Site manager scoops housebuilding 'Oscar' for Harrogate development

Site manager awarded top award for Harrogate development

A Redrow site manager is celebrating after being recognised among the industry’s best, securing a prestigious Seal of Excellence Award from the National Home Building Council (NHBC).

Paul Douglass, 55, has been awarded the coveted accolade as part of this year’s Pride in the Job Awards.

Now in its 46th year and widely considered the ‘Oscars’ of the housebuilding industry, Pride in the Job has become the benchmark for exceptional site managers.

Paul has been awarded for his work as site manager at Redrow’s Kinglsey Manor development, located on Kingsley Road in Harrogate.

Earlier this year Paul, who has worked for Redrow for the past nine years, won an NHBC Pride in the Job Quality Award, the first phase of the annual competition.

“I am elated; I honestly never expected to win this award, especially as the development is nearing the end of completion,” said Paul, who lives with his wife Debbie and stepchildren Leah and Josh in York.

“But it shows the top level of work that is continuing through the building process, how the team is storing materials, working safely and the quality of our homes, and that’s obviously what the judges saw.”

Having dedicated 40 years to the housebuilding industry, Paul started his career as a labourer at the age of 15, progressing from apprentice joiner and site joiner to assistant site manager and, ultimately, site manager.

Paul has been working as site manager of Kingsley Manor since 2022. Prior to this he worked on Redrow developments in Swanland, Green Hammerton and two in York.

“I’d like to thank all the team at Kingsley Manor, to all the trades, contractors and labourers you are all fantastic,” added Paul.

“I’d also like to thank my past assistant site managers Freddy Rahal and Matt Sparkes and now Josh Aiken who has picked up the baton and definitely ran with it! This award is a team effort so thank you to everyone working Kingsley Manor.

“And finally a big thanks to my wife Debbie, I couldn’t do any of this without her.”

Every site manager who is registered with the NHBC is automatically entered into the awards, with only a select few being awarded the Seal of Excellence.

The judges look at a range of key criteria, including consistency, attention to detail, leadership, interpretation of drawings and specifications, technical expertise and health and safety, helping to build quality standards across both developments and teams.

John Handley, managing director at Redrow Yorkshire, said: “Congratulations to Paul and the team at Kingsley Manor. These awards showcase what it takes to be a top site manager and demonstrate our long-term commitment to looking after our customers.”

Redrow has been creating the award-winning development for the past four years, which will feature a total of 133 properties once complete.

Kingsley Manor is set on 20.3 acres of land and includes green space and two play areas. It also features cycle and footpaths linking to neighbouring developments, local facilities and into the town centre.