NHBC Pride in the Job Awards: Success Continues for McCarthy Stone
18th June 2019
The UK’s leading developer and manager of retirement continues, McCarthy Stone, is celebrating after 10 site managers picked up a coveted Pride in the Job Quality Award from the National House Builders’ Council (NHBC).
Now in its 39th year, the NHBC Pride in the Job Awards recognises site managers across the country who are at the top of their profession and are creating homes of an outstandingly high standard. A total of 450 have been selected at this stage, from around 16,000 entrants, putting the McCarthy Stone winners in the top three percent of UK site managers. All of those who were successful will be invited to regional awards ceremonies in the autumn, and they will also go on to compete for NHBC Seal of Excellence and Regional Awards.
Brian Holcroft, Head of Health and Safety for McCarthy Stone, said: “The dedication and professionalism shown by our talented team of site managers ensures that we can continue to deliver retirement communities which consistently meet the highest quality standards – and that provide retirees with an option that enriches their later years in many ways.
“I am thrilled that our 10 award winners have been recognised for their commitment to excellence at every stage of the build programme. All of those who have received this accolade from the NHBC have helped to continue McCarthy Stone’s remarkable record of success in an important quality-driven award sector, and my congratulations go to them all.”
The judging process for the Pride in the Job Awards is extremely rigorous. As well as undergoing spot checks of the day-to-day running of their site, each site manager is assessed across over 44 areas of site management, including technical knowledge, consistency in the build process, leadership, and organisational skills. Only those who demonstrate exceptional standards and outstanding quality receive an award.
Commenting on the Awards, NHBC Chief Executive Steve Wood said: “Launched nearly 40 years ago, Pride in the Job has been instrumental in driving up the quality of new homes. Despite the challenges the industry has faced in recent times, this year’s winners have kept their focus on delivering high quality new homes for their customers.
“A site manager’s role is undoubtedly one of the toughest in house building and their drive for excellence is very much at the heart of the competition. Receiving a Quality Award is a great achievement for any site manager. It’s no surprise that Pride in the Job winning sites have higher levels of customer satisfaction as these homes are without doubt among the best the UK has to offer. Congratulations to all the 2019 Quality Award winners.”
McCarthy Stone provides high-quality developments in central locations which are close to amenities, and which cater to all stages of retirement. The company’s outstanding build quality is one of the reasons why it has achieved the full five star customer service satisfaction rating from the Home Builders Federation (HBF). It is the only UK developer, of any size or type, to achieve this accolade every year the awards have been run.
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Notes to Editors
McCarthy Stone is the UK’s leading developer and manager of retirement communities, with a significant market share. The Group buys land and then builds, sells and manages high-quality retirement developments. It has built and sold more than 56,000 properties across more than 1,200 retirement developments since 1977, and is renowned for its focus on the needs of those in later life.
There is growing demand for retirement communities. There are currently 11.8 million people aged 65 or over, rising to 17.3m by 2037, representing a 47% increase3. For those aged 85 or over, the increase will be larger, from 1.6m to 3.0m, representing an 87.5% increase. One in four over 60s are interested in retirement living4, yet only c.162,000 units of specialist retirement housing for homeowners have been built5.
McCarthy Stone has two main product ranges – Retirement Living and Retirement Living Plus – which provide mainly one and two bedroom apartments across the country with varying levels of support and care for older homeowners. Retirement Living developments provide independence in private apartments designed specifically for the over-60s, as well as facilities such as shared lounges and guest suites that support companionship. Retirement Living Plus developments, which are designed specifically for the over-70s, offer all of this plus more on-site facilities such as restaurants, well-being suites and function rooms. Importantly, they also provide flexible care and support packages to assist those needing additional help.
All developments built since 2010 are managed by the company’s in-house management services team, providing peace of mind that it will look after customers and their properties over the long term. This is a key part of how McCarthy Stone seeks to enrich its customers’ lives. This commitment to quality and customer service continues to be recognised by homeowners. In March 2019, the Group received the full Five Star rating for customer satisfaction from the Home Builders Federation for the fourteenth consecutive year – making it the only UK housebuilder, of any size or type, to achieve this accolade.
The Group was also pleased to win 10 awards at the 2019 NHBC Pride in the Job awards. The scheme recognises construction site managers who achieve the highest standards in housebuilding and has been instrumental in driving up standards in the sector for 38 years.
1McCarthy & Stone Retirement Confidence Index survey of over-65s, August 2018
2 Knight Frank: Retirement Housing (2016)
3 ONS household projections: 2016-based (2018)
4 ONS (2017, 2014 based figures)
5 Knight Frank, Retirement Housing (2018)
