AN Aberdeen building-site supervisor has set a new record by winning
for the second year in succession the supreme honour in the annual Pride
In The Job awards made by the National-House Building Council of
Scotland.
Mr William Cowie, who has this year been in charge of a Wimpey Homes
site at Ashwood, Beechwood, in Bridge of Don, has been declared the best
of the ''Top Ten'' supervisors among more than 700 working in all parts
of Scotland.
He will now go on to contest the national finals in London later this
month when an overall winner will be chosen from the ''Top 100''
supervisors working in various NHBC regions throughout the UK.
This is the first time the same man has been adjudged top in the
eagerly contested competition, which was instituted 11 years ago as part
of the NHBC Scotland campaign to encourage high-quality workmanship in
house-building.
Another notable double was achieved by Mr Allan Donald who has been in
charge of a Barratt Scotland site at Kingsley Den, Kingswells, Aberdeen.
He won a bar to the ''Top Ten'' award he gained as supervisor on the
same project last year. (Only one ''Top Ten'' award can be won by a
supervisor while working on the same scheme for the same employer).
The Pride In The Job campaign involves making independent assessments
of all sites being developed by NHBC-registered builders, who among them
provide more than 90% of private-sector houses in Scotland.
While recognising that house-building is a team effort in which every
member from the designer through to the sales staff has responsibility
for a sound product, the ''Top Ten'' awards are made to site agents as
they are key men in ensuring a high level of site practice and quality
workmanship.
Apart from the awards to supervisors, there is a wide distribution
among sites of posters and other publicity material to encourage sound
working practices by all grades of building operatives and to highlight
the importance of quality in the finished article.
The NHBC, the consumer's watchdog in the industry, has been setting
the standards that must be maintained by members for upwards of 50
years. It has now more than 1300 members registered in Scotland and
about 30,000 throughout the UK.
Mr Eric Purves, the council's Scottish director, said: ''By monitoring
faults that occur and by improving construction standards to eliminate
or reduce problems, the quality of today's homes far surpasses those
built 50 or even 20 years ago.''
All buyers of a new house constructed by a registered builder have the
assurance of a 10-year NHBC Buildmark warranty affording valuable
guarantees against structural and other defects.
The NHBC considers that by encouraging sound workmanship and the use
of good materials during the construction of new houses, many of the
complaints likely to be raised by purchasers are eliminated. It was for
that reason that the Pride In The Job campaign, which includes the
annual Top Ten supervisors awards, was instituted.
No-one has to enter for the awards. Nominations are made by NHBC
inspectors from observations made on regular visits to sites. Factors
taken into account include the quality of work, site safety and
organisation, and care for prospective purchasers and suppliers, but 80%
of the marks are awarded for quality of building.
The NHBC believes the campaign has resulted in an increasing level of
determination in the industry to produce quality homes and to set up
goals at which house-builders can aim. Competition for the awards has
been increasing annually and a win is as much prized in the company
boardroom as it is on the site.
The number of Scottish holders of Top Ten awards is now around 100.
They are highly coveted by site supervisors who look upon them as
additional qualifications although no examination is involved. Winning
an award can greatly enhance job and pay prospects and in many cases
employers have also put up extra prizes for successful supervisors.
Mr William Cowie, this year's overall winner, was presented with a
blue blazer and framed certificate at a ceremony in Edinburgh last
weekend. He was one of three Wimpey Homes supervisors in the Top Ten,
while two others from the same firm earned themselves commendations.
Other Top Ten winners, with sites in brackets, were:
Charles Johnstone, Wimpey Homes (Harlaw Hill Gardens, Prestonpans,
East Lothian); Tony Kilcoyne, Beazer Homes (Glenifer Gate, Paisley);
John Lowe, Beazer Homes (The Hawthorns, Springhill, Baillieston); Robert
McIntosh, Wimpey Homes (Woodlands Park, Lasswade Road, Edinburgh); Paddy
McAlindon, McAlindon Building Contractors (Boyde Street/Lade Street,
Largs); Dick MacKenzie, MacKenzie Developments (Linlithgow) Ltd
(Delphwood Estate, Tullibody); Stewart Purves, CALA Homes (Comiston
Estate, Comiston Road, Edinburgh); Gordon Schmitz, Hugh McRea & Co.
(Woodlands, Cradlehall, Inverness); and Bob Wilson, Laing Homes
(Festival Park, Glasgow).
A special award for supervisors on conversion and renewal projects
went to James Jaap, Alistair Burnett & Co. (Fairley Court, Ibrox,
Glasgow).
Commendations went to Daniel Clelland, Balfour Beatty Homes (Windsor
Gate, Windsor Road, Falkirk); James McDougall, John Dickie Homes Ltd.
(Fairfield Drive, Clarkston, Glasgow); Bob McLean, McLean Homes Scotland
(Castle View, Bannockburn, Stirling); Alexander Marr, Miller Homes Ltd
(Beechmount Park, Balgreen, Edinburgh); and Graham Rice, Wimpey Homes
(Manor Park, Old Kilpatrick, Glasgow).
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