Case Study After leaving school, Ellie started a traineeship with Airco, delivered through the Airco Centre of Excellence. She is now working with the company as an apprentice, gaining work experience alongside studying for a Level 2 qualification in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration. My mum has an interior design business and, growing up, I’d spend a lot of time at her workshop, helping her make curtains, using machines and overlockers. I think that’s where my passion for making and fixing things started, so it was only natural for me to choose a career that was ‘hands on’. I heard about the traineeship at Airco and thought it would be perfect, as it would provide me with a stepping stone to an apprenticeship. I built both practical skills and knowledge in not just air conditioning and refrigeration, but also electrics, customer service, and health and safety. Working in engineering gives me variety. I get to travel across the country, working on a wide range of projects and meeting different people – no day is the same.
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