An audience of some 220 people, including students, lecturers, sponsors and branch members, attended the Student Awards Dinner organised by the Kent Branch of the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE). The event was held recently at the Mercure Great Danes Hotel in Maidstone and winning students received £150 in Amazon vouchers and the runners-up £100 in vouchers. Kevin Wellman, Chief Executive Officer of the CIPHE, presented 24 prizes in all.
Other special guests included CIPHE President Terry Stephenson and Richard Soper CBE. Richard praised the students’ achievements and told them that anything is possible if they put in the work and seize their opportunities. “I speak from experience – I started my career like you, as an apprentice, and I worked for a number of exemplary companies eventually ending up as the CEO of Bosch Thermotechnology.”
The CIPHE President, Terry Stephenson, in his closing address emphasised the importance of an apprenticeship as a foundation to those entering the industry and a springboard to continual learning as their careers evolved. He went on to thank the following sponsors of the evening, who also held an exhibition for attendees: ALIAXIS, Aqualisa, Arup, BPEC, City & Guilds, Cistermiser, Danfoss, Heatrae Sadia, Ideal, Parkers of Bromley, Pegler Yorkshire, Polypipe, QRL Radiators, Speedfit, Stelrad, Vaillant and Worcester Bosch Group.
