Former Royal Marine, Tom Jupp has been awarded a coveted Quality Award at the NHBC Pride in the Job Awards 2022 for his exceptional work at Linden Homes’ Monument View development in Wellington.
From a field of over 8,000 site managers, he was one of 443 to be singled out despite it only being his first year in management. He will now go on to compete for Seal of Excellence and Regional Awards in the autumn.
Organised by NHBC, the UK’s leading warranty and insurance provider for new homes, the awards are the most highly regarded in the housebuilding industry. They recognise site managers dedicated to achieving the highest standards in housebuilding and committed to building homes of outstanding quality for their customers.
As well as undergoing spot checks on the day-to-day running of the sites, each candidate is assessed across six key areas of site management, including leadership, attention to detail, technical expertise and consistency in the build process.
Tom, 28 – who was a Royal Marine for six years, working in the Yeovil Helicopter Force and other areas including counter-terrorism and humanitarian aid – left his role as he frequently had to stay away from home and felt like he was missing his daughter grow up.
He joined the company in September 2019 as a trainee and his strong work ethic and sharp eye for detail quickly stood out – leading to his promotion to assistant site manager where he was mentored by Gary French. Gary is the site manager at Blackmore Meadows in Stalbridge and has just won a Quality Award for the second year running.
Talking about his win, Tom said: “I am thrilled to have won the Quality Award, we’ve all worked really hard on site and we were so pleased to receive the news, I couldn’t be happier – it’s been a real team effort.
“I always put myself in the shoes of a customer as it’s vital to see things from their point of view. The surroundings are just as important as the homes so I like to deliver the site as we go: ensuring street lights are installed, roads topped, attenuation ponds created and play parks opened. Attention to detail is key and it’s all about making sure everything is done right first time. Consistency is crucial and I have to problem solve constantly to ensure the best results – whether that’s protecting materials or organising the site compound differently – it’s just about taking a high level of care in what we do.”
Tom lives in Milborne Port and has a daughter Olivia, who’s five years old.
Tom added: “My Royal Marine background has proved to be a great foundation. I was surprised how transferable the skills were: you need to have high standards, leadership qualities, a great work ethic, plus good time management and punctuality, so it’s been a brilliant move for me. I’ve found my perfect career.
“I’m really passionate about housebuilding, it’s hard work but I absolutely love it and hope we can achieve another award.”
Managing director, Paul Moran said: “Some site managers spend their whole working life trying to achieve this accolade and it’s incredible to see someone win so early in their career, it’s not something I’ve ever witnessed before. Tom also works on a dual-branded site, which requires strong site management as there are many different house types and challenges.
“The level of care Tom and his team put into their work is exceptional and if you visit Monument View you will see why he’s won. Residents are asked to complete an independent customer satisfaction survey by the HBF, which provides a further indication of the quality of the build and the latest results show that 100 per cent of customers would recommend the development to their friends and family. Tom is an outstanding site manager and we are delighted that he’s been recognised – he’s definitely one to watch!”
Commenting on the awards, NHBC chief executive Steve Wood said: “For more than 40 years, Pride in the Job has been an important part of our work to help drive construction quality. Winning site managers tell us that it inspires them to give a little extra and to strive harder for ever-higher standards of housebuilding.
“At NHBC we believe that the calibre of the site manager and the way they inspire their site team has the greatest influence on the quality of the finished home. By promoting friendly rivalry, showcasing best practice and rewarding excellence, Pride in the Job supports the delivery of homes of the highest quality.
“Congratulations to all the 2022 Pride in the Job Quality Award winners. They are an inspiration to us all and should be very proud of the quality of new homes they are creating.”
Monument View is located on the outskirts of Wellington and features 205 new homes, along with areas of green open space and a play park.
