'A legacy of homes built to the highest quality standards': Northern Ireland’s best site managers win ‘Oscars’ for high quality house building
Two regional winners and eight Seal of Excellence recipients were honoured at the NHBC’s prestigious Pride in the Job Awards
Northern Ireland’s best site managers have been recognised for their dedication to raising standards in house building after winning top awards in the most highly regarded competition in the housing industry.
Organised by the National House Building Council (NHBC), the UK’s largest provider of new home warranties and insurance, the prestigious Pride in the Job Awards 2026 crowned two regional winners at the Culloden Estate and Spa in Belfast on Friday 6 November:
Small builder category – Sam Sayers of S & DS Construction Limited for his work at Mount Bernard Rise in Castlederg.
Medium builder category – Cathal Brannigan of Alskea Limited for his work at Ben Eadan Wood in Newtownabbey.
As well as their category wins, Sam and Cathal were each awarded a Pride in the Job Seal of Excellence.
A further eight site managers from across Northern Ireland were also awarded this accolade after they gained a Quality Award in the first round of the competition in June. They were: Stephen Austin of McAlorum Construction Limited in Newtownards, David Boobyer of Antrim Construction Co Limited in Comber, Kevin Cosgrove of Braidwater Group in Londonderry, Karol Dolan of S & DS Construction Limited in Omagh, Paul Greville of Alskea Limited in Belfast, Johnston Logan of Lagan Homes Limited in Antrim, Ricky Morrow of Vaughan Developments Limited in Newtownabbey and Michael Poole of Porter & Co. in Hillsborough.
Widely considered the ‘Oscars’ of the house-building industry, Pride in the Job celebrates site managers’ dedication to raising standards in home building, showcasing best practice and rewarding excellence. The competition covers England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man and is open to NHBC registered builders of all sizes. Everyone deserves a quality home which is why judging is rigorous, with assessment across six key areas: consistency, attention to detail, leadership, interpretation of drawings and specifications, technical expertise and health and safety.
Commenting on the Awards, Padraig Venney, NHBC regional director for Northern Ireland said: “Congratulations to all the winners. They have demonstrated incredible dedication, passion, commitment and leadership to produce homes of exceptional quality.
“The Pride in the Job competition is at the heart of NHBC’s core purpose to raise standards in house building. It inspires site managers to make their mark on the industry, earning the respect of their peers and leaving a legacy of homes built to the highest quality standards.”
A series of regional events are taking place throughout the UK to announce the Regional and Seal of Excellence Award winners and celebrate the achievements of the Quality Award recipients.
Sam and Cathal will now go forward to compete for the ultimate prize in house building, the Pride in the Job Supreme Awards, which will be unveiled at a gala ceremony in London in January 2027.