A career in construction
David began his career in 1983 as a trainee joiner. He gained this role through CITB’s Youth Training Scheme and secured a full apprenticeship a year later. After working in a variety of carpentry and joinery roles he joined McLean Homes as a finishing joiner in 1993. In 2000 he became an Assistant Site Manager, moving on to a Senior Site Manager role with Taylor Wimpey West Scotland, a company he has now been with for more than 10 years.
Building the right environment
David is an experienced leader who has nurtured a strong and positive culture on site. He demonstrates care for the site and his team through his commitment to health and safety, with excellent provision across the development and the extensive use of protection of the works in progress, something that was noted by the Pride in the Job judges.
All this care and consideration contributes to an environment with excellent material and people management where his team can flourish and produce the expected level of quality.
David explained “By protecting and organising materials and providing a well-run site, you motivate people to work with you. Many of the tradespeople on the site have worked under my management for more than eight years, providing consistent high-quality work. Both my team and the subcontractors are outstanding so I want to give them an environment where they can do their best work. For example, we install a high level of protection to works-in-progress, allowing our finishing trades to bring their work up to standard.”
A focus on quality
Pride in the Job has been running for 44 years and is central to NHBC’s core purpose of raising standards in house building. The competition is a unique celebration of the dedication and hard work of individuals who have led their teams to deliver much-needed new homes built to the very highest quality standards.
David added “Being involved with Pride in the Job sets the tone for how we run the site, it is a team effort focused on quality from day one ensuring a great product for our customers. The way I look at it is that if we provide our best product, we will be involved with Pride in the Job and vice versa. There are lots of rewarding aspects to being a site manager, but handing over a high-quality home to our customers is the most fulfilling. Seeing their joy when they first view their finished home makes all the hard work worthwhile.”
Winning at Pride in the Job
Pride in the Job is a prestigious benchmark for exceptional site managers, winning is a huge achievement that takes dedication and a long-term commitment to quality.
David had been managing sites for several years before winning his first award, a Seal of Excellence in 2011. Alongside other commendations for quality, he won further Seal of Excellence awards in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022. He also received Quality Awards in 2021 and 2023, followed by his Supremes win in the Large Builder Category in 2024.
David said “I still remember my first win in 2011 - the feeling was unbelievable. Winning the Scottish Regional Award was an incredible feeling too, but being named the Supreme Award winner was the pinnacle of my career. It is a fantastic result for me and my team at Castle Gate in Maidenhill and the wider Taylor Wimpey West Scotland team.”
Looking ahead
David is rightly extremely proud of his Pride in the Job achievements and showcases his many awards, from the first Seal of Excellence in 2011 to the Supreme Award in 2024, on a shelf in his site office. This is a great reminder of everything he and his team have achieved and a source of motivation to keep excelling and striving for high quality into the future.
David said “I would like to thank my entire site team, subcontractors, suppliers, and the wider Taylor Wimpey West Scotland business for their effort and support, which helped us win the Supreme Award for Large Builder Category. I am delighted with the win, but that was 2024. Matching that achievement will be challenging, but we are already preparing for Pride in the Job 2025. We have had our first round of visits and will try our hardest to be in the running again!”
