Without passion and learning, we can’t make Vistry – just ask Sam.
Sam Taylor’s family may already be helping us make Vistry, but he has his own ambitions that he wants to realise. We caught up with him to learn more about his decision to leave the college construction course he was on, and how learning on the job has helped him become site manager at 20 years old.
“I left my college construction course halfway through to pursue a job with Vistry Group, and now I’ve qualified as an assistant site manager. At 17, during the first year of my construction course at a college in Macclesfield, Vistry Group offered me a job after just one week of work experience! I’m now 20 years old and have completed my training programme and recently been appointed as an assistant site manager at Vistry’s Hazelmere location in Haslington. Vistry supported me in obtaining an NVQ Level 4 in construction management through an online training course with the National House Building Council. In March, I’ll begin a two-year course to earn a degree in construction site management.
Vistry has encouraged and supported me in my personal and professional development since day one. It was a bit of a gamble to leave my college course halfway through, but I knew I would rather learn on the job than be in a classroom.
My uncle was the site manager at a Vistry development in Brockworth in Gloucestershire and he invited me on a week’s work experience there. I loved it so much that I knew then I wanted to be a site manager. When I was offered a job, I jumped at the chance. My dad, who is a Vistry managing quantity surveyor, let me make my own decision but knew how much I wanted to be in the industry.
Joining Vistry in July 2021 as a trainee assistant site manager at Hazelmere, under the guidance of Albert Hassall, who has won the NHBC Seal of Excellence Award for five consecutive years, was an amazing start to my construction career. He is such an inspirational figure. It was an education to see how he would treat everyone with respect and understanding whether they be the trades teams, suppliers, the sales advisors, or customers. He had time for everyone and was incredibly organised in all that he did.
After Albert moved on, Darren Reaney came in as site manager, and as I became more experienced, I was able to help him out and take on tasks that I could not under Albert. This really helped me develop my skills, and I am indebted to them for all their assistance and support. I am very ambitious and want to be as good as I can be at this job and claim my own Seal of Excellence Awards.”
We caught up with Albert, who’s now senior site manager at Bollin Grange development in Macclesfield: “I was senior site manager at Hazelmere when Sam was hired as a teenager straight from college. It was obvious right from the start that he had a real passion and feel for the job as he was always very attentive, ready to ask questions and eager to learn. He has impressed me so much I firmly believe that, in 10 years’ time, he will be a director.”
As you can see, together, we take opportunities and together, we make Vistry. We look forward to seeing Sam’s future career with us. And as for your career, you can find out more about our apprenticeships here.
