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Geoffrey Craggs is proving it’s never too late to follow your passions, after switching roles from a duty manager to an apprentice refrigeration technician within the Woolworths Food Group.

Craggs migrated to Australia from Belgium in 2012, and after working as a duty manager for nine years he wanted to try a new career path and completed the Certificate II in Electrotechnology at TAFE NSW.

Craggs has now secured a job as an apprentice refrigeration technician at Woolworths, where he helps install new refrigeration systems. As refrigeration optimisation and maintenance plays an important role in reducing electricity use and minimising refrigerant leaks, Geoffrey is helping the supermarket giant reach its sustainability goals.

Woolworths is working hard to reduce its carbon emissions, which have already fallen by 24 per cent since 2015.

“I have a newfound respect for tradies now I understand the work that goes on behind the scenes,” Craggs said.

“I wanted to learn a new skill and challenge myself, and the Certificate II in Electrotechnology was a great entry course for me to understand if refrigeration was something I could handle.

“The course gave me practical skills I now apply in my apprenticeship, such as welding. It feels incredibly rewarding to help Woolworths reduce carbon emissions and be part of something bigger.”

Woolworths Food Group apprenticeship program manager, Caroline Fitzgerald, said this apprenticeship provides Cragg with an opportunity to develop his career, and to be trained on some of the most advanced refrigeration systems in the market. 

“At Woolworths, our refrigeration systems are at the forefront of technology and we are continually innovating and improving in this space,” Fitzgerald said.

“Apprentice refrigeration technicians like Geoffrey are involved in large scale projects across the state installing refrigeration systems into our new and existing supermarket stores.

“It’s great that Geoffrey has completed the Certificate II in Electrotechnology at TAFE NSW as it means he stood out when he applied for the apprenticeship. Once he commenced in February, he had a head start, due to the skills and knowledge he has already gained through pre-vocational training.”

To find out more about electrotechnology courses at TAFE NSW visit www.tafensw.edu.au

Woolworths is about to commence a new recruitment campaign to join its Sydney refrigeration Apprenticeship program.