The Pride in the Job Award from National House Building Council (NHBC) is one that is sought-after by site managers all over the UK.
There were around 16,000 men and women competing for the awards this year, and the winners of the first round (the Quality Award) were recently announced – just 450 of them. From September to November, there’s a series of regional (Seal of Excellence) awards ceremonies to hone down the list even further, with the gala final taking place in January next year to name the nation’s Supreme Awards winners.
NHBC chief executive Steve Wood said: “A site manager’s role is undoubtedly one of the toughest in housebuilding and their drive for excellence is very much at the heart of the competition. Receiving a Quality Award is a great achievement for any site manager. It’s no surprise that Pride in the Job-winning sites have higher levels of customer satisfaction as these homes are without doubt among the best the UK has to offer.
We’ve already seen Redrow’s reaction to winning 28 awards nationally and here, a few more of this year’s first-round winners and their bosses tell us how they feel about being recognised for the high quality of work they do.
Brian Bermingham, Spitfire Bespoke Homes
Brian is working on St Mark’s Gate in Windsor scheme in Windsor.
He said: “This is the third Pride in the Job award I have received in my career, but is the first I have won since joining Spitfire Bespoke Homes. I feel very proud to work for a business which holds quality at the heart of everything they do and am delighted the team has been recognised for their hard work and dedication to creating quality products. Hopefully this award is the first of many more to come!”
Jonathan Cranley, Brian’s regional managing director, added: “We are extremely proud of this recognition from the NHBC. The award is an outstanding achievement for Brian who has worked incredibly hard, holding Spitfire’s values at his heart. It is also an equally outstanding achievement for us a business.”
Darren Price and Jack Davey, Barratt Developments Northampton
Darren is the senior site manager at Lake View in Corby and Jack Davey the site manager at Lyveden Fields in Corby.
About his fourth Pride in the Job Quality Award Darren said: “Winning this award gives me job satisfaction and confidence that I’m handing over a good quality home to our customers. I would like to thank my team at Lake View, I couldn’t have achieved this without them and the support from the company.”
Jack said: “Starting as an apprentice, I have worked my way through the ranks to site manager. To win a Pride in the Job award I feel pleased that myself and all of the site team have been recognised for all the passion, effort and hard work that we all put in to building our houses. I would like to thank Barratt Northampton for supporting me and driving me to achieve the award.”
Matthew Harris and Wayne Hayward, Taylor Wimpey
Matthew and Wayne work at Great Western Park in Didcot and Bridleways in Banbury respectively.
Wayne said: “I’m delighted to have won a Quality Award. It’s a fantastic honour, not just for me, but the whole team at Bridleways. They all work incredibly hard and take great pride in ensuring that the homes we build are completed to the highest possible standards.”
Mark Edmonds, managing director of Taylor Wimpey Oxfordshire, added: “We are committed to maintaining the highest levels of quality and customer service, and this recognition has ensured that we continue to be an NHBC award-winning housebuilder year after year. Matthew and Wayne’s Quality Award is thoroughly deserved and we’ll all be supporting them as they progress through to the regional heats and hopefully to the grand final in London.”
Five winners, Barratt Developments Yorkshire East and West
The winners across these two divisions are: Ben Waines, senior site manager at Saxon Gate in Stamford Bridge; Paul Dearnley, senior site manager at Tranby Fields in Hessle; Martin Thorley, project manager at The Chocolate Works in York; Ricky Booth, site manager at Ashmeade Park in Pontefract; and Andy Briddock, site manager at St Oswald’s View in Methley.
Daniel Smith, managing director at Barratt Developments, Yorkshire East, said: “These awards acknowledge the quality of homes that we are building as well as the efficiency of our sites, something that is of utmost importance to first-time and prospective buyers.”
Ian Ruthven, managing director of Barratt Developments Yorkshire West, added: “We are absolutely thrilled to have won 84 awards [across the company nationally] at this year’s Pride in the Job Quality Awards, and to have won more awards than any other housebuilder for 15 years in a row!”
John Firth, Linden Homes
John is looking after Oak Park, a development in Tockwith, North Yorkshire, and is one of just 46 site managers from the North East region to win a first round award this year.
John said: “What’s particularly encouraging about this award is that it highlights the determination we have at every step of the way to deliver homes that our customers enjoy living in. It’s really good to have that publicly recognised by the industry.”
Linden Homes West Yorkshire managing director Scott Stothard added: “This is fantastic news for John, who at just 28 years old has shown a real determination, personal and professional commitment to making his site the very best he can – and this has really paid off with him beating so much competition to earn this recognition.”
Four winners, Mactaggart & Mickel
The winners for this luxury housebuilder are: Paul Starritt, senior site manager at St Jude’s Meadow in Milton-under-Wychwood; his brother Jason Starritt, site manager at Buchanan Views in Killearn; Ryan Coughtrie, assistant site manager at Midton Fields in Howwood; and Stuart Gillespie senior site manager at Greenan Views in Doonfoot, who has previously been named as a Regional Winner and UK Supreme Winner.
Joanne Casey, managing director at Mactaggart & Mickel’s England division, said: “These awards are so richly deserved for our four site managers. We’re all particularly pleased for Paul, who along with Jason and Ryan is winning this award for the very first time. They have all quite rightly been recognised for their dedication to delivering high standards at developments across the country and ensuring that our customers can always depend on the finished quality of their homes.”
Three winners, Barratt Bristol
Martin Beard is site manager at Beecham Place in Radstock, winning now three years in a row; multiple award-winner Paul Cromey is site manager at Northwalls Grange in Taunton; and Matthew Lloyd is site manager at Birds Marsh View in Chippenham.
Barratt Bristol managing director Russell Glimstead said: “These awards recognise only the very best new homes and well run sites. They are something that customers can look out for as a quality mark knowing their home has been built to the highest standard possible. To win more of these awards than any other housebuilder for 15 years in a row is a real point of difference which shows how committed we are to building high-quality homes for our customers.”
Piet Cloete, Linden Homes
Piet works at Buckby Grange in Burton Latimer, and this is the second year in a row he’s won this award.
Piet said: “Progressing so far in this industry competition means an incredible amount to me, but it’s been a team effort to maintain such high standards. Without everyone’s commitment we couldn’t achieve a really well-run and highly successful sell-out development or deliver top quality homes on what has been a really successful development.”
Linden Homes Midlands production manager Rob Spittles added: “Pride in the Job recognises the hugely important role site managers play in delivering high quality new homes and receiving a Quality Award is a great achievement for any site manager. Piet’s role is undoubtedly one of the toughest in house building and his drive for excellence is very much at the heart of the competition.”
Carl Haskell and Lewis Digby, Martin Grant Homes
Carl has spent the last two years overseeing Buckton Fields in Northampton and Lewis is responsible for Halsey Meadows, in the Surrey village of Bramley.
Carl said: “I’m naturally extremely happy to be receiving the award. Buckton Fields is a dynamic and challenging site to be working on, so it’s great to be recognised for the way the team has handled the project and deliver a product that our customers can really enjoy. For me, it’s really important that a team feels organised and a good team spirit is prevalent if we are to get the best out of each other and ensure the highest of standards. That’s definitely been the case at Buckton Fields.”
Lewis commented: “I have been following the NHBC awards for quite some time now, so to be named as an award winner this year is brilliant. The judging process was by no means a walk in the park so it’s great to be recognised for the hard work that has been carried out alongside a top rate project team. It wouldn’t have been made possible without a great team effort. Halsey Meadows has presented some challenging issues during my time on site, particularly relating to site access, but no project would be complete without those!
