Josh Collins, Technical Sales Engineer
Josh began his career as an Apprentice Refrigeration Engineer, completing an SVQ3 qualification through a combination of site-based learning and college studies. After gaining valuable experience in engineering, he transitioned into a Technical Sales Engineer role at Star Refrigeration, where he now supports the Scotland region by developing customer relationships, finding new business opportunities, and managing enquiries for equipment and upgrades. With Star’s support and a clear framework for growth, Josh has embraced this career change, combining his technical expertise and customer service skills to thrive in sales and contribute to the company's success.
What is your academic and career background?
I completed an SVQ3 in Refrigeration Engineering whilst working as an Apprentice Refrigeration Engineer with another refrigeration contractor. It was a work based learning course and I attended college in 3 week blocks. The learning was a mixture of site based reports and refrigeration theory.
Can you tell us about your current role in sales at Star Refrigeration and what it involves?
I am a Technical Sales Engineer covering the Scotland region. My role is to develop existing customers, support the local team to find new business, and service incoming enquiries for new equipment and upgrades.
What inspired you to make the transition from being an Industrial Refrigeration Engineer to a technical sales role?
I noticed a lot of similarities between being a Refrigeration Engineer and a Technical Sales Engineer, and it felt like a natural progression route to further enhance my customer service skills. I spoke to a colleague who worked in the Sales Team about their day to day role, and then an opening became available and I applied.
How did Star Refrigeration support you during this career change?
Star Refrigeration have been very supportive during this transition. I have weekly one-to-ones with a more senior member of the team, and we work through a competency framework which sets clear goals for progression and improvement.
Have you had any memorable experiences or milestones in your career since joining Star?
I have several great memories and milestones since joining Star. One of the main ones is being given the opportunity to travel around Washington with five other colleagues. We were given the opportunity to meet several suppliers and learn about equipment we can offer to our client’s back in the UK.
What skills from your engineering background have been particularly useful in your sales role?
Customer service is a key skill which I’ve been able to utilise in my sales role. One of the key responsibilities of an engineer is to keep the customer up to date and set realistic expectations, regardless if you are working on site fixing the equipment, or in a sales capacity supporting a customer with a CAPEX project.
What advice would you give to engineers considering a career transition into sales?
Definitely give it a try! My advice would be to embrace the opportunity with an open mind, learn from your mistakes, and remain adaptable. Sales offers a unique chance to apply your technical expertise in a new and rewarding way.
What excites you most about the opportunities ahead in your role at Star?
I’m really excited to continue to develop the Scotland region and work closely with the team to offer the best solutions and products to our customers.