Hagan Homes has unearthed a real gem in Harrison Ash who won the prestigious 2024 Belfast Telegraph Young Property Professional of the Year Award.
An old head on young shoulders who has demonstrated exceptional talent, leadership, dedication and innovation in the property industry, the 28-year-old contracts manager from Bangor, Co. Down was also a finalist in the Rising Star category of the 2024 KPMG Irish Independent Property Industry Excellence Awards.
Fronted by Jim Burke (managing director), John Toner (director), Trevor Kennedy (director) and Henry Campbell (sales manager), Hagan Homes in Ballyclare, Co. Antrim is a multi-award-winning residential property developer which has been building homes throughout Northern Ireland since 1988. Harrison first joined Hagan Homes on work placement in 2019 and has since become an indispensable part of the team.
“They’re a great company to work for, they give you a mountain of responsibility and freedom to grow as a young professional,” he enthuses.
“I’ve learned so much since I first walked through the doors as a 23-year-old in October 2019. I was over the moon to be shortlisted for two awards, and to win one of them was an added bonus. None of this would be possible without the support I receive from my colleagues at Hagan Homes on a daily basis. It’s a real team effort.
“I’m also extremely grateful for the support and encouragement of the directors. They put me forward for both awards which was such a selfless thing to do. I have to give huge credit to Trevor Kennedy and Jim Burke for their mentoring over the years. I have learnt everything from them.”
Harrison graduated from Salford University, Manchester in 2021 with a First Class Honours degree in Construction Project Management. During his third year of study, he completed a placement with Hagan Homes who, recognising his potential, retained the under-graduate on a part-time basis during his final year of study. Harrison balanced his academic commitments with a role in snagging and house surveying before joining Hagan Homes on a full-time basis as aftersales manager. In this role, he managed defects, liaised with homeowners and contractors, and ensured houses met NHBC standards before handover.
The young Co. Down man’s performance led to a promotion to assistant contracts manager and by the end of 2021, he was given the responsibility of managing Hagan Homes’ ongoing development in Ballymoney which had six units (two houses and four apartments). Harrison excelled in this role and was promoted to contracts manager in April 2022. He subsequently managed five sites, overseeing the entire contract process from tender right through to customer handover.
To date, Harrison has played an integral part in developing and completing over 160 houses which equates to over £13 million worth of contracts. His rapid career progression is a testament to his professional capabilities, dedication and passion for the property industry.
In the past year alone, Harrison has played a pivotal role in the successful negotiation and appointment of contractors for three major developments to create 80 homes. He ensured the correct tender prices were agreed upon by all parties, taking account of inflation and contingencies. He navigated a series of obstacles, from supply chain delays and service provider challenges, to finding pragmatic solutions to keep construction running smoothly.
By ensuring progress was maintained on all sites, Harrison maximised efficiencies of scale where appropriate. His proactive approach to on-site issues has been instrumental in maintaining overall project momentum which in turn played a key role in customer satisfaction levels as homes remained on track to complete in line with timescales.
Harrison has shown boundless enthusiasm and eagerly volunteered to review processes within Hagan Homes to embrace digital innovation that can deliver efficiencies, whilst contributing to the company’s move to Net Zero. Under Harrison’s leadership, Hagan Homes’ snagging management system, which had been in place since 2010 and generated significant volumes of paperwork, was reviewed. Keen to find a digital solution, Harrison conducted extensive industry research before discovering Clixifix, an online snagging platform.
Clixifix allows homeowners to log snags directly from their phones, and also allows accompanying imagery to be shared, which adds a layer of transparency to the process. This innovation, which was introduced and implemented by Harrison, has improved Hagan Homes’ snagging management, whilst providing an audit trail of issues, acting as a diagnostic tool for imperfections in quality / tradesmanship.
The digital nature of Clixifix means tasks can be scheduled to be addressed from the moment of communication. Clixifix has reduced the volume of time spent on snagging as homeowners tend to report all issues within an initial two-week period from home transfer, as opposed to drip feeding information during office hours. Over the past 12 months, Clixifix has greatly improved customer satisfaction and its popularity and functionality has meant it is now an integral part of Hagan Homes’ operations.
Harrison has excellent communication and leadership skills, and has taken responsibility for on-site issues. As the first point of contact, he has demonstrated strong problem-solving abilities, resolving challenges, from material shortages and construction delays to compliance with safety standards, and he has found prompt resolutions to ensure projects progress smoothly.
For example, in the last two months of construction at a development in Carrickfergus, an unforeseen issue occurred with existing services. Harrison called an on-site meeting with BT and Virgin to discuss options, with both providers advocating for a service alteration that would cost Hagan Homes £71,000. In the ensuing 48 hours, Harrison reviewed alternatives and suggested moving the site entrance by 0.5 metres; this solution saved £45,000 and enabled the site to reopen. His ability to remain calm and make informed decisions in a pressurised environment allows Hagan Homes to meet its deadline.
Harrison’s commitment to the green agenda and support for the journey towards net zero has also come to the fore. Observing that Hagan Homes was generating and was heavily reliant on paper for on-site activity, he advocated digital technology be introduced to support staff and contractors on-site.
Harrison developed a proposal outlining how iPad Pros and Surface Pros could be used for taking notes, viewing drawings and accessing essential information. He scoped out the parameters of usage, the corresponding cloud storage required for files and the relevant software packages that would support the move.
Harrison’s proposal was approved and all staff that work on-site now have the digital technology that enabled the construction department to go paperless. The move has played a considerable role in Hagan Homes’ journey to net zero, ending paper usage and reducing energy consumption by printers in the office.
Harrison does not shy away from challenges; rather he favours open, frank communication to reach workable solutions. For example, recently when a contractor was falling behind schedule, Harrison held on-site meetings every two weeks to discuss obstacles. By concentrating on critical items, and by making sure suppliers and services were lined up, the project got back on track.
Harrison recognises the value of collaborative effort, the need to maintain quality and how these aspects contribute to customer satisfaction. He gives clear direction, he listens to feedback, he works to find the optimum solution and strives for excellence. He is professional, measured and fair in his interactions with others and this is reflected in the respect that he has gained among contractors, suppliers and employees. Harrison Ash is an industry name to watch.
After 36 years in business, Hagan Homes continues to go from strength to strength. It is firmly established as a leading residential property developer and is aiming to complete over 150 houses in 2025, of which Harrison is currently engaged with Carrickmacstay Developments on projects in Ballymoney (165 units) and Carrickfergus (10 units) as well as MCA Building & Joinery Contractors on a 33-unit development in Cargan and a soon-to-be awarded site in Coleraine (86 units).
“We didn’t buy as many sites during the Covid-19 pandemic for obvious reasons, but we’re making up for it now. We’re very busy, and have an exciting two-three years ahead of us,” Harrison concludes.
Hagan Homes
Hagan Business Park,
181 Templepatrick Road,
Ballyclare,
Co. Antrim,
BT39 ORA.
Telephone: 028 9334 2234
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.haganhomes.co.uk
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, April 2025, Vol 11 No 4
