Own Your Own Business: the Apprentice Becomes Master
When Clayton Harrington won the Victorian Student of the Year (Apprentice) Award in 1998, the young carpenter’s apprentice was already well on his way to achieving his goal of owning his own successful construction business.
A decade later and this dream is very much a reality. His business employs eight full-time staff, including three apprentices, and more than 20 subcontractors, as well as providing training for three secondary school students who are undertaking a vocational education and training course.
Looking back, Clayton puts his success down to persistence and hard work.
"Then I finished my apprenticeship, I made up my mind that I would concentrate on setting up and growing my business - and I haven’t looked back."
Clayton believes that an apprenticeship gives you well-rounded qualifications and leads to a rewarding career with unlimited possibilities.
"Completing an apprenticeship helped me develop practical and personal skills, teaching me what I needed to know to become a capable professional and manage my own business."