Our team
Our Training team, based largely at our Technical Academy are responsible for delivering our training across the organisation, both for our Office team and our Field teams.
At our Technical Academy, our City & Guilds assured and Government approved in-house training programme that captures enthusiastic, motivated people, usually with no engineering knowledge and sees them through from trainee status to a fully qualified engineer within a 48 month period - ensures our engineers can fix anything they encounter!
During the Technical Academy, you will be assigned a dedicated experienced coach who will provide you with the people, technical and commercial skills to successfully develop a long career with MCFT. We are growing rapidly and to support this growth, we have a great opportunity for a number of Trainee Commercial Catering Engineers to join us each year.
With over 22 years experience in the refrigeration industry, Colin began his career as an apprentice and has since held roles as a service engineer, installation & commissioning engineer, and refrigeration lead engineer.
He now leads the refrigeration apprenticeships at the academy, where he applies extensive industry knowledge to train and mentor the next generation of engineers. He holds qualifications in Refrigeration & Air Conditioning NVQ Level 2, 18th Edition Electrical Certification, EngTech status and Level 3 Award in Education & Training.
In addition to his professional work, Colin coaches the Windsor & Eton FC U16 team, leading 22 players in weekly training and competitive matches on Saturday mornings.
Colin Tomlinson
Technical Academy Manager
With more than 20 years in refrigeration and air conditioning, Ian’s career has taken him from combat zones to classrooms. Serving on military tours and operations in Belize, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia, he was responsible for the installation and maintenance of critical RACHP systems that kept operations running in the most demanding environments.
Alongside his field role, Ian also served as a trainer in the Army, developing and delivering technical training to engineers under high-pressure conditions. Since then, he has continued to apply this unique blend of frontline experience and instructional expertise across defence, data centre, and commercial settings.
Fully qualified with City & Guilds Level 3 in RAC systems, F-Gas and Hydrocarbons, a Level 5 Diploma in Education & Training, and NEBOSH General Certificate, Ian now dedicates his career to passing on this knowledge — turning complex RACHP systems into practical, real-world learning for the next generation of engineers.
Ian Hills
Refrigeration Trainer
Matt is a qualified engineer with nearly 20 years of experience in the refrigeration and air conditioning industry. He began his career in 2002 with a Level 3 qualification in Electrical and Electronic Engineering before transitioning into air conditioning and refrigeration, where he later completed an apprenticeship while studying independently.
His strong technical foundation has supported his work across a wide range of systems, from small commercial units to complex multi-compressor installations.
Matt holds certifications including Level 2 and 3 in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Systems, Safe Handling of Refrigerants (Ammonia), and Level 2 Food Safety. Now focused on training and development, he is committed to sharing his expertise with the next generation of engineers.
Matt Maya
Refrigeration Trainer
Mark is a seasoned gas industry professional with over 40 years of experience in domestic, commercial, and LPG systems. He began his career in 1985, completing a City & Guilds apprenticeship covering gas and electrical work.
He holds current ACS certifications for Natural Gas and LPG, along with advanced qualifications in electrical safety, assessment, and internal quality assurance.
For the past decade, Mark has specialised in training, auditing, and assessing gas work to industry standards, working with local authorities and contractors. His practical experience spans a wide range of installations, including commercial sites and LPG systems on boats, where he brings a strong focus on safety, compliance, and quality.
Mark Talbot
Gas Trainer
Amber brings 4 years of experience in learning and development to her role as Personal Development Lead. She leads the Level 3 Emerging Leader Apprenticeship, helping aspiring leaders to grow their skills, and the Personal Development Ofsted stream for all apprentices.
She is also responsible for managing apprenticeship data at the academy. Currently, Amber is furthering her expertise with a CIPD Level 5 Diploma in Organisational Learning & Development and a Level 3 Award in Education and Training. Outside of work, Amber enjoys reading and singing at events.
Amber L’Estrange
Learning & Development Lead
Since joining the company in 2024, Sam has been responsible for overseeing the training and development across the business, ensuring that talent is nurtured and supported, with a particular focus on the UK & Netherlands.
With over 25 years of experience in coaching and training, and 14 years specifically within apprenticeships, Sam brings strong expertise to her role as Talent Development Manager.
She holds a Level 7 Leadership & Management qualification, Coaching & Mentoring Qualification, and is a Level 5 Qualified Teacher. In addition, Sam has extensive experience in project management & holds Assessor and Internal Verifier qualifications. Outside of work, Sam coaches her son’s rugby teams during the week.