Meet our female engineers who work in a variety of areas across the company and read about their own personal journey with Star Refrigeration.
Careers
Star Women in Engineering
"Star gave me the opportunity to return to the industry after a long career break – it is fantastic to be back"
"I have benefited from spending time in contracting, consultancy and design. It helps to understand everyone’s different roles in a project and appreciate their individual challenges and objectives. A view of the whole picture is especially helpful in a sales environment."
Anne works in Business Development and has a Mechanical Engineering background. She enjoys the balance of sales and engineering within her role. After a career break she returned to Star working on Energy Management System, Ethos.
"I admire the active involvement Star have in the development of the refrigeration industry"
“I have undertaken three summer internships and will start a design engineer position after my graduation this summer.”
Originally joining the company as a Summer Intern, Brooke is now a Design Engineer at Star. She entered into the role after graduating from a Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering at Strathclyde University.
“Engineering is about creativity, innovation, hands on practical work and problem solving.”
“I work with a really good team of people at Star who are passionate, knowledgeable and ambitious in what they do…There are opportunities to enhance your career, help gain chartership and attend industry training courses and events. It is rewarding being part of company that provides top quality products and services to secure a better future for staff, customers and environment.”
After completing her Masters in Chemical Engineering and trialling a few industrial placements and a graduate programme, Claire came across the refrigeration industry. After some research, she applied for a position within Star and joined the Design team in 2016. Read more about her career highlights.
“The main benefit is the diversity and range of staff and their knowledge and having access to them daily”
“The variety and the responsibility and autonomy I have been given; seeing the finished product of my work is really rewarding.”
After studying a BA in Accountancy at Glasgow Caledonian University, Nicola began a finance internship with Star Refrigeration. Her main focus was working on Starfrost, reviewing reports and processes to ensure consistency. Over time, Nicola's dedication and expertise led to her promotion to Assistant Management Accountant, where she continues to contribute to the company’s financial management and reporting.
''What I like most is being part of the marketing team and seeing the results of a campaign - in university you write plans but never get to see them being implemented.''
''I have worked at Star since 2018 and what I like the most is everyone is supportive, friendly, approachable and that the company encourages creativity. I also think there are lots of opportunities at Star to enhance your learning and work on exciting projects.''
While studying Marketing, Anna undertook several summer internships at Star and began a full time role upon graduating from university. A highlight of working in Star has been marketing for Star’s 50th birthday focusing on PR, social media, corporate gifts and the website. In the future, Anna would like to progress into the role of a marketing manager.
''From the very beginning Star have been so supportive, from having dedicated study days to internal support & guidance from colleagues.''
''100% go for it! I believe the workplace (and the world) thrives on diversity so don’t let anything hold you back.''
After finishing her A-Levels, Eleanor applied for a level 2 apprenticeship in Business and Administration at Star Refrigeration. After completing her apprenticeship she was offered a full time role and has progressed through the business, working as a Service Controller and progressing to Maintenance Manager at Star's Manchester Branch.
"I really enjoy the many different aspects of the projects I’m working on, things are constantly changing as we move towards net zero"
"I hope to continue to build my knowledge in the industrial sector and how sustainability fits into it within the company. I am excited to see what the future holds once I have gained my degree and where it will take me."
Meet Olivia Brown, a sustainability project lead intern at Star Refrigeration and a third-year Environmental Management (BSc) student at Glasgow Caledonian University. Olivia joined Star, drawn by its relevance to her studies and the significant role of industrial refrigeration in sustainability. In her role as Sustainability Lead, Olivia is instrumental in setting sustainable targets for Star, aiming to address various UN Sustainable Development Goals. She enjoys the dynamic challenges of her projects and the collaborative environment at Star, which fosters continuous learning as the company advances towards net zero. Olivia started part-time during university and has recently transitioned to full-time during her summer break, appreciating the supportive and flexible culture that encourages her professional growth.
"The amount of woman in refrigeration seems to be growing and it is a very welcoming industry for new people."
