Airmaster Air Conditioning Ltd has promoted James Dawson to design director and appointed him to its board of directors, marking the culmination of a decade-long journey from graduate engineer to company director.
James joined the employee-owned mechanical services contractor in 2016 as the company's first graduate engineer. Over the past ten years, he has steadily progressed through the business, developing both his technical expertise and leadership skills to become a key figure in Airmaster's continued growth.
In his new role, James will continue to lead Airmaster's in-house design team, which includes Mechanical Design Engineer Sam Casadei and award-winning Design Apprentice Max Brough. Together, they deliver innovative mechanical services designs for projects across the UK while helping to nurture the next generation of engineering talent.
Alongside his day-to-day responsibilities, James has continued to invest in his own development. In 2025, he qualified as a CIBSE Low Carbon Consultant, further strengthening the company's expertise in delivering energy-efficient and sustainable building services solutions. Since Airmaster became employee-owned, he has also served as the company's Employee Trustee Representative, helping to ensure colleagues have a voice in the business.
His appointment to the Board reflects both his own achievements and Airmaster's long-standing commitment to developing talent from within.
Managing Director Lisa Pogson said: "When James joined us ten years ago as our first graduate engineer, we knew he had enormous potential. Over the last decade, he has continually challenged himself, embraced every opportunity to learn and develop, and become an exceptional technical leader.
"His appointment to the Board is thoroughly deserved. He brings technical excellence, strategic thinking and a genuine commitment to our people and values."
Operations Director Gareth Campbell added: "James' journey reflects exactly what Airmaster stands for. We believe in investing in people, giving them opportunities and supporting them to build rewarding careers.
"Today, James is not only leading our design function, but he is also mentoring the next generation of engineers, helping them develop in exactly the same way."
For James, the promotion represents both a personal milestone and an opportunity to help shape the company's future.
"It's a real honour to be appointed Design Director and to join the Airmaster Board," he said. "One of the things that stood out from the beginning was the culture. Everyone was approachable, ideas were welcomed and I was trusted to take on responsibility early in my career.
"I'm particularly proud of the team we've built within the design department. Developing people is just as important as delivering great engineering.
"Joining the Board gives me the opportunity to help shape the future of the business while continuing to drive innovation, sustainability and technical excellence for our customers."
Now celebrating his tenth anniversary with the company, James' promotion stands as a powerful example of Airmaster's commitment to long-term career development and investing in its people.
