Nathan Heron has already won two Apprentice of the Year awards and was a finalist in a national housing and building awards.

An apprentice gas engineer with Unitas Stoke-on-Trent, Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s repairs and maintenance company, he has been called a credit to the company and praised for his integrity and professionalism.

Nathan began his Gas Engineering Apprenticeship Level 3 with Stoke-on-Trent College in 2020 and is now in the final year of his course.

He assists fully trained gas engineers on day-to-day activities including annual gas servicing and safety inspections, installing domestic heating systems, boilers, responsive repairs and planned maintenance in resident’s homes and public buildings.

His employers say he has shown the ability to deal with awkward situations, customers who have been challenging and confrontational situations and has taken these in his stride.

Nathan’s operational team leader and mentor said: “If Nathan continues his ability and development he will definitely become an excellent engineer.”

Nathan has volunteered to attend three career events over the past two years, both inside and outside of his working hours, to promote apprenticeships within the construction industry.

He was awarded Unitas’ Apprentice of the Year Award 2023 to recognise and celebrate his achievements.

In 2023 Nathan was named Stoke-on-Trent College’s Gas Apprentice of the Year and was a finalist at the APSE Housing and Building Apprentice of the year awards 2023.

Now he has been nominated in the Apprentice of the Year category of the Staffordshire University Business Awards.