Graduate scoops third award as a site manager

History graduate turned builder Joe Ramsbottom has a bright future ahead of him after scooping a third top industry award as a construction site manager.

Joe, from Birstall, West Yorkshire originally joined Redrow’s multi-discipline rotational graduate training programme seven years ago after completing his degree at Huddersfield University.

Fast-forward to present day and he’s overseeing construction of new homes at The Hawthorns in Leeds, achieving recognition as one of the top site managers in the country for a second year running.

Joe is one of 21 of our site managers recognised in the NHBC Pride in the Job Awards 2020, receiving a “Quality” Award for his efforts.

Marking its 40th year, Pride in the Job celebrates the exceptional contribution site managers make in creating homes of outstanding quality.

“When I left university and started the graduate training scheme it was a chance to find my way and explore career options,” Joe, 28, recalled.

“One of the benefits of the programme was that over the course of 15 months I was able to spend time in each department and understand what they do and how they all fit together. When I first started, I didn’t think I’d end up in construction, I thought I’d like to work in the land department but I quickly found I enjoyed being on site.”

With our support he enrolled with the Chartered Institute of Building and gained his NVQ level 6 in Residential Construction Management and was appointed assistant site manager and then promoted to site manager in early 2018.

Last year he won his first “Quality” Award and went on to even higher achievement, bringing home a Seal of Excellence in the next level of the competition.

Typically Joe, 28, is responsible for overseeing around 40 people working on site each day. In recent weeks this has been reduced to between 25 and 30 due to social distancing measures introduced to ensure site safety during the coronavirus pandemic.

“It’s all the same team and another good result,” he said of his latest award win. “Having the same people working on site on a regular basis enables you to establish a rhythm and routine, which help makes things run smoothly.”

With more than 11,000 managers in the running for the awards, this year’s winners have been hand-picked for their excellent standards on site and represent just 4% of those who entered.

Wayne Morris, construction director for our Yorkshire division, said: “People often assume that you need a trade to become a site manager, but Joe has demonstrated that taking a more academic route is also possible. The fact that he’s won the coveted Seal of Excellence and two Quality awards in his first few years in the role is testament to the hard work, dedication and the exceptional standards maintained by Joe and his team on site. We’re so proud of Joe’s achievements and wish him luck for the next stage of the competition.”

Commenting on the awards, NHBC Chief Executive Steve Wood said: “Pride in the Job has been pivotal in improving the quality of new homes so it’s fantastic to be able to celebrate its 40th anniversary. Despite the numerous challenges the industry has faced in recent times, the very best site managers of 2020 have kept their focus on delivering high quality new homes for their customers.”

Following the announcement of the first-round winners, all successful site managers go on to compete for a Seal of Excellence and a Regional Award in their respective categories, subject to judges being able to undertake site visits. The next stage of winners will be announced at virtual ceremonies in the autumn.

Of the 71 homes being built by Joe and his team at The Hawthorns, just off the A6120 outer ring road and five miles north east of Leeds city centre, only two now remain for sale. To find out more call 0113 882 3020 or see www.redrow.co.uk/thehawthorns.