Mr Crawshaw was awarded the 2018 Apprentice of the Year (overall), Apprentice of the Year - Engineering category and the Safe Work Practices Award.

1300apprentice CEO Jane Kennedy said this was the first time the organisation had awarded three of its highest achievments to one person and was indicative of Mr CRawshaw's work ethic and perserverance. 

"Nathan has been a consistent and hard working, winning the High Achiever Award in all three years of his apprenticeship," Ms Kennedy said.

"We're really impressed by all the extra work he put into his studies, learning and improving everytime," she said.

In addition to undertaking his apprenticeship qualification, Mr Crawshaw also completed a Certificate IV Engineering (Fluid Power) and Certificate IV Engineering (CNC Programming) as well as a course in Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (TIG).

Mr Crawshaw would travel twice a week from Moss Vale to Ultimo TAFE in Sydney to complete these courses while also working part-time in a retail position.

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He would also design and make trade-related projects as well as practice his welding skills in any spare time he had left over.

1300apprentice area manager, Meagan Thorpe said in the time she had come to know Mr Crawshaw his commitment and passion for his trade had become easy to recognise.

“Nathan is someone you can count on to do what you ask him to do, implementing new methods learned at TAFE into his workplace, he has proven he is committed to his career,” Ms Thorpe said.

Outside of his studies, Mr Crawshaw reached personal miletones when he got married and renovated their newly purchased home. 

He continues to travel to Sydney, nearly having completed a Diploma of Engineering (Advanced Trade) at Ultimo TAFE and will be nominated for the 2019 Training Awards, conducted by the Department of Industry,  later this year.

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