Regional Site Manager winner 2022 - Wales

Number of units: 20 affordable homes.

Features: A selection of affordable housing in the established and attractive community of Mostyn, North Wales.

How did you feel when you found out you had won the award?

It was out of the blue and a great surprise but I’m quite proud, because it’s not just about the individual – we have a great team on the Ffordd Pandarus site that deserve recognition.

I’m the Projects Manager for the team, and I work with two other experienced site managers on the development. And the support from LABC and LABC Warranty inspectors has also been great.

What does it mean to you personally?

I’m very proud, and it means a lot, as I’ve never been nominated or won awards for my previous work. I’ve worked in construction for 40 years, but mostly on the commercial side of the business. I’m very proud to earn an award for a residential site.

What does it mean for your team / business?

The business is delighted. Wates is a top-quality builder, and they make sure to support their Site Managers with all the extra bits and pieces that make the difference to a quality site. They’re happy to see that care and effort celebrated and recognised.

What makes a good Site Manager?

To make a good Site Manager you have to be caring, have to be passionate about building, and have to take ownership of what you’re doing and what you’re building. It’s more than just your words, it’s your actions. I’ve been in construction for 40 years, and my enthusiasm for building, for what we do, hasn’t changed. A good team with passionate leaders makes all the difference.

What challenges have you faced, like COVID, supply issues, the economy, and how have you overcome them?

We’re still dealing with COVID! These problems, like the war, COVID, the economy, they can be devastating to a business, especially when it’s a smaller team. But it doesn’t affect quality of the work we do, it just slows it down – we’re always dedicated to the same level of quality regardless of those challenges.

What one success in your work are you most proud of and why?

For this development, it will be fantastic to come back in a year and see the homes in use, to see them being taken care of, and see the homes taking care of the people who need them. As I said, I spent most of my career in the commercial side, so it’s fantastic to be involved in building accommodation for people who really need it.

It keeps me proud of everything we do in the construction industry!