Bellway is celebrating a successful year after two of its site managers were chosen as among the best housebuilders in their region.
Paul Oakley won the Regional Award for Wales in the large builder category of the National House Building Council’s (NHBC) Pride in the Job competition, while Peter Lawrie won in the same category in the Scotland region.
The pair achieved the prestigious accolade in their respective divisions after winning first a Quality Award and then a Seal of Excellence in the 2023 competition. They are both now in the running for the national Supreme Award, which will be announced in January.
Pride in the Job was created more than 40 years ago to highlight best practice in the industry, and to recognise those who consistently meet the highest standards in construction and site management. Every site registered with the NHBC is automatically entered into the competition, which this year totalled around 8,000.
Paul won the award for his work at Bellway Wales’ Longwood Grange development in Lisvane, just outside Cardiff.
Describing his approach to the job, Paul said: “I pride myself on knowing my customers are having a top-quality product. I pride myself on doing things right, and if it’s not right it gets done again.”
Paying tribute to his site team, he added: “They all bought into it and gave me their all when I needed it and supported me when I needed to be off site.”
Paul, 50, who has won 19 Pride in the Job awards over his career, also paid tribute to his partner Michelle John, 49, who supported him in his work while she went through treatment for endometrial cancer this year.
“She has supported me through everything with my job for many years and when Pride in the Job comes around, she is as competitive as me! She is my rock. That’s why winning this has been really special because it’s been personal to myself and my family and because without the help and support of the family and my partner, I couldn’t have done it.”
Peter was recognised with a Regional Award for his work at Bellway Scotland’s Earl’s Way development in Dunfermline.
Peter said: “It is an honour to have been recognised in such a way by the NHBC.
“The work we do at Bellway is of the highest quality, and I myself also always aim for the best quality across everything I do – from building work to office work and customer service.
“During my career I’ve learnt firsthand that hard work pays off, and that a strong team ethos and attention to detail are equally important for success.
“A well done and congratulations to all of my colleagues across the Bellway Group who have also been recognised for their efforts in this year’s awards.”
Bellway’s two Regional Award winners were among 11 of the housebuilder’s site managers to claim a coveted Seal of Excellence in this year’s competition. The company has 21 divisions across England, Scotland and Wales, and builds under the Bellway and Ashberry Homes brands.
The other nine site managers to win a Seal of Excellence were: Kaylea Burns, Bellway North London (Goodsyard, Bishop’s Stortford); Ashley Chell, Ashberry Homes (Amber Rise, Ripley); Josh Croxford, Bellway Northern Home Counties (New Cardington Gate, Cardington); Ross Jenkins, Bellway Northern Home Counties (Hawthorn Place, Wellingborough); Karl Laverick, Bellway Yorkshire (Amblers Grange, Pocklington); Chris Smith, Bellway East Midlands (Stoughton Park, Leicester); Jamie Smith, Bellway West Midlands (Hatton Court, Derby); Ben Taylor, Bellway West Midlands (Green Oaks, Cannock); Darrell Wilson, Bellway Kent (Parsonage Place, Maidstone).
Tony Atkin, Bellway Group Production Managing Director, said: “I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all our site managers whose work was recognised with awards in the NHBC annual competition, which is acknowledged as the benchmark of excellence within the building industry.
“Judging for these awards is meticulous, with each site undergoing rigorous spot checks on its day-to-day running. Winning a Seal of Excellence is impressive in itself, so for Paul and Peter to also claim the regional award in their category is an exceptional achievement.
“Bellway has gained a five-star rating from the Home Builders Federation for the seventh successive year. This status means that more than 90 per cent of our customers would recommend us to a friend and much of that is down to the talents and dedication of Paul, Peter and the rest of our excellent team of site managers.
“As an Employer of Choice, we are committed to training and supporting all our staff and encouraging them to reach their full potential. Having so many award-winning site managers suggests that we are not only hiring some of the best talent in the business but also enabling them to flourish and achieve the highest standards.”
For more information about the new homes being built by Bellway and Ashberry Homes, visit https://www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes and https://www.ashberryhomes.co.uk/5-star-homes.