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Workshop

Cool Careers

Hands-on LEGO refrigeration activity inspiring students to explore STEM skills, careers, and pathways in the cooling industry.

Cool Careers

In this hands‑on LEGO refrigeration experience, students build a working model fridge to see STEM in action and explore real careers in refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pumps.

As students investigate how cooling technology affects everyday life - from supermarkets and hospitals to data centres and sustainable heating - they develop teamwork, problem‑solving and practical engineering skills.

The free session is delivered by a member of the Institute of Refrigeration (IOR) alongside a trained STEM Ambassador from the refrigeration industry, who will share their career journey, helping learners understand real‑world roles, labour‑market opportunities, and pathways into apprenticeships, college courses and university programmes.

The experience provides meaningful workplace awareness and employer encounters, and highlights how IOR student membership can support young people to explore further study and exciting careers in this vital industry.

Teachers will receive easy reflection prompts and access to Fantastic Fridges resources to carry on the learning beyond the activity.

Learning outcomes

  • Improve engagement, interest or enjoyment in STEM subjects

  • Learning what the engineering workplace is like

  • Improve awareness and aspirations for STEM-related study and careers

Subjects and topics

    • Chemistry
    • Design and Technology
    • Engineering
    • Chemical engineering
    • Energy and environment
    • Mechanical engineering, systems and processes

Gatsby benchmarks

The Gatsby benchmarks are a framework for good careers guidance for schools across all of England and in some areas across the rest of the UK. This experience helps your school to reach the following benchmarks:

  • Learning from career and labour market information
  • Encounters with employers and employees
  • Experiences of workplaces
  • Encounters with further and higher education

Essential skills

The essential skills every young person needs to succeed in education and their future career. Find out more at the Skills Builder Partnership. This experience builds the following skills:

  • Problem solving - Finding solutions to challenges

  • Teamwork - Working cooperatively with others to achieve a shared goal

What the teachers say

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  • Ages 11 to 14
  • Online
  • Full day
  • Cost applies
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Robotics and Automation Workshop

10 Million People, One System: a hands-on engineering challenge where students solve the real logistics problems that power modern life.

  • Ages 11 to 18
  • In-school
  • Half a day
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Trip

Motorsport STEM Experience Day at TeamSport

An experiential offsite trip that immerses young people in the exciting range of STEM careers that power the motorsport industry.

  • Ages 14 to 16
  • Offsite
    • Birmingham Oldbury, B69 4JX
    • Leeds, LS10 1NQ
    • London Acton, W3 0RF
    • London Docklands, SE7 8NJ
    • London Mitcham, CR4 2AP
    • Manchester Trafford, M17 1NF
    • Birmingham Oldbury, B69 4JX
  • Full day
  • Free

Careers resources