Redrow trio scoop coveted awards

Three Redrow employees have scooped a trio of honours at the company’s annual awards ceremony. Construction secretary Karen Blunden was awarded the top accolade of Redrow Homes (Southern) employee of the year, while her colleagues Nicola Summersell and Steve Isherwood won Sales Consultant of the Year and Site Manager of the Year respectively.

Karen, who works at Redrow’s regional head office in Basingstoke, was new to the home building industry when she joined the company in April, 2006.

However, her knowledge of the field has rapidly expanded in the last year not least because she and her husband Paul have been building their own home together.

Karen, 33, who lives in Andover, Hampshire, said: “It was a shock when I heard I’d won the award because I haven’t been here that long but I have to say it was a very pleasant surprise.

“I look after about 13 site managers, who are all lovely. I think they probably put me up for it because I keep them giggling all day.”

Before joining Redrow, Karen and her husband, who also works in the construction business, owned a pub but Karen says the long unsociable hours led to her rethinking her career.

She has been building her own home with Paul for the last year and the couple have just moved in.

She added: “It’s been hard work and we’ve still got to landscape the garden but we are planning on kicking back and relaxing for a bit now.”

Fellow winner, sales consultant Nicola is married with three children and has been a member of the Redrow team for two and a half years.

Nicola, from Carters Corner, in East Sussex, is based at the award-winning development The Boardwalk, at Sovereign Harbour, Eastbourne.

She said: “I really enjoy my job and the people that I work with. It’s a very varied role and I like the challenges that a development such as the boardwalk brings. I think I won the award because I’m quite flexible and get on well with everybody.”

Site manager of the year Steve, 30, has worked at Redrow for just under five years.

The dad-of-one is currently based at Redrow’s Imperial Heights venture, in Bracknell, Berkshire. He was promoted from assistant site manager to site manager after a year working for Redrow.

Originally from Greater Manchester, Steve, whose hobbies include clay-pigeon shooting, moved 300 miles south to be with his wife and says he misses watching his local team Bury FC.

Now living in Burgess Hill, West Sussex, he said: “I hoped I might be in the running but you never know with these things. The award is a reflection on the hard work of the whole team on site.”

Stuart Rowlands, managing director for Redrow Homes (Southern) said: “Karen, Nicola and Steve are all worthy winners of their awards and it is testament to their hard work, dedication and commitment to their jobs. I’m extremely proud of them all.”

Redrow’s Basingstoke based subsidiary builds homes across several counties in the south of England, including East and West Sussex, Berkshire, Hampshire and Surrey.

For details of local developments visit Redrow.co.uk.