Former professional footballer scores title of site manager of the year

As A former professional footballer, Neil Parsley knows all about teamwork, and he reckons it is that which helped him score the title of ‘Site Manager of the Year’ for Redrow in Yorkshire.

Neil, 51, gave credit to his colleagues at Saxon Gardens in Sherburn-in-Elmet for helping him net the coveted title, awarded annually to those who deliver the best and go above and beyond what’s expected of them.

The father-of-two said he was pleased to get the accolade but he praised those around him for its achievement, as well as his own desire to ensure Redrow customers are always happy with the homes he and his team build.

Neil says: “We have got a good team here. We have been together for a long time and we work well together, from the labourers and fork-lift drivers, to the sub-contractors and my assistant site manager Glynn Kirby.

“We have been at Saxon Gardens for approaching two years and, before that, we were together at Scholars’ Gate in Wakefield.”

It is a team which is obviously in the premier league. In the last year Neil has received a 100% record from customer surveys, which ask homeowners about their satisfaction after moving in and whether they would recommend Redrow to a friend or family member.

Says Neil: “We had our first legal completion in April last year so we are coming up to 18 months with a 100% record which is a pretty decent return. To me it doesn’t matter if a person’s house is worth £100,000 or £1 million, they deserve the same level of satisfaction and service.

“I’m very much old-school. You can have all the TV and radio adverts in the world, but the one that matters most is word of mouth, people who bought a house telling people how fantastic Redrow is, and that’s about doing a good job and making sure we have happy customers.”

Neil started his construction career in Liverpool, where he qualified as a joiner, but he was lucky enough to follow his dream to play professional football from 1988-1996, signing for teams including Leeds United, West Bromwich Albion and Doncaster Rovers.

It was when his playing career ended he went back to the building trade and, after a year back working as a joiner, he went off to do his HNC in site management. Neil took up a role as assistant site manager with Redrow in 1999 and then, after a couple of years with another company, re-joined them as site manager in 2002 since when he has worked on around six different sites in Yorkshire.

“I really enjoy my job and I am content with what I do,” says Neil, who is married to Tracy with whom he lives in Woodlesford, Leeds. “I’m still involved with football, I manage non-league teams at a semi-professional level, so my life is full and I want to make sure I can give everything to both roles.”

James Poynor, managing director for Wakefield-based Redrow Homes (Yorkshire) said: “Neil demonstrates nothing other than a ‘can-do’ attitude, and that means he gets the job done – and done well.

“He leads his team exceptionally well and is consistent at all times. By leading from the front, and focusing on quality, this year he has scored an astonishing 100% recommendation rate from 19 surveys – his site is the only site to do this ­– and we are extremely proud of him.”

As well as the coveted title, Neil wins a cash prize.

The award-winning craftsmanship of Neil and his team can be seen by customers who visit the three fully-furnished show homes at Saxon Gardens, in Low Street, Sherburn in Elmet. The popular development features two, three and four-bedroom detached and semi-detached homes from Redrow’s award winning Heritage Collection. Current prices are from £274,950 for a four-bedroom Shrewsbury style property. For more information about homes available at Saxon Gardens call 01977 717516 or visit www.redrow.co.uk/saxongardens

To find out more about working for Redrow go to www.redrowcareers.co.uk