A construction industry manager has won a prestigious national award for his work building new homes in Newark.

Chris Laywood has been named as the winner of a National House-Building Council (NHBC) Pride in the Job Quality Award for his ‘excellence in site management’ at Ashberry Homes’ Middlebeck development. This is his third NHBC award.

Chris, 39, who was senior site manager at Middlebeck until April this year, has since been promoted to a new role within the company, as contracts manager with responsibility for developments across the eastern counties.

The awards scheme, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, recognises site managers who demonstrate excellence and commitment to producing homes of outstanding quality.

Chris said: “I found out that I’d won my third Pride in the Job award during a work Zoom call, and I was shaking with excitement after receiving the news!

“I believe the success of Middlebeck is due to the excellent management skills of the site’s sales and construction teams. We’re all very committed to our work. The team is 100 per cent dedicated to delivering great quality homes and customer service, and we really do put our hearts into what we do.

“Another reason why Middlebeck is doing so well is because it’s the home to a new Artisan range of properties, meaning the houses here are very well designed with a wide range of buyers in mind.

“Since lockdown – like many builders – we’ve had to face a few challenges at the site, but we’ve been able to communicate and adapt the site quickly to apply the correct safety measures.

“I think it’s important for a site manager to have high standards and be a motivator to their team, and I also think it’s very important to be a people person too.

“The Pride in the Job award is a brilliant achievement not just for myself but for my team too. It feels fantastic for all of us to have won!”

Over the course of nearly a year, site managers across the UK have been observed and judged by NHBC officials.

The judging process for the Pride in the Job awards takes in a multitude of criteria, including consistency, leadership skills, attention to detail, interpretation, technical skills and health and safety.

Christopher, along with other Quality Award winners, will now be put forward for the next stage of judging for a Seal of Excellence award.

For more information on the homes being built by Ashberry Homes, visit ashberryhomes.co.uk

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