A fairly new name to the UK housebuilding industry, eggHomes is well underway at its Viver Green development in Cumbria, on the doorstep of the Lake District. The homes on this site are high specification and have been designed and built with a strong link to sustainability and environmentally friendly materials and construction methods.
Here we look at the two partners in the business and see how their differing career paths have come together and brought complementary skills and interests to their company.
Chris Nelson, partner and director of sales and marketing
Chris is one of the founding partners of eggHomes as well as co-owner of Equity Growth Partners. With over £300m of acquisition, the property investment company also offers property management services.
After school, Chris moved into the hospitality industry and has been an entrepreneur ever since. Alongside eggHomes he is also investing in the healthcare and good living sector and is in the process of converting his life to sustainable living.
Viver Green by eggHomes
He is particularly interested in the technical side of sustainability and is developing eggHomes to lead the way in sustainable development. He is a long-term friend of eggHomes partner Ashley Reece and is married with three children, enjoying a sporty outdoors lifestyle.
On the topic of people building a career in housebuilding, Chris told Whathouse.com this spring: “Opportunities are plentiful, the issue is training and understanding from a young age. We need to be engaging with younger age groups to inspire them to want to carve out a career in the construction industry, be it a master builder, project manager, chartered surveyor and so on. Without addressing this issue, the government will struggle to reach its house building targets and I think it needs to step in and introduce training initiatives to encourage more youngsters to enter the industry.”
Ashley Reece, partner and director of construction
Ashley is a founding partner of eggHomes with extensive experience in the construction industry. Professional life started as an apprentice site engineer before working for a large regional housebuilder for eight years progressing through the ranks to become site manager at the age of 23.
Subsequent roles included project manager in construction engineering working on large-scale construction projects such as football stadia build and the renovation of Manchester’s Royal Exchange theatre.
In 1999 Ashley founded a construction company working on schemes from golf club development to office construction and specialising in conservation projects including restoration of Grade I listed buildings. He is committed to training and encouraging young people into the construction industry and previously volunteered as a career ambassador in the Elevate Project.
“The industry will always provide employment and I actively encourage young people to become engaged with the industry by visiting and presenting at local colleges,” says Ashley. “There is a stereotyping issue, with the industry being portrayed by the media as being ‘bacon butties and white vans’! This image has led to the more intelligent / visionary students being encouraged by parents and schools to choose other industries, when in fact the construction industry needs brighter, [more] dynamic people. Vocational training and apprenticeships are, I believe, a better fit for many young people and should be encouraged.”
Ashley holds a national and high national certification in construction technology as well as a degree in quantity surveying. He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Building.
Married with two young girls and three dogs he lives in Cumbria and has purchased one of the Phase 1 eggHomes at Viver Green. He is a keen mountain walker, skier, golfer and cricket player.
Your email has been successfully added to newsletter list.