisely, picking subjects that will enhance your CV and general knowledge. Don’t just fire out a generic CV and covering letter, tailor them to suit the company and role you are applying for. And do your research!”