Sustainability Footprints in SMEs: Strategy and Case Studies for Entrepreneurs and Small Business

7Capital Cooling: Sustainable Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineering

7.1 Introduction

Capital Cooling Ltd is an awarding company specializing in the manufacture, supply, and maintenance of stationary refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment. Although a family-owned enterprise, it has grown from very humble beginnings to achieve a turnover of over £22m in 2009 and was ranked 63rd on the Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Index [1] 2012. The company’s founder Alister McLean having a passion for refrigeration established the company in 1996, reflecting on his motivations for establishing the company:

What led me to establish Capital Cooling… basically having a passion for refrigeration once I completed my apprenticeship, once I learnt the industry. Just having a passion for the commercial refrigeration industry.

(CEO [2])

This passion for refrigeration has extended to his offspring who assist him in managing the business. His son, a qualified refrigeration and air-conditioning engineer who completed his apprenticeship within the company, is involved in the expansion of the product development department. His daughter, an actuarial science major, is spearheading the company’s human resource management function—a role that was once executed by her mother who has been appointed to an advisory role within the operations of the business. All four members of the family form the nexus of the decision making within the organization, supported operationally ...