"In August I am traveling to Maryland, USA to attend the Gustav Lorentzen Refrigeration Conference and present to the students at Maryland University. I am really excited and think it will definitely be a career highlight!"
Meet Nicola Miller, a Design Engineer at Star Refrigeration and graduate in Mechanical Engineering from Heriot-Watt University. Nicola was drawn to the refrigeration industry by its diversity and opportunity for innovation, particularly in the design and manufacture of industrial heat pumps. Nicola enjoys the dynamic nature of her role, seeing projects evolve from concept to reality and learning from each stage. Initially unfamiliar with the complexity of refrigeration systems, she now thrives due to the supportive environment at Star. Encouraging other women to join the industry, Nicola highlights its welcoming nature and growing female presence. She looks forward to presenting at the Gustav Lorentzen Refrigeration Conference in Maryland, USA—an opportunity she anticipates will be a career highlight.
"Star's trust allowed me to progress within the company and take on greater responsibility."
"The tasks covered by the service controller play an important role in ensuring the branch operates efficiently, maintains customer satisfaction, and achieves a positive margin focus"
Leigh joined Star Refrigeration as a trainee administrator after transitioning from an offshore career. Her organisational skills, experience with IFS, and strong customer service foundation quickly proved invaluable, paving the way for her promotion to Service Controller. In her current role, Leigh is responsible for planning and scheduling service works, monitoring contract performance, and ensuring seamless communication with customers and colleagues. With mentorship and structured training provided by Star, Leigh has embraced this opportunity to grow her career and contribute to the success of the Aberdeen branch. While she's currently thriving in her role, Leigh remains open to development opportunities that Star provide.
"Our values truly resonate with everyone, and that sense of shared purpose and commitment is evident in everything we do."
"One of the most fulfilling aspects of my role is seeing employees I’ve placed thrive and progress in their roles"
Gillian joined Star Refrigeration in 2020, transitioning into HR after completing a CIPD Level 3 qualification to pursue her passion for working with people and fostering a positive workplace environment. As an HR Administrator, she takes on a wide range of responsibilities, from recruitment and training coordination to wellbeing initiatives and community engagement. Star has supported her career growth by offering opportunities to expand her skills, and she is currently pursuing her Level 5 CIPD qualification. For Gillian, the standout aspects of working at Star are the people, the collaborative culture, and the ability to make meaningful contributions both within the company and the wider community.
"If it’s something that interests you, then go for it—there’s lots of support at Star to aid your learning, and everyone is welcoming and wants to see you do your best."
"Star has supported my learning by providing me with access to online resources, a mentor to guide me, and colleagues who are always happy to help if I’m unsure about anything."
Zoe began her apprenticeship with Star Refrigeration after hearing about the company’s reputation from family members who worked at sites serviced by Star. Drawn to the unique challenges of the industry, Zoe is building her skills through a combination of college studies, office-based training, and on-site shadowing with experienced engineers. With access to online learning resources, mentorship, and a supportive team, she has found the apprenticeship to be both rewarding and engaging. Zoe values the bespoke nature of refrigeration systems and enjoys the constant opportunities to expand her knowledge as she works toward becoming a qualified engineer.
"My advice for anyone entering IT Support is to stay calm if something doesn’t work as expected—researching and following logical troubleshooting steps can lead you to a resolution."
"Working on the helpdesk has helped me learn about the different applications and systems used by Star, and the support I’ve received has been amazing—I feel like I’ve made a lot of progress."
Laura joined Star Refrigeration as a graduate, equipped with a background in Digital Security and Forensics and training from an IT Support with Cybersecurity course. As an IT Support Engineer, she manages the helpdesk, troubleshoots complex technical issues, and ensures smooth onboarding for new users. With the guidance and support of her colleagues, Laura has gained hands-on experience with tools like Active Directory, 365 Admin Centres, and Intune, while also learning to handle physical components like SSDs and RAM. She’s particularly proud of solving challenging issues, such as troubleshooting driver and BIOS problems, and values the confidence and technical skills she has developed in her role.