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HVAC.

HVAC recruitment

Deep in the market.
Not dipping into it.

Perigon Search is a specialist HVAC recruitment agency working across the UK and EMEA. VRF and split systems, chillers, AHUs and rooftop units, heat pumps, commercial gas and heating plant, refrigeration and the BMS controls that run it all. We recruit the engineers, managers and commercial staff who install, commission and service it, for HVAC, M&E and building services contractors, FM providers and manufacturers, including on mission-critical sites.

Good VRF engineers get poached, not advertised for. The one who can trace a comms fault across a forty-unit heat recovery system, or change a compressor on a rooftop unit mid-heatwave, is never short of offers. Nor is the commercial gas engineer with a full set of ACS tickets, or the estimator who prices a job right first time. Most of the people we place came through a conversation, not an advert. Permanent roles, from field engineer to director.

Working with Perigon

We know the market.
Tell us what you need.

I'm looking to hireI'm looking for a role
For clients

Ready to discuss an HVAC hire?

From field engineers to directors, it starts with a short call. Whether you've got a brief or you're still shaping the role, you'll get an honest view of the market and a realistic timeline.

FM
Facilities Management
Maintenance, contract management and operations hires, including on mission-critical sites.
Contractors
HVAC and M&E Contractors
Service, installation, project, commercial and management hires.
OEMs
Manufacturers and Distributors
Service, applications, sales and leadership hires for AC, VRF, heat pump and chiller makers.
75%
Repeat business
85+
Clients
45k+
Candidates in our network
"We gave them the brief. Never heard back."
You'll hear from us quickly, with a straight read on who's out there, what they'll cost and how long it'll take.
"The CVs didn't come close to fitting."
Every candidate we send has been spoken to about your role. You'll know why they're on the shortlist before you open the CV.
"The people we actually want aren't responding."
Most of the people we place weren't looking. They take our call because they know us.
"The candidate accepted, then got counter-offered."
We prepare candidates for the counter-offer before it comes, and stay close right through to their start date.
For candidates

Working in HVAC and open to a conversation?

You don't need to be looking. Most of the people we place weren't. One call to find out what's out there. No pressure either way.

Off-market roles
A lot of what we work on never gets advertised. You hear about it before it reaches a job board.
Confidential by default
Your details don't go to a client until you've agreed to that role.
Straight salary advice
What clients are paying, what your experience is worth and where the market's heading. Useful whether you move or not.
Who's hiring through us
HVAC Service Contractors
Commercial air conditioning, refrigeration and heating service businesses building engineering, supervisory and management teams.
M&E and Installation Contractors
Contractors hiring for installation, projects, commissioning and contract management.
Facilities Management
FM providers hiring the engineers and managers who keep plant running across an estate, mission-critical sites included.
Manufacturers and Distributors
Service, applications, sales and management roles with the companies that make and supply AC, VRF, heat pump and chiller kit.
Heating and Gas Specialists
Commercial gas and heating businesses hiring engineers, supervisors and contracts managers.
UKIrelandNetherlandsGermanySpainScandinavia+ more
UK and EMEA coverage
Browse HVAC jobs
FAQ

HVAC recruitment questions.

Do you work with candidates who aren't actively looking?
Yes. Most of the people we place weren't looking when we first spoke. Register with us and we'll call when something fits. No pressure, no spam.
What does an HVAC engineer do?
An HVAC engineer installs, services, repairs and commissions heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in commercial buildings, from split and VRF air conditioning to AHUs, heat pumps, boiler plant and the BMS (building management system) controls that tie it together. Pay, qualifications and where the role leads are on our HVAC engineer jobs page.
What qualifications do HVAC engineers need?
For air conditioning, refrigeration and heat pump work, an F-Gas certificate is a legal requirement, usually Category 1, plus an NVQ Level 3 or the RACHP apprenticeship. Commercial gas engineers need Gas Safe registration and ACS commercial certificates, starting with the COCN1 commercial core (or CODNCO1 for a domestic engineer converting) and then the appliances they work on. Manufacturer training and a full driving licence are asked for in most field roles. Controls, management and sales roles often need neither ticket.
What's the difference between HVAC and HVAC-R?
HVAC is heating, ventilation and air conditioning. HVAC-R adds refrigeration: cold rooms, display cases and process cooling. The skills overlap, because air conditioning and heat pumps run on a refrigeration circuit, but commercial refrigeration is a trade of its own with its own employers.
What is VRF?
VRF (variable refrigerant flow) is an air conditioning system where one outdoor unit serves many indoor units, each controlled on its own, with the compressor varying its speed to match the load. Heat recovery versions can heat some rooms and cool others at the same time. Daikin's name for it is VRV. You'll find it in offices, hotels and retail, and VRF engineers are some of the most sought after in the trade.
What levels do you recruit at?
From field service and technician level through to service management, operations leadership and director appointments.
What's the difference between working for a manufacturer, a contractor and an FM provider?
At a manufacturer you're usually field based, servicing and commissioning the company's own kit, and that's where most sales, applications and key account roles sit. An HVAC or M&E (mechanical and electrical) contractor installs and services lots of makes across lots of customers, with a route into supervision and contract management. At an FM provider you look after everything on an estate or a site, often static, alongside other trades. Pay, hours and progression all differ, and we'll talk you through it.
How quickly can you get us candidates?
It depends on the role, and we'll tell you on the first call how long we think yours will take. If it's niche or senior, we'll say so up front rather than pad a shortlist to hit a date.
Do you work contingency, exclusive or retained?
All three. For senior or business-critical hires we'd recommend exclusive or retained. We'll tell you straight what gives you the best chance of filling the role.
Do you cover roles outside the UK?
Yes. We recruit across the UK and EMEA, including Ireland, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain and Scandinavia. Manufacturers in particular hire across borders, so there's international work for people open to it.