Women in ACR: Emmie Fletcher, Green Point UK

Emmie Fletcher is a Sales Administrator at Green Point UK.

What was your first job?

I started off working at a small independent soft-play centre, running parties, preparing food and serving drinks. I was also responsible for managing health and safety and organising the play area. 

What does your current role involve?

My role involves a wide range of administration and coordination activities, including communication with new, existing and potential customers requiring remanufactured BITZER compressors. I look after quotations and orders and respond to customer queries.
On the logistics side, I also oversee booking-in failed compressors when they come in to replenish our stock. Finally, I am also responsible for some of Green Point UK’s marketing, to help raise our profile and create awareness of the business on LinkedIn. 

Emmie manages a variety of administration tasks, customer liaison, and business marketing

What attracted you to the industry?

Having only worked in retail before, I wanted to try something new to develop my skills and expand my experience of business generally. Refrigeration struck me as an unusual and interesting industry, and I decided to get involved. I suspected there would be a lot to learn, and this has proved to be correct! I was also keen to use my sales and people skills in a more front-line role in an ever-growing industry. 

What excites/interests you about the industry?

It soon became clear after joining that the industry is constantly evolving, with new products, technologies and approaches being developed. It is fascinating to see how the sector is rising to the many challenges and opportunities it faces. I also like being involved in refrigeration and air conditioning as the sector touches so many aspects of modern life – at home, work and play, and is really one of the unsung heroes essential to civilised life. With the growing use of heat pumps, this adds another dimension that will increase the importance of high quality compressors in the years ahead.

How would you like to see your career developing?

I would like to continue developing my skills in sales and gain a deeper knowledge of our products and the underlying technology. I am also interested in potentially progressing into on-the-road sales, visiting customers to update them on what we do, and helping to generate more business that way. 

What is the best piece of advice you were ever given?

You are more capable than you realise, never be afraid to ask questions, and push yourself!

What do you see as the challenges facing the industry?

Environmental protection is obviously a key issue. We are playing our part at Green Point UK by helping to complete the circular economy, by remanufacturing compressors and returning them as good-as-new into service. Demand for cooling and heating is growing, and the emergence of heat pumps is adding to this. There is a need to gear up to meet this to ensure requirements – nationally as well as locally – are met in a timely manner.  This is obviously good for the industry, but there may be some growing pains along the way.

What would you say to other women who are considering coming into the ACR industry?

Don’t let anything hold you back. It is an interesting and fast-paced industry to work in with constant demand. There are many career opportunities, such as engineering and technical roles, administration, sales, promotion – and many more.

Is there a little-known fact about yourself that would surprise other people (secret skill, unusual hobby etc)?
I am a Brown Owl and run my own Brownie unit. When much younger, I used to be a competing gymnast. I am also a massive animal lover and once had 27 guinea pigs, two cats and a hamster – all at the same time!

Emmie pictured in front of a section of Green Point UK’s extensive stock of BITZER compressors ready for remanufacturing