Pair winning builders’ Oscars

A site manager overseeing the Kingfisher Meadow building development at Horsford has scooped one of the housebuilding industry’s highest awards.

Halit Kol, from Barratt and David Wilson Homes, won a Pride in the Job award from the National House Building Council along with Kegan Charlesworth, who oversees the company’s development at Sprowston.

Halit Kol

Kegan Charlesworth

The annual awards – dubbed the industry’s Oscars – recognise the best site managers across the country, with more than 8,000 being entered into the competition annually.

And this is the third time Halit has won.

“I am absolutely thrilled to have received this award,” he said.

“Being a site manager for just three years and winning the Pride in the Job award each year is incredibly gratifying.

“This success is a testament to consistency, a fantastic team and outstanding support from the company. It’s all about attention to detail and treating your team like a family.”

Fellow winner Kegan has been working on the Sprowston site since April 2022 and this is his first award.

And he was quick to praise his team.

“Although the award has been granted to me as an individual, I believe it’s a credit to the team I have with me at Woodland Heath,” he said.

“I work with two brilliant managers and have a great team of subcontractors that have helped massively in delivering both quantity and quality.”

His secret for others hoping to follow in his footsteps is simple. “Do not stress. Instead, promote a happy and enjoyable environment for everyone that arrives at your site. Make it a place everyone wants to come and work at day in, day out.”

In total, site managers working for Barratt and David Wilson Homes’ parent company, Barratt Developments, have won 89 Pride in the Job awards this year alone.

Simon Wood, managing director at Barratt and David Wilson Homes Anglia, said: “We’re so proud of Kegan and Halit for achieving a prestigious Pride in the Job Quality award this year.

“It’s amazing news for the teams at their developments and for our customers.”