Industries

Education

Refreshment Systems works with educational sites across the UK to provide reliable vending, coffee, water, food and unattended retail solutions.

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4.8/5 average rating
3,000+ UK sites served
98% first-time fix rate

What we provide

Smarter refreshments for schools, colleges and universities

Create convenient, modern refreshment spaces that work around your students, staff and site. From compact tabletop coffee machines to fully managed vending and branded refreshment areas, Refreshment Systems provides flexible solutions designed for education environments.

Whether you need a single machine for a staffroom or a complete refreshment offer across a multi-site campus, we can support you with equipment, products, servicing, technology and ongoing account management.

Vending machines
Coffee and hot drinks
Water dispensers
Hot and cold food solutions
Fully managed servicing and replenishment
Wholesale online ordering

Bespoke Branding

Make your refreshment area part of your brand

Refreshment equipment doesn't need to look generic.

We can create bespoke machine graphics and refreshment areas using your school, college or university branding, helping equipment sit naturally within your environment.

Branding can include your colours, logo, values, campaigns or student-created artwork, turning everyday vending equipment into part of the wider campus experience.

Our in-house marketing team can also support with creative concepts, promotional campaigns and digital screen content.

Subzero, Microwave unit, VendSmart Media, Neo vending machines in a line

Convenience

Coffee towers

Choose from bean-to-cup coffee, instant drinks and flexible hot beverage options without the footprint of a traditional vending machine.

Machines can be supplied alongside ingredients, consumables, servicing and ongoing technical support, creating a complete refreshment package from one supplier.

Staffrooms
Reception areas
Student hubs
Student housing
Restaurants and cafés

24/7

Micro markets

Every site is different. We can tailor equipment, product ranges and service levels around your students and staff.

Whether you need a simple coffee point or a complete 24/7 refreshment hub, we can build a solution that works for your site.

Our vending, smart fridges, micro market and food solutions can provide staff and students with convenient access to refreshments throughout the day and night, helping support early starts, late finishes and all-nighters.

Search Micro Markets

Subzero, VendSmart Media, Smart fridge in restaurant

VendSmart Connect

Manage your estate on one platform

The VendSmart platform gives facilities teams greater visibility and control across their refreshment estate, bringing together telemetry, payments, reporting, content and remote management in one place. This helps simplify day-to-day management, improve service efficiency and deliver a more consistent experience across multiple sites.

Real time Telemetry
Monitor performance, stock and machine status in real time
Proactive Fault Detection
Reduced downtime and emergency engineer call-outs
Live Reporting
Access accurate data that improves replenishment and decision-making
Digital Content
Manage screen messaging, promotions and advertising opportunities
Remote Management
Make updates, review performance and stay in control from anywhere

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VendSmart Optic, media and Neo Vending Machine shown in a modern canteen or staff area

Increase revenue

Modernise the way you communicate

Turn every screen into a communication channel.

VendSmart replaces static keypads with a modern touchscreen designed as part of the user interface from inception. The screen functions as an interactive commercial platform capable of:

Delivering targeted promotions
Adjusting content dynamically
Supporting upselling and cross-selling
Hosting digital advertising campaigns
Improving accessibility and navigation

Explore Digital Advertising

VendSmart Optic with VendSmart digital advertising screen

Exchange for Change

Recycle vending

Support your sustainability goals with reverse vending solutions that make recycling simple and rewarding for students and staff.

Our reverse vending machines can collect eligible bottles and cans, helping education sites improve recycling rates, reduce waste and prepare for evolving deposit return requirements.

Where eligible funding or sustainability grants are available, we can also help identify opportunities that may support the introduction of recycling and reverse vending equipment.

Accept bottles and cans for recycling
Encourage greater recycling participation
Can provide rewards or digital vouchers
Supports sustainability and ESG objectives
Potential support with relevant grant and funding opportunities
Can be branded to suit your organisation or campaign

Exchange Vending Machine

Sustainability

Working together towards your sustainability goals

We work with facilities teams to make refreshment services more efficient, lower impact and better aligned with wider sustainability targets. By combining smarter technology, responsible product choices and more efficient servicing, we can help identify practical ways to reduce waste, energy use and unnecessary journeys across your estate.

Energy-efficient vending and coffee equipment
Remote monitoring to help reduce unnecessary service visits
Recycling and reverse vending solutions
Support for reusable cups and more sustainable packaging
Smarter stock management to help reduce product waste
Responsible product and supplier choices

Service and Supply

Fully managed service

We can take care of the day-to-day running of your refreshment provision, including installation, replenishment, cleaning, maintenance and ongoing support. Our nationwide service network helps keep equipment stocked, operational and performing reliably.

Reliable service is essential in busy working environments. Our nationwide engineering and operations teams help keep your machines stocked, clean and working, with ongoing support throughout the life of your contract.

Installation and commissioning
Planned preventative maintenance
Reactive engineer support
Regular cleaning and replenishment
Machine performance monitoring
Dedicated account management

Filling up vending machine with snacks, and cold drinks

Our 360° approach

We don’t just
drop off a machine

From the first site survey to the engineer visit three years from now, it’s the same team on the same contract.

01
Site survey
We look at headcount, shift patterns, footfall and power & plumbing before recommending anything.
02
Specification
A costed proposal with the right machines, ingredients and payment setup for each location.
03
Install & train
Delivered, plumbed, connected and handed over — with barista training if you want it.
04
Monitor & maintain
Telemetry watches the estate; our engineers keep it running. 98% first-time fix.

Charity

Supporting charities

We can work with your chosen charitable partnerships through tailored campaigns, fundraising initiatives and on-site promotions.

From charity-branded vending activity and digital screen campaigns to product promotions and donation-led initiatives, our team can help create simple ways for staff, patients and visitors to get involved.

Bespoke charity campaigns
Branded marketing and digital content
Aid Fundraising promotions
Support with campaign ideas and activation
Proven experience supporting hospital charities

Two staff members holding a large cheque in front of vending machine

Choose your machine

Bean to Cup

SmartQube Model L

Both Fresh and Powdered Milk. SmartQube Model L X680 designed in Germany and offers you multiple options with different combinations of bean hopper(s) and topping hopper(s)

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Hot Water Dispensers

T3 Hot Water Tap

From a cup of tea to a glass of sparkling water, the versatile T3 tap offers the latest in energy-saving technology and uncompromising four-way filtered, premium water.

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