A former soldier building new homes in Quedgeley says he is proud of his employer’s reputation for recruiting armed forces and the benefit can be seen in the quality of work.
Ex-Lance Corporal Lee Wines, site manager at Linden Homes’ Green Oaks location, said Vistry Group’s Employee Recognition Scheme Gold Award was held in high regard and housebuilding offered a home for ex-military personnel with transferrable skills.
Groundwork is being carried out at the development, off Rudloe Drive, with two, three and four-bedroom homes being built from next month and a show home being launched later in the year.
Lee, from Cheltenham, who used to help out at his dad’s building company when younger, said: “I would encourage all housebuilders and other employers to take on ex-forces if they can, as the quality of work they do is great. In terms of turning up on time, looking smart and listening and applying themselves, they’re right up there with the best. In the UK, housebuilding is one of the closest industries you can get, in terms of applying skills and the comradeship, to traits needed in the military.
“In housebuilding, the end result is handing over a property to someone for them to live in. Making that home as perfect as we can is our goal and we all share in that, whether we’ve been in the military or not.”
Lee left school and joined the army at 17. After serving three tours in Iraq over eight years in the military, he was then employed in a number of security roles, providing protection for commercial shipping companies against the threat of Somali pirates.
His dad was in the special forces and later started his own building company, which Lee would support when he was back on leave from the army. Lee developed his skills having worked in tiling and scaffolding before signing up to the military.
Lee, who aims to lead by example on site, added those with armed forces backgrounds tended to be well-presented, punctual, have good people skills, a strong ability to meet deadlines and took pride in what they were doing.
Former Royal Engineer Roger Morton, Vistry Group change director, said: “We’re delighted to have hardworking staff with military backgrounds in all areas of our business and Lee in Quedgeley is a great example of someone who enjoys meeting the high standards we hold in building high quality homes that are perfect for our customers.”
Lee lives with his partner and has three children, Jaxon, 4, Aria, 2, and three-week-old Bodhi. He has also worked on developments in Cheltenham, Moreton-in-Marsh and Hardwicke.
Vistry achieved an MOD Gold Award in 2019 for a raft of initiatives, including providing employment opportunities and helping those connected to the military onto the housing ladder.
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Contact: Chris Campbell, Vistry Group, 01242 388713; chris.campbell@vistrygroup.co.uk
References to “we”, “us” or “our” are to the part of the Vistry Group (including Linden Homes, Bovis Homes, Countryside Homes, Drew Smith, Vistry Ventures or one of Vistry’s joint venture companies) from which you are intending to purchase a new home. References to "you” and “your” are to the prospective buyer or buyers of a new home from us.
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