Through his drive and commitment to making a positive impact on the community, Chris Page, Senior Site Manager for the Jenner Group is highly commended for his exceptional work at the Folkestone Seafront Development site. Proactively engaging with the local community whilst running a challenging construction site, Chris has led by example to ensure the site acts responsibly and with care and compassion for its surrounding neighbourhood.
The Folkestone Seafront Development is one of the Jenner Group’s flagship sites and comprises of 84 luxury new beachfront homes split across two seven storey buildings. The scale and density of the project had resulted in some negativity and local opposition, so Chris knew he had to be proactive in gaining the trust, understanding and cooperation of those in the nearby properties and surrounding region. Setting up regular transparent communications from the outset, Chris launched a quarterly newsletter to keep everyone informed of activity on site so residents could prepare for any potential disruption. To promote an ongoing open dialogue and to continue building support for the project he welcomed local dignitaries including the Leader of Folkestone and Hythe District Council and met with local ward councillors to address any concerns risen during construction.
Chris has taken a hands-on approach to all community engagement initiatives, including welcoming local schools and college students onto site once COVID restrictions and safety procedures allowed. Recognising his responsibility in nurturing future generations, Chris provided invaluable first-hand experience of the trades in action, supporting teaching programmes and inspiring pupils to consider a career in construction.
Folkestone College’s Industry Liaison Officer Heather Williams comments: “Visits like this are so imperative in the students learning journey. You are always so supportive and I love seeing how much it inspires the students.”
Managing two beach cleans and litter picks to make a tangible difference to the local coastline, Chris worked with local charity the Folkestone Town Sprucers, coordinating volunteers and organising tools and equipment to facilitate the initiative.
Adrian Lockwood, Trustee of Folkestone Town Sprucers says: “Thank you so much for your help and support transforming this corner of Folkestone (and the beach) ahead of the Triennial.”
Going the extra mile to ensure the actions of his team and site were socially responsible and considerate throughout construction, Chris has proactively embraced the local community to create a positive difference to the region. His actions have helped the site score 43/45 in the last Considerate Constructors Scheme monitoring visit, 15/15 in the ‘respect for the community’ category and has been praised by auditors as ‘creating an incredibly positive image of construction’.