#United Kingdom #Newcastle #Award #Star Refrigeration #CIBSE

Celebrating Excellence in Engineering: Sam Gills and the CIBSE Student of the Year Award

In a remarkable accomplishment, Sam Gills, a Design Engineer at Star Refrigeration, has been awarded the prestigious CIBSE Student of the Year North East award. This accolade, presented by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE), recognizes his outstanding performance in the field of Building Services Engineering during his studies at Teesside University.

Currently in his second year of a part-time BEng program in Building Services Engineering, Gills has distinguished himself by achieving the highest overall grade in his course. Reflecting on this notable achievement, he expressed, "It is a huge honour to be awarded CIBSE Student of the Year North East and is certainly a great milestone in my academic and professional career. To have my work recognised by CIBSE, Star Refrigeration, and Teesside University is a great feeling and pushes me to continue trying my hardest."

This award is the latest in a string of achievements that underscore Sam's commitment to both his studies and his professional journey. In 2017, he was recognised as the ACR Trainee of the Year, followed by winning a bronze medal at the Skill Fridge national finals in 2018, and most recently, earning the Student of the Year award at the RAC Cooling Awards in 2019. These milestones reflect his dedication to excelling in the refrigeration industry while pursuing academic excellence.

Star Refrigeration has played a pivotal role in Sam's success story. He remarked, "Star has fully supported and invested in my professional development throughout my whole career, from an apprentice to a design engineer. The support from colleagues and management has helped me build my confidence and has allowed me to improve in my work and further studies."

Sam's journey with Star Refrigeration began as an industrial refrigeration apprentice with the Operations Group in Newcastle. He became a fully qualified engineer in July 2019 and was transitioned into a full-time position as an Industrial Refrigeration Engineer, where he advanced through the structured technician grading system within the company.

His ambition to expand his technical knowledge led Sam to pursue an HNC in Building Services Engineering, a path that Star supported by allowing day release for his studies alongside work commitments. After successfully completing his HNC, he then applied for and secured a role within the Design Department, where he continues to thrive. Currently, he is also enrolled in a Building Services Engineering BEng (Hons) degree.

Greg Collins, Principal Design Engineer at Star Refrigeration and Sam's line manager, expressed pride in Sam's achievements, stating, "We are delighted to congratulate Sam on winning the CIBSE Student of the Year North East Award. His dedication and hard work throughout his career have been remarkable, and we are proud to support his continued development. He has demonstrated a strong commitment to professional growth and has received recognition across the industry. We look forward to seeing him build on his success and continue making significant contributions to the business and the wider industry."

Sam attributes his academic success to effective time management and maintaining focus. He noted, "Balancing work and study hasn't always been easy, but achieving the highest grade overall so far in the course is something I am proud of. I try to stay focused and plan my time carefully to avoid leaving assignments until the last minute, which has helped me keep on track."

Sam Gills' career at Star Refrigeration has been characterized by consistent growth and significant achievements. As he looks to the future, he is enthusiastic about the ongoing support from his company as he continues to progress both academically and professionally.

Star Refrigeration wholeheartedly congratulates Sam on this remarkable achievement, and it eagerly anticipates his future contributions to both the company and the engineering sector. CIBSE is recognized as a leading authority and standard setter in building services engineering globally. To discover more about their initiatives, visit CIBSE’s official website. Additionally, for information regarding career opportunities at Star Refrigeration, you can explore their careers page.