NATHANIEL Johnson, 34 – Plumbing Apprentice of the Year
Nathaniel has been named Plumbing Apprentice of the Year at Wiltshire College & University Centre’s Apprenticeship & Work Placement Awards, recognising the dedication, professionalism and practical skills he has developed throughout his plumbing apprenticeship.
Winning the award came as a surprise. “I didn’t expect the news if I’m honest,” Nathaniel said. “Getting an email after finishing college to say I’d won was a great feeling. It meant a lot to be recognised by College staff for my hard work.”
Throughout his apprenticeship, Nathaniel has demonstrated a strong work ethic and a positive, can-do attitude. He believes his recognition reflects the effort he put into keeping his portfolio work on track, alongside supporting others in his group.
“I’ve always pushed to keep moving forward and stay keen to learn,” he said. “I’ve also been able to help some of the other guys in my group along the way.”
One standout moment for Nathaniel dates back to his first year at college, when a practical assessment gave him an early confidence boost.
“We had to build a pipe frame in college and mine was chosen to be put up on the wall,” he said. “That’s something I’m really proud of.”
Reflecting on his journey, Nathaniel describes his apprenticeship as challenging at times, but hugely rewarding. Combining college learning with real on-site experience has helped him build the confidence and skills he plans to continue developing.
“I’ve enjoyed the apprenticeship all the way through,” he said. “Learning on site and building experience while studying has been really valuable.”
Nathaniel chose the apprenticeship route as a way to retrain and properly learn a trade. He credits his employer for giving him the opportunity to get started and supporting him throughout the process.
Looking ahead, Nathaniel believes apprenticeships play a vital role in meeting the growing demand for skilled trades and helping people develop skills for life.
“They give people real insight into the trade and encourage more people to get involved,” he said. “You’re learning every day.”
His advice to anyone thinking about starting an apprenticeship is simple: “Do it.”
Want to find out more about apprenticeships?
Stories like this show the impact apprenticeships can have – whether you’re starting out or supporting new talent.
Find out how you can begin your own apprenticeship journey, or how employers can get involved through 150 in 100 – our campaign supporting businesses to create new apprenticeship opportunities and help people build skills for life.
