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Jay Tozer is passionate about plumbing.

The 22-year-old, in his fourth year of an apprenticeship with Admoor Plumbing, won Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE’s Apprentice of the Year award at the trades awards and graduation ceremony last night.

The award is the top honour for the institute’s Seymour and Shepparton campuses.

‘‘I’m pretty pleased with it,’’ Mr Tozer said, adding a career in plumbing was always on the cards.

‘‘I always wanted to get into an apprenticeship ... my dad’s a builder, my uncles are builders,’’ he said.

‘‘It’s a good trade, I like it, I like what I do ... it’s not a struggle getting up in the morning.’’

The institute’s apprentice employer relations manager Carolyn Curnow said Mr Tozer stood out as a candidate because of his ‘‘dedication to the profession, commitment to ongoing learning ... supervision of apprentices and academic results across the four years and successful completion of his licences’’.

‘‘I like the pride in what I do and the variety,’’ Mr Tozer said. ‘‘When you fit off a bathroom ... when you put it all together and you stand back and have a look at it, it looks nice.

‘‘You take a bit of pride in what you do.’’

Admoor Plumbing owner Mick Ciavarella said he was proud of Mr Tozer’s win.

‘‘It’s good for the industry to have good young kids who want to go through and want to apply themselves to a trade that is sought after in the next few years ... we’re very happy to be involved with Jay and TAFE as an employer,’’ Mr Ciavarella said.

The institute’s technology industries division executive manager Albert Amadei said the awards recognised the achievements of trades students and their employers.

‘‘It also provides an opportunity for GOTAFE to connect with local industry,’’ Mr Amadei said.

‘‘More than 600 students have graduated from trades-related courses this year at GOTAFE, with many of them receiving their certificates at this event.

‘‘The trades awards and graduation event has culminated an extremely successful year for GOTAFE’s technology industries division, which has seen its enrolments more than double during the past 12 months.

‘‘We are extremely grateful for the generous support of the event’s many sponsors, without whom this event would not be possible.’’