#United Kingdom #Glasgow #Star Refrigeration #Sustainability Leadership #CeeD Awards

Olivia Brown Recognised for Sustainability Leadership

On March 5, 2026, Olivia Brown, a notable intern at Star Refrigeration, was awarded the Engaging Talent Award at the prestigious CeeD Industry Awards held at the Hilton Glasgow Hotel. The award recognizes outstanding undergraduate students who promote collaboration between industry and academia

Celebrating Achievements

This recognition is a shared victory with Cameron Fordyce from the University of Glasgow. Both have significantly contributed to their respective fields, with Olivia's accomplishments in sustainability standing out. The CeeD (Collaboration and Enterprise in Engineering and Design) is a key Scottish network connecting businesses, universities, and the public sector, and this award celebrates innovative contributions by students.

As part of her internship at Star Refrigeration, Olivia, who is pursuing a degree in Environmental Management from Glasgow Caledonian University, invests one day each week at the company during term time and dedicates her university breaks to extensive project work. Her shadowing and hands-on approach allow her to apply theoretical knowledge directly to real-world scenarios.

Pioneering Sustainability Initiatives

Serving as the Sustainability Project Lead Intern, Olivia has made remarkable strides in advancing Star Refrigeration's sustainability strategy. Her efforts have enabled the identification and prioritization of key sustainability initiatives across various departments. By fostering a collaborative environment, she translated these priorities into actionable tasks, fully supporting the company’s long-term environmental goals.

Star Refrigeration aligns its sustainability strategy with the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on areas such as clean energy, responsible consumption, climate action, and promoting decent work. The executive team closely oversees this strategy and integrates it into an ISO 14001 certified management system, ensuring systematic measurement and improvement of initiatives.

Under Olivia's guidance, numerous practical projects have been launched within the business. This includes enhancing waste management systems and creating internal training sessions to educate employees on sustainability practices. Additionally, her contributions to the company’s EcoVadis assessment led to a significant performance enhancement, with Star Refrigeration now ranked among the top 15% globally.

Mentoring and Support

Professor Dave Pearson, the Group Sustainable Development Director at Star Refrigeration, noted, “We took a gamble by initiating a term-time internship, and Olivia has proven the worth of that choice. She has surpassed all expectations, delivering results as if she had been a full-time member of our team for years.” Her achievements not only reflect her talent but also signify a structured approach to sustainability within the organization, translating vision into practice.

Olivia expressed her pride in contributing to sustainability efforts at Star Refrigeration while balancing her studies. She acknowledged the invaluable support from her colleagues and especially her mentor, Professor Pearson, praising his encouragement that facilitated her growth and professional development.

Impact on Future Generations

Star Refrigeration, through initiatives like the Star Academy program, continues to strengthen the ties between academia and the engineering sector, offering students necessary exposure while they bring fresh ideas to tackling significant industry challenges, particularly regarding sustainability.

The CeeD Awards ceremony was a gathering of prominent figures from Scotland's engineering, manufacturing, and innovation sectors, including Richard Lochhead, the Minister for Small Business, Innovation, and Trade, and Ivan McKee, the Minister for Public Finance.

In addition to celebrating Olivia, Star Refrigeration sponsored the Net Zero Heroes Award, awarded to Celtic Renewables for developing bio-based chemicals from industrial by-products, contributing to Scotland's low-carbon transition. Professor Pearson commended this innovation and the critical role it plays in reducing dependency on fossil fuels.

Conclusion

The Engaging Talent Award, designed to honor Euan Thomson’s legacy—an esteemed engineer at Star Refrigeration—reflects Olivia and Cameron's remarkable achievements and commitment to collaboration in engineering and sustainability. As industry and academia continue to work together, the future looks promising with dedicated individuals like Olivia Brown leading the charge towards a more sustainable world. For more information about the CeeD Awards, visit CeeD Awards.