A SITE manager from Westhoughton has received a prestigious National House Building Council (NHBC) Pride in the Job award just months after undergoing brain surgery.

Gavin Flannery, who has worked as a site manager for Bellway Manchester for almost four years, has previously won the award an incredible 10 times, the last time being in 2019.

But due to brain surgery last year, and requiring many months off work to recover, Gavin was unable to enter the competition.

Based at Bellway’s The Vistas development on Collingwood Way in Westhoughton, just a stone’s throw from his home, Gavin said he was extremely pleased to win the award again, which was presented to him for superb management on site.

“I am thrilled with my Pride in the Job award," he said. "I wasn’t able to enter last year due to illness, so to come back from brain surgery with all the associated risks to win this award is amazing and a huge achievement for me personally.”

The NHBC Pride in the Job award, which has been established for over 40 years, recognises and rewards the industry’s very best performers and is an accolade that site managers aspire to achieve.

To receive an award, site managers must score highly in all areas of build and site management including quality of workmanship, technical expertise, health and safety and leadership.

“One of the most challenging elements of The Vistas was the vast remediation work required prior to build starting," said Gavin. "We were the first site in the UK to compress the peat, improving the ground condition and allowing build of the three and four bedroom homes to commence.

“I am part of a team at The Vistas and this award is for each of them too, particularly my assistant site manager Callum Belshaw. Without their continued commitment and support I wouldn’t have won this award.”

Construction director at Bellway, Paul Wright, added: “Gavin has worked hard and diligently since his return from brain surgery and we are so proud he is once again a Pride in the Job winner. He has done an incredible job at The Vistas and this award is testament to his sheer determination, experience, high standards and leadership.”