Clayton Harrington

About Clayton Harrington

As a schoolboy, Clayton Harrington was always interested in building things. He found that being able to physically see an end result was very rewarding. Clayton considered Brother Gabe Rowbottom to be a fantastic woodwork teacher who showed a genuine interest in the achievements of his students and was also inspired by teachers like Ann-Marie Dalton, Rob Lee and Brother John Wright.

After leaving school, Clayton completed a building apprenticeship through WestVic Group Training in Warrnambool and throughout his apprenticeship won a string of awards, including: Westvic Carpentry Student of the Year, The Worksafe Apprentice of the Year, The Victorian Regional Apprentice of the Year and the Victorian Apprentice of the Year for 1998.

As part of the Victorian Apprentice of the Year award Clayton received a scholarship consisting of a world travel ticket and $20,000, which allowed him to travel to several countries and view various aspects of the building industry, including business contruction methods.

In 2001 Clayton started his first business and is the owner and director of the award winning Harrington Design and Construction Propriety Limited along with three other companies.

In 2012 Clayton was named an Apprenticeship Ambassador for the Victorian Government.

The title saw Clayton attend the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Victorian Training Awards at the Crown Palladium where he was approached to represent the Federal Government as an ambassador for Apprenticeships Australia. The role requires him to promote apprenticeships as a valid career option in order to tackle a nationwide skills shortage in trades. Clayton's own story is being promoted as an inspiration to aspiring young students and apprentices - one that demonstrates the possibilities that apprenticeships can offer as a career path. Clayton provides input to the Australian Government to achieve better training outcomes for both trade students and their employers and with the aim of helping to overcome a shortage of skilled tradespeople.

Clayton also volunteers his time to assist local secondary students through attending student information evenings, has contributed to local sport, (particularly through his association with South Warrnambool Football Netball Club) and through his fitness centre he holds events to raise money and awareness for cancer causes.

Clayton believes you don't have to leave Warrnambool in order to be successful saying, "There are a lot of opportunities that Warrnambool as a growing city has to offer. I want to be able to provide others with similar opportunities that I was lucky enough to be able to experience when I was growing up."