Lewis Little, 32, who has overseen construction at Vistry’s Minerva Heights since work started there in September 2020. He is one of just 11 winners from the South East section of the National House Building Council’s (NHBC) awards, which were staged in Brighton on Friday 28 October.

The Seal of Excellence is the second stage of the Pride in the Job Awards, with Lewis being among 442 site managers out of 8,000 across the country to receive a Quality Award in the first round of this year’s competition.

Vistry is building properties under both its Bovis Homes and Linden Homes brands at Minerva Heights.

Lewis is no stranger to winning awards as he has won three Quality Awards as a site manager for Vistry, in 2019, 2021 and 2022, the last two for his work at Minerva Heights. He also won a Seal of Excellence in the competition last year, also for his work at the same site. 

Lewis, a former physical training instructor in the Army, said: “I am thrilled to have won a Seal of Excellence for the second year in a row. I must say it felt really good to walk up onto the stage in front of my peers and accept the award.

“Although the award has my name on, I was accepting it on behalf of the entire team at Minerva Heights. I don’t think there is really any secret to my success except that I was in the military and always set myself the highest standards and expect those around me to do the same. That, and the fact that I am lucky enough to have an understanding wife who supports my total commitment to my work.”

Lewis, who lives in Southampton with his wife Victoria and five-month-old daughter Alba, has now been promoted to contracts manager at Vistry Southern.

He said: “I will still oversee the project at Minerva Heights but they will bring in a site manager under me. This means a lot to me as I was there at the start of this development and I wanted to be there when it is finished. 

“My new role will also call on me to oversee construction work at two sites at Boorley Green and Allington Lane in Southampton. I am really excited about the new challenge and can’t wait to crack on.”

Dawnet Mclaughlin, managing director of Vistry Southern, said: “Lewis is known for his ‘firm but fair’ approach and this has seen him assemble a dedicated and loyal team which has produced work of the highest quality at Minerva Heights.

“His brilliant work won him a Seal of Excellence there last year and now he has won the same award for the latest phase of homes. Winning that award once is remarkable enough but to win it two years in a row speaks volumes about Lewis and his leadership skills.

“His promotion to contracts manager is fully deserved and we are fully confident that Lewis will continue to help Vistry Southern maintain the highest of standards for construction and customer care.”

Vistry is building a range of homes at Minerva Heights, with three, four and five-bedroom houses currently available to reserve under the Linden Homes and Bovis Homes brands.

Find out more: www.vistrygroup.co.uk