Yee Group and Cool Services Ltd are pleased to announce the successful completion of a management buyout, marking a new chapter in the continued growth and success of both businesses.

The buyout sees long-standing senior leaders Jason Cooper and Annette Eyley assume ownership of the group. Jason Cooper will take on the role of Group Managing Director, with Annette Eyley appointed as Group Finance Director.

This transition follows the decision of current Group Managing Director, Simon Chapman, to retire after 40 years of leadership of Yee Group. Simon founded and built the business into a highly respected and successful contractor. He also led the strategic acquisition of Cool Services in 2018 and has headed up the company since then, overseeing its development and continued service to customers for the past eight years. Simon now plans to retire to spend more time with his family, travel, and pursue his long-standing passion for motorsports.

Jason Cooper commented, “We are incredibly proud to take ownership of businesses with such a strong legacy. Having been part of the leadership team for many years, we are committed to building on the solid foundations already in place and continuing to deliver outstanding service to our customers.”

Annette Eyley added, “This is an exciting step forward for the group. Our priority is to ensure continuity for our customers, partners, and employees, while continuing to support the company’s long-term growth.”

The company will continue to operate as normal, with no changes to its structure, services, or customer relationships.

Yee Group and Cool Services Ltd remain focused on delivering high-quality solutions and maintaining the strong partnerships that have been central to their success.

Alan has had a long -standing career within the HVAC industry and has been a key part of the delivery team at Cool Services in Shrewsbury for more than 15 years. 

He joined Cool Services as an engineer originally and was very successful in the role.  Latterly Alan moved into a key role in the stores, managing the warehouse and forward planning and preparing supplies for the team of engineers on a daily basis.  As well as managing the supply of components for air conditioning and refrigeration projects of all kinds, Alan developed a technical support service and established the Cool Services Training Hub. Colleagues describe Alan as one of the “old school” engineers — something that is becoming increasingly rare and highly valued. Alan is someone who seems to know everything there is to know and is always willing to help solve problems, which has made him an invaluable support to the team.

His dedication to training new engineers and his ability to solve complex engineering problems has been a real asset, to apprentices and those joining Cool Services from other industries as well as experienced engineers. All who know him comment that Alan’s support, patience, and approachable nature made a significant difference to their own development and confidence in the early days of their career at Cool Services.

Alan’s wish in his retirement is to enjoy life and to travel.  He can be very proud of his contribution to the industry.

Jason Cooper, Group Managing Director added “There is barely an AC engineer in Shropshire who hasn’t crossed paths with Alan at some point during their career, equally there is a whole generation of junior engineers around Shrewsbury that owe their initial training and progression to Alan, locally to us, he is a legend and a true gentleman.” He continued “Alan will be deeply missed. We wish him all the very best in his retirement.”

We are delighted to recognise Jason Cooper with a 20-year Long Service Award in recognition of his exceptional dedication and contribution to Yee Group, Cool Services’ parent company. Jason joined the business as an apprentice electrician when the company was known as Mace in Burton on Trent, and his journey mirrors the remarkable growth of the organisation into the multidiscipline contractor it is today.

Presented by Group Managing Director Simon Chapman, the award celebrates not only Jason’s longevity but also the breadth and depth of his impact. Today, Jason serves as Group General Manager for Yee Group and Cool Services, bringing vision, leadership, and a commitment to excellence across all areas of the business.

Over the years, he has played a pivotal role in shaping and strengthening our key service areas. Jason has been instrumental in the development of Yee Group’s HVAC capabilities since 2008. As an engineer, he built and developed a highly capable team, fostering the skills needed to grow this side of the business. He has been central to the expansion of our HVAC offering, ultimately contributing to the successful acquisition of specialist air conditioning company Cool Services Ltd.

Having started his career as an apprentice himself, Jason has a unique understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing new talent. He dedicates much of his time to creating a continuous learning environment, nurturing apprentices and employees at every level, and ensuring that everyone has the support and guidance needed to succeed.

Jason’s meteoric rise from apprentice to senior leadership is a testament to his hard work, commitment, and unwavering dedication to people and the business.

Please join us in congratulating Jason Cooper on this well-deserved recognition – a true example of leadership, commitment, and the power of nurturing talent from the ground up.

Your commercial HVAC systems play a major role in both comfort and energy performance throughout your business premises. With the right approach, it can also be one of your most effective tools for managing energy costs and in many cases, smarter maintenance, targeted upgrades, and better controls can reduce energy usage and actually save money.

If you’ve noticed rising energy bills or changes in how your systems perform, these are often early indicators that they are  not performing as they should . Addressing this early helps control running costs and allows you to identify the route cause of the issues within the systems. 

Unlock Energy Savings in Your HVAC System

If a system starts using more energy than is usual, it’s usually noticeable in terms of comfort and performance. Common warning signs include:

• High energy bills without changes to occupancy or demand
• Weak or inconsistent airflow from vents
• Declining indoor air quality 
• Frequent cycling, where the system turns on and off more often than normal
• Unusual noises or vibrations during operation

These signs don’t mean your equipment is failing. They usually point to areas where professional maintenance or a targeted energy audit can quickly restore performance.

Practical Ways to Improve HVAC Efficiency

Here are five targeted ways to get more out of your systems.

1. Benchmark Your Energy Use

You can’t optimise what you haven’t measured. Start by comparing your energy bills month-over-month and year-over-year, and where possible, benchmark against similar facilities in your area. A sudden increase in consumption – even without changes to occupancy or operations – can highlight areas where components may benefit from attention, fine-tuning, or maintenance.

