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Jazele Parys (32) has broken new ground working at Eastside Quarter in Bexleyheath, after earning a Quality Award in the National House Building Council’s (NHBC) 2021 Pride in the Job award programme.

Working for Bellway Thames Gateway since 2014, Jazele has been the site manager at the development, off Broadway, since construction work commenced in May 2018.

Bellway has been a driving force for greater diversity within the construction industry and Jazele said the company has really helped to pave the way for more women to become successful.

She said: “It is a great achievement in a male-dominated environment to be the first-ever woman at Bellway to be recognised by the NHBC scheme. The recognition that women can do this job as well has been highlighted by the increase of women who are now in managerial roles.

“I was really shocked but also pleased to have won on behalf of the whole team. Everyone on site has been amazing from start to finish and it has been overwhelming that the work we have done has been recognised with this award.”

Jazele will now progress to the next stage of the competition, which will see the winners of the Seal of Excellence and overall Regional Award announced.

She continued: “Since I have started working in construction, I have always been given the same level of respect as my male colleagues. When I first joined Bellway, there were only one or two site managers who were female, but now the barriers have been lifted and more is being done to tackle that.

“More women are intrigued about pursuing a career in construction and if my award win can inspire just one woman to explore that avenue and be successful, then that would be great. Bellway has always shown its complete support towards me and I know that would be the same for any woman who joins the business in construction or elsewhere.”

Now in its 41^st year, Pride in the Job remains one of the most highly regarded competitions in the industry, recognising site managers who demonstrate best practice and excellence on-site to build homes of the highest quality.

John Haggerstone, Construction Director for Bellway Thames Gateway, said: “To be recognised by the NHBC is the biggest accolade you could achieve as a site manager – and to break the glass ceiling by becoming the first woman in company history to do so is a brilliant achievement for Jazele. We congratulate her and her team on receiving a Quality Award.

“In a year which has tested everybody in so many ways throughout the construction industry and beyond, Jazele has embodied the high standards that Bellway has set of delivering high-quality homes on a consistent basis, even through these challenging periods.

“Offering more opportunities to women to enter the world of construction is something that Bellway is actively working on across the board. We are passionate about dispelling the myth that construction is an industry just for men and showcasing success stories like Jazele’s is the perfect way to do so.

“We congratulate Jazele on her remarkable achievement and wish her the very best of luck for the Seal of Excellence stage of the awards later this year.”