Yorkon News Archives

03/12/2004 – Yorkon Wins Top Construction Industry Award for Second Consecutive Year

Portakabin subsidiary, Yorkon, has won a major industry award for the second consecutive year, in recognition of its pioneering work in off-site construction.

At an event held at the Park Lane Hilton in London, Yorkon was presented with the award for Off-site Manufacturing Specialist of the Year at the 2004 Specialist Contractor