Mark Hazell, site manager at Deanfield Orchard in Brightwell-cum-Sotwell, has been recognised as one of the best in the UK after winning a top housing industry award. Mark is celebrating after receiving a Pride in the Job 2024 Quality Award from NHBC, the UK’s largest provider of new home warranties and insurance.

Now in its 44th year and widely considered the ‘Oscars’ of the house-building industry, Pride in the Job has become the benchmark for exceptional site managers. Judging is rigorous, with assessment across six key areas: consistency, attention to detail, leadership, interpretation of drawings and specifications, technical expertise and health and safety. Thousands of inspections, with meticulous scoring and detailed verifications, have taken place to determine the 449 winners from a field of more than 8,000 sites, representing the top 5% of UK site managers.

Peter Blades, managing director of Deanfield Homes, comments: “This is an incredible achievement for Mark and everyone in the team at Deanfield Orchard who supports him. Mark is extremely passionate about what he does, has exacting standards and always goes the extra mile for customers. We’re delighted that he has been recognised on a national stage in this way.”

Commenting on the awards, Steve Wood, CEO at NHBC said: “For more than four decades, Pride in the Job has underpinned NHBC’s purpose of raising standards in house building. The competition recognises the UK’s top site managers, showcasing best practice and rewarding excellence.

“Winning site managers demonstrate dedication, passion and leadership to ensure new homes are delivered to exacting construction quality standards. While house building is a team effort, we believe the greatest influence on the quality of a finished home is the calibre of the site manager and the way they inspire their team. Congratulations to all the winners.”

The Quality Award winners will now go on to compete for Seal of Excellence and Regional Awards in the autumn, with the national Supreme Award winners unveiled in January 2025.

Deanfield Orchard is a collection of 20 two, three, four and five-bedroom homes and one and two-bedroom apartments set in an enviable position on the outskirts of the Brightwell-cum-Sotwell, just two miles from the historic market town of Wallingford. Homes are set against a backdrop of mature trees, wildlife areas, public open space and a children’s playground.