Energy monitoring tools and smart meters can automate this process, helping flag usage patterns and opportunities for improvement in real time rather than waiting for the next bill. An energy audit can also provide a clear baseline for tracking progress.

In the UK, TM44 inspections are legally required every five years for air conditioning systems with a combined cooling output over 12kW. This is an important energy assessment and is valuable for a business owner, as the feedback will identify energy-saving opportunities that do not usually require financial investment.

2. Proactive Preventative Maintenance is a Cost Control Strategy

Neglecting routine maintenance can lead to higher operating costs over time. A dirty condenser coil can reduce system efficiency by 10–30%. Low refrigerant forces the compressor to work harder, increasing running costs.

A blocked condensate drain – one of the most common and easily overlooked maintenance issues – can cause water to back up into the unit. In commercial buildings, this can sometimes overflow into ceilings, walls, or flooring below. The remediation costs can far exceed the cost of a service visit, and the latter would have identified this and cleared the issue in minutes.

Scheduling professional maintenance is the only way to preserve the air conditioning equipment’s warranty – another important way to minimise costs should a component fail.

3. Fix Airflow Problems to Improve Comfort and Efficiency

If parts of your building are consistently warmer or cooler than others, your system may be working harder than it needs to. Unbalanced airflow is often caused by duct leaks, blocked vents, zoning settings that don’t reflect occupancy, or supply and return imbalances.

An airflow assessment can identify where treated air may be escaping or being misdirected. Sealing duct leaks and optimising zoning can significantly improve system performance, since air lost into wall cavities or ceiling voids is energy you’ve already paid to condition. Better airflow also supports more consistent comfort throughout your building.

4. Upgrade Selectively – You Don’t Need a New System to See Results

A full system replacement isn’t always required to achieve better efficiency. In many commercial buildings, targeted upgrades deliver strong returns. Variable-speed drives on fans and compressors allow output to match real-time demand, rather than cycling at full capacity. Smart thermostats and building management controls automatically reduce cooling in unoccupied zones.

If your system is more than 15 years old, upgrading to a modern high-efficiency model can deliver ongoing energy savings. 

5. Pay Attention to How Your System Sounds and Cycles

A well-optimised system runs smoothly and quietly, reaching set temperatures consistently. Frequent cycling increases wear on key components and raises energy use. Unusual noises, vibration, or extended run times are all signs that fine-tuning may improve performance.

Regular performance checks, including thermostat calibration and refrigerant pressure testing, help keep your system operating within its designed parameters. These low-cost adjustments can have a direct impact on energy use and equipment lifespan.

Quick-Start Checklist: Improving HVAC Efficiency

Not sure where to begin? Start here:

These simple steps can help you start improving efficiency immediately:

• Compare energy bills against the same period last year and note any changes
• Schedule regular maintenance visits as a preventative measure
• Have ductwork inspected for air leaks, especially in older buildings
• Check that vents are unobstructed and zoning reflects actual occupancy
• Ask your air conditioning contractor about variable-speed upgrades and smart controls
• Improve insulation and seal gaps in the building envelope to reduce system load

Ready to Reduce Your HVAC Running Costs?

Whether you’re planning a service visit, targeted upgrades, or a full efficiency review, we can help you build a practical plan to reduce energy use and operating costs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my commercial AC is using more energy than necessary?
A rise in energy consumption without changes to occupancy or weather can indicate inefficiency. Longer run times, uneven temperatures, weak airflow, or declining ventilation quality are all useful signals. A professional energy audit can identify specific areas for improvement.

What are the most common signs that a commercial air conditioning system would benefit from a maintenance visit?
Uneven temperatures between zones, inconsistent airflow, clogged filters, frequent cycling, unusual noises, and rising energy bills are common indicators. A professional service by an F-Gas qualified contractor can fine-tune performance and get efficiency back on track.

What’s the most cost-effective way to reduce HVAC energy use?
For many buildings, regular professional servicing combined with duct sealing, clean filters, and smart thermostat controls offers strong returns. Variable-speed upgrades and improved insulation can further increase savings, particularly in older facilities.

New Look website for Cool Services of Shrewsbury

Cool Services based on Shrewsbury has taken the opportunity of lockdown to design a new website.  Detailing the installation and maintenance services they provide for Air Conditioning, Refrigeration and Ventilation the site has a new fresh look and reflects the new corporate identity that the company adopted in 2019.

 The site is easy to navigate and includes new features to help customers who are perhaps new to air conditioning and refrigeration. Visitors to the site can use the new Air Conditioning calculator tool and will find the Frequently Asked Questions a useful new addition.  

“How much does it cost to install air conditioning? is the most common question that people ask me”, said Group Operations Manager Scott Ravenscroft “now I can direct customers to the new, easy to use Air Conditioning calculator on our website”.  He continued, “users can get a good idea of the cost of an installed system for their specific size and type of room from the calculator – it will also provide options for different systems, to suit different needs”.

The site also includes a section dedicated to the company’s Hire business, where portable cooling, heating and drying can be found.  “We have been busy supplying portable air conditioning equipment to hospitals and portable heating to pubs and breweries who are building more outdoor spaces” said Simon Wharton Cool Services’ Hire division manager.  He added  “we have been incredibly busy keeping clients both warm and cool!”. 

It has been a very difficult time for many businesses, and the company has worked hard to be flexible and support customers during lockdown. However, since air conditioning is regulated and must be regularly serviced; Cool Services engineers have continued to carry out maintenance visits. “We went to great lengths to reassure customers about our Covid secure practices and were extra vigilant when working in our customers premises” commented Scott. “Our focus was to keep our client’s safe and their systems compliant with the regulations.“

As lock down eases, we hope more businesses can return to normal and our new website will be there to help all our customers in better times.