CHRISTMAS came early for Mike Thomas from Manorbier, when he was recently named as the Welsh regional winner (small category) in a prestigious competition for house builders.
He won his regional award for the high quality of work on his site at Gibbas Way, Upper Lamphey Road, Pembroke.
Mike now goes through to the finals of NHBC's (National House-Building Council) Pride In the Job awards, on January 10, to discover whether he has beaten 22 other site managers to secure the UK title of supreme winner.
It is good news for Mike, of South Meadow Homes, who has enjoyed previous success in the competition, with 2002 marking his hat-trick. This is the third consecutive year that he has won the regional award and it puts him in the running to challenge for the top prize once again. Not only is this a huge achievement in itself, but this landmark is all the more remarkable because, aged 28, he is one of the youngest regional winners.
He has already fought his way through three regional heats to gain his place in the UK finals. Around 16,000 site managers throughout the UK are judged for the competition which aims to find the best house-building site managers, and he is now one of just 23 finalists in contention for the top awards.
In January, the finalists will go head to head at an exclusive ceremony in London where the supreme winners will be announced for each of the small, medium and large builder categories.
NHBC's new chairman, Sir John Carter, will be presenting the awards.