18 June 2026
|
Adele Watson, Apprenticeship Programme Lead at Carrier, shares her inspiring journey from working in her father’s appliance store in her early teens, to leading HVAC apprenticeships across the UK&I, driving talent development and tackling the industry’s skills gap head-on. She also offers powerful encouragement for women considering a career in the sector.
My first job was actually working for my dad at our third-generation domestic appliance store when I was in my early teens. It might not have been the most glamorous working environment at the time, but it taught me a huge amount.
My dad had me doing everything from cleaning appliances and sourcing spare parts to serving customers, and eventually even getting involved in sales. As I got older, I even ended up running my own Saturday market stall selling appliances, which definitely helped build my confidence and work ethic from a young age.
How did you get into the heat pump industry?
I didn’t intentionally set out to join the heat pump industry; it happened quite organically. I originally started at a fire and security company in a Learning & Development (L&D) role before transferring to Carrier, where I continued working within Talent.
It was only around two years ago, when I moved into my current role as Apprentice Programme Lead, that I really became immersed in the HVAC industry. Since then, I’ve gained a much deeper understanding of both the opportunities within the sector and some of the challenges we face, particularly around skills and attracting new talent into the industry.
What does your current role involve?
My current role involves overseeing the apprenticeship programme across UK&I, including standardising processes, recruiting our annual apprentice intake based on business requirements, supporting mentors and providing pastoral care to our apprentices throughout their journey.
The role draws together my background in both recruitment and L&D really well, which is one of the reasons I enjoy it so much. Over time, it has become much more than just a job for me; it genuinely feels like a vocation. I truly love what I do. Working with young people and their mentors is incredibly rewarding, and I am constantly impressed by their attitude, resilience and willingness to learn. They inspire me just as much as I hope I support them. With the industry facing an ongoing skills gap, roles like mine are becoming even more important. A huge focus for us is building and upskilling the future workforce across RACHP (Refrigeration, Air Conditioning & Heat Pump), electrical, gas and plumbing qualifications, ensuring we have the skilled engineers needed to support the industry both now and in the future.
What do you see as the challenges facing the industry?
From my perspective, one of the biggest challenges facing the industry is the skills gap and the impact of an ageing workforce. A significant amount of experience and technical knowledge is set to leave the sector as experienced engineers retire, and that creates a real urgency to attract and develop new talent now.
Alongside this, there is also a shortage of training providers and qualified tutors, particularly within RACHP qualifications, which adds further pressure on the pipeline of skilled engineers entering the industry.
For me, this really reinforces why the work we are doing is so important. There is a clear need to focus on building capability now, ensuring we are not only attracting new people into the sector but properly supporting and developing them so they can step into those critical roles in the future.
Did you have any mentor’s or anyone in particular who inspired you?
Carrier has been really strong in promoting its mentoring scheme within the workplace, and I’ve been fortunate to take full advantage of that. I’ve been mentored by some incredibly knowledgeable and experienced people within the industry, which has been both supportive and hugely developmental.
In terms of inspiration, I would say it comes most strongly from my parents. My dad is 75 and still refuses to slow down, constantly starting new projects and getting involved in sustainability initiatives aimed at supporting a greener world. His energy and determination are relentless and really inspiring.
At the same time, my mum brings a very different but equally important influence. She provides balance and perspective, reminding me how important it is to enjoy life as well as work hard and not let work consume everything. Between them, they’ve shaped a mindset that values both ambition and balance.
What would you say to other women who are considering coming into the heat pump industry?
I am very supportive of encouraging more women to consider a career in this industry. There is so much opportunity within HVAC and the wider engineering and technical sectors, but it is still heavily underrepresented in terms of female talent. From my own experience, once you are in the industry, you quickly realise it is far more about capability, attitude and problem-solving than it is about gender. There are real opportunities to build a long and varied career, whether that is in technical, operational, commercial, or development-focused roles.
I would encourage any woman considering this path to go for it. Get involved, ask questions, and don’t be put off by it traditionally being seen as a male-dominated sector. There is a real need for different perspectives, and the industry is improving in how it supports and develops diverse talent, but there is still work to do.
What do you like to do outside of work?
Outside of work, I keep things fairly simple and enjoy the usual reset activities like travelling, reading and going for long walks. I also don’t mind a cold dip now and again, although I tend to question my life choices halfway through it!
Info
All testimonials and images included in this document are published with the consent of the individuals concerned. Names, photographs, and quotations are used with prior authorisation. Any trademarks mentioned remain the property of their respective owners. Photographs are used with the consent of the individuals concerned. Carrier and its associated marks are registered trademarks.
