Member Article

Top award for Persimmon Homes Site Manager

A Site Manager at a County Durham development has received a prestigious regional award for his efforts.

Alex Thirlaway received the Local Authority Building Control (LABC) Warranty, Northern Region Site Manager Award for his efforts at Middridge Vale; a Persimmon Homes Durham development located in Shildon.

The LABC Warranty Site Manager Awards recognise and reward the outstanding contribution of Site Managers working on LABC Warranty sites for ensuring quality in construction.

Mr Thirlaway , from Sunderland, received his award at a ceremony at the Hilton Hotel in Newcastle. He will now head to the grand final in London on November 28th with the possibility of winning the national award.

The former serviceman, who served at RAF Catterick in North Yorkshire, said he was delighted by his win.

He explained: “Prior to the awards I was notified by our Construction Director, Don Anderson, that I had been nominated. I was shocked and delighted that my efforts had been recognised, and when it came to the night of the awards and the announcement I had won I was stunned – anyone who saw my face could tell you that.”

“I’m just delighted by it all; after all I was being recognised for doing my job to the best of my ability for Persimmon Homes Durham. My origin is ex military as I was in the RAF at Catterick for several years before joining the house building industry. My father was in construction and it was this that made me consider the career change.

“I’ve worked my way up from a serviceman in the RAF to an award winning Site Manager with Persimmon Homes Durham. It has been some journey.”

The 45-year-old beat off competition from other major house builders in Tyne & Wear, Tees Valley, Cumbria and Leicestershire to claim his prize and admits it’s yet to sink in but is proud with the recognition of his efforts.

He added: “I can’t quite believe I’ll be heading down to London, representing Persimmon Homes Durham, with a chance of winning a national award. It’s an exciting time for me but I have to give credit to the whole team who have assisted me in winning this award.”

Mr Thirlaway is one of many ex military personnel working with Persimmon Homes.

Opportunities have been boosted by the company’s Combat to Construction scheme whereby their traineeship programme is aimed at enabling ex military and service leavers to transfer their existing skills into a rewarding career with Persimmon Homes.

Through Persimmon Homes Combat to Construction initiative, an NVQ Level 2 trade bricklaying or joinery training programme is available to support service leavers to make the transition from the military into house building.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Lee Southen .