A MANAGER at a North-East housing association has spoken of his pride at being named ‘Rising Star’ at a national awards ceremony.

Adam Pearce, Property and Repairs Manager at North Star Housing Group, was honoured for his achievements at the Aico-HomeLINK Community Awards 2022.

Adam, 27, said: “It’s a real shock to have won the award at such a prestigious national event but I’m so proud and it shows that hard work really does pay off. North Star is an amazing place to work and it’s never a chore when you enjoy your job, knowing you are making a real difference to people’s lives.”

Aico-HomeLINK is the European leader in fire and carbon monoxide protection and home life safety devices, and Adam was presented with the award at a ceremony at The International Convention Centre (ICC) in Birmingham.

He joined North Star last November after building an impressive career in the social housing sector, which as a pupil at Laurence Jackson School, in Guisborough, when he won a competition through the Future Leaders Programme.

The prize was an apprenticeship in a trade of his choice with Coast and Country Housing – now Beyond Housing – and he chose to be an apprentice electrician.

He moved on to a full-time role, running a commercial contract for 42 Cleveland Police buildings, before becoming Electrical Co-ordinator with Thirteen Group, and then Electrical Team Leader with Believe Housing.

Before joining North Star, he funded his own training, including attending night school at Sunderland College two nights a week for two years to gain his Higher National Certificate in electrical and electronic engineering.

Adam, who grew up in Normanby, on Teesside, is now entering his fourth year of studying for a degree in construction project management at Sheffield Hallam University.

He is also Co-Chair of the Generation for Change (G4C) Tees Valley young professionals group, promoting excellence in construction.

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