COMPANY PROFILE Execution is everything
This November marks the 10th anniversary of Vectis Refrigeration. Founder Will Overton set out with a single van and a simple mission: to give the Isle of Wight reliable refrigeration and air conditioning without mainland dependence. A decade later, that mission has scaled, diversifi ed, and positioned us for the next stage of growth. Here, Overton tells us about the journey so far, the impact of AI and what’s next.
'AI won’t replace engineers, but engineers using AI will outperform those who don’t.'
T
oday, Vectis Refrigeration serves a broad mix of sectors: education, healthcare, supermarkets, hospitality and advanced manufacturing. Our work spans Island
manufacturers in composites and aerospace, as well as schools, hospitals, hotels and hospitality venues, including restaurants, pubs and yacht clubs. With major off shore wind manufacturers based on the Island, there’s also a clear opportunity for refrigeration and FM to support the renewable- energy supply chain. We’ve expanded beyond refrigeration and air conditioning into heat pumps, catering equipment, and facilities management. The tools and clients have changed, but the principle remains the same: local response, dependable service.
Anniversaries are a time for refl ection, and after ten years, I’ve been asking myself: what have I learned and what comes next?
That’s where the story takes a twist – it involves sacking my business advisor, asking AI for a £10m exit plan and realising that my fi rst lesson in running a service business still applies today: plans are easy, but execution is everything.
From one van to full service
Running a business on the Isle of Wight comes with quirks. The ferry is both a lifeline and a bottleneck. Mainland contractors often underestimate the lost time in travel and logistics, leaving Island customers waiting. That gap was our opportunity. We began with refrigeration installations, service and maintenance. Over time, clients pulled us into air conditioning, then heat pumps, catering and most recently full facilities management. The variety is broad; one day it’s a school kitchen, the next a manufacturer’s process cooling. The technical challenge is high, but the real diff erentiator isn’t
12 December 2025 •
www.acr-news.com
Download the ACR News app today
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40
