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Who wouldnt want an award winning house and especially one built by an award winning Site Manager?

May 2012

Left to right: Mark Irving, Richard Cannon (Contracts Manager for Story Homes) and Duncan Chisholm.

Site Manager’s Duncan Chisholm and Mark Irving who respectively manage Magellan Park, Whitehaven and Edmondson Close, Brampton, recently received the news that they have both been put through to the regional finals for their high standards in managing and delivering successful developments. Between them they have over 20 years experience working for Story Homes.

Duncan will be known to many for his crucial part in the recently screened ITV4 ‘Rookie Builders’ series where he mentored 22 apprentices as they took on the challenge of a lifetime – to build an executive 4-bedroom detached property in 12 months.

As well as becoming a father for the first time last year – a daunting task in itself, Duncan arguably also took on the challenge of a lifetime. The apprentices had little or no building experience and their every move was being filmed so the nation could watch as the young rookies either sunk or swam. Thankfully, under Duncan’s careful guidance, they proved their worth. There were ups and downs but the apprentices achieved what many thought they wouldn’t – finishing ahead of schedule and to the very high standard expected of a Story Home. Duncan is a time served joiner so the apprentices weren’t going to get much past him!!

Duncan commented “There have been a few minor hiccups which have easily been rectified, but that’s only to be expected and it’s amazing that there haven’t been any major problems!! The series aired in March and April and I’ve had a bit of stick, but mainly it’s been good natured. The lads worked hard and I’m pleased that my skills have also been recognized by LABC”.

Magellan Park is a large site on the outskirts of Whitehaven, overlooking the Irish Sea. The site won a Bloomberg UK Property award last year and the house the apprentices built impressed bosses at Story Homes so much that it is now the developments new show home.

Mark Irving is the second nominee for an LABC award and it’s fair to say he’s no stranger to winning awards, having won a Quality Award in NHBC’s national Pride in the Job competition for his management of another flagship Story development in Dumfries. Currently overseeing the build at Brampton, Mark continues to build to Story Homes’ quality and exacting standards. The development has 42 houses and all but five have been sold in less than 12 months of the site being launched. Mark started work with Story Homes as a bricklayer and he has worked his way up to be one of the companies top Site Managers.

As well as exceptional standards in the day to day running of a site, LABC assess Site Manager’s excellence in technical knowledge, consistency in the build process, leadership and organisational skills.

Mark said ‘I’m really pleased to be short listed for an award for running our site in Brampton. It is a great site with a high specification and its sandstone exteriors look fantastic. I get to know buyers soon after they reserve as some come to site to see their property progressing; it’s this relationship which gives our developments something money can’t buy – a sense of community spirit. That gives me a great sense of pride in what I do. Like Duncan, I have a great team and as we’re only weeks away from completing this development, we’re working even harder.’

And again last week, and for the third year running, Summerpark in Dumfries has been short listed in the ‘Small House builder of the Year’ (under 700 units) category for a Scottish Home award. In 2010 Summerpark won ‘Best House in Scotland’ in the awards, they were shortlisted for an award last year and it’s just been announced they’ve been shortlisted again. Up against extreme competition from many of Scotland’s national house builders, to continue to get shortlisted is a great achievement for a relatively small company like Story Homes who typically build around 150 units per year. The Summerpark site already boosts the accolade of having won a UK Property award for four years running.

Louise McGuckin, Sales Director for Story Homes said ‘There aren’t many buyers who can boast that an award winning Site Manager built their house or that they live on an award winning development, but most of our buyers can!! It is essential that we maintain our outstanding reputation for quality and design. That requires dedication and hard work from the whole team, especially from our Site Managers. I’d encourage buyers to visit any of our current five sites, talk to our Sales Advisers, and see why our properties, and our staff, continue to win awards.’