ACR Journal

CMYK / .ai CMYK / .ai CMYK / .ai acrjournal.uk 23 AIR CONDITIONING members of team across our three o ces. This allows us to retain expertise in-house and have continuity of the Coolair ethos.” Technical know-how In addition to long-term career growth, the firm oers all sta flexible working, help when facing illness and excellent maternity and paternity packages. Coolair is also leading the way when it comes to recruiting more women into the HVAC sector. Visit any of the company’s three o ces and you will find an army of women in a wide range of roles, including Samantha Reynolds who is a Contracts Engineer in the Midlands o ce, Karen Swallow who keeps the Aftersales team running and Kerry Welsh who co-ordinates all the contracts at the firm’s Manchester HQ. Helen Sharratt, Finance Director, said: “We know that the RACHP industry has long been considered a male industry. But over the years, we have gone out of our way to shatter this stereotype and not just recruit – but keep – talented women in the business. “The technical know-how these women have is essential to the running of our firm. They are often unseen, working to support the engineers on the frontline, but they are the central nervous system of the business. “Attracting talented women is a focus for us. It has helped us become the business we are today. The Coolair culture is geared around supporting our sta – male or female – so we have worked hard to ensure we oer generous packages, as well as flexibility to ensure a fair work life balance.” COOLAIR TIMELINE February 13, 1980: Coolair Equipment Limited was registered at Companies House by Nick Parker. He was joined by Mike McCourts and Mandy Doherty and the trio started trading as Coolair from a corner shop on Debdale Lane in east Manchester. The first order – EQN1000 – was for ICI’s Blackley, Manchester, workshop. 1984: The sales team was given a boost when John Otterson joined the firm. He is still with Coolair today. 1985: Coolair placed its first order with Daikin and, because of the size, it was shipped direct from Japan. 1987: Coolair opened its first o ce outside of Manchester, in Chatham, Kent. 1989: Coolair made a low-key entry into the Midlands market, by opening a small o ce on a terraced street in Cannock. John Otterson led the charge. 1990: The Manchester team moved into the first Coolair House – a custom-built o ce and warehouse in Dukinfield. Such was the quality of the build, the team still use the original desks – despite moving HQ in 2006. 2002: Coolair started a relationship with new supplier Mitsubishi Electric UK. 2006: The Manchester team moved to Coolair House Mk II – their current home. Another significant event in 2006 was the retirement of Financial Director Phil Plant. His exit helped shape the Coolair culture which rewards loyal members of sta with directors’ roles. The same scheme has been used three times throughout Coolair’s history. 2012: Coolair’s founder and Managing Director Nick Parker retired, leaving the company in the hands of a new management team. 2014: Coolair celebrates a record turnover, which saw them top £28m for the first time. It was also the year Neil Gibbard organised the firm’s first charity bike ride across Vietnam and Cambodia, raising a whopping £90,000 for Challenge Cancer UK. 2020: Coolair Equipment turns 40! Sta celebrate with cakes at each o ce. A celebration is planned at the firm’s annual conference in the spring as well as another charity bike ride from Vietnam to Cambodia.