Steve Willis Training Centre in Burgess Hill celebrated with apprentices, employers, and staff last Tuesday evening, the 9th of April 2024 at the Hickstead Showground.
It was a fantastic evening celebrating the success of 74 apprentice graduates who have completed their apprenticeships as Gas Engineering Operatives (Level 3) and Installation and Maintenance Electricians (Level 3). We were joined by a host of industry and local representatives celebrating the apprentices’ achievements. Rob Mallender from City & Guilds presented The Stella Willis Award, John Carter from Burgess Hill Lions presented The Burgess Hill District Lions Award, Steve Brice from Worcester Bosch presented the Jesse Gasson Memorial Award-Gas Apprentice of the Year 2024 and Nigel Birch from Contactum, presented the Electrical Apprentice of the Year 2024.
All apprentices were presented with their Certificates, cheered on by friends, families, employers, and the Steve Willis Training team. It was a pleasure to share the moment of our apprentices achievements with VIP guests, Mims Davies MP, Janice Henwood Burgess Hill Town Mayor, John Carter, Tony Parris and Chris Thomas-Atkins from Burgess Hill District Lions, Jackie Cooper from Burgess Hill Youth, Jen O’Grady from Burgess Hill Town Council, Councillors Brenda Williams, Peter Williams and Anne Eves from Burgess Hill Town Council, Richard Cox from Burgess Hill Business Park Association, Steve Smith from ERS and Donna Willis, Co-op Member Pioneer.
The evening is also our chance to raise funds for local charities that support young people, with substantial funds raised and yet to be confirmed. We had the pleasure again to raise funds for Burgess Hill Youth and Young Minds with a charity auction and raffle with some amazing prizes donated by local businesses – Global OHS, Turbine Tools, Ridgeview, Lemonade Print, Co-op Burgess Hill, Flex Physio, Fresh Display Ltd, Beytug, Travail, Monument Tools and Sussex County Cricket Ground. Also a big thank you to East Coast Signs and Memorabilia and Mounted Memories for their selection of signed photos, go check them out!
For the auction, we had a signed Evan Ferguson shirt of Brighton & Hove Albion FC, and the generous donation of a signed Horsham Shirt from the Barnsley VS Horsham FA Cup First Round 2023, which was worn by Dougie Tuck in the match and donated to us, what a legend!
Mims Davies echoed fellow speakers on the apprentices, emphasising the future of their industries, and the great careers ahead of them. The closing address delivered by Steve Willis, commended not only the apprentices but their trainers, employers, and all the staff at Steve Willis Training Centres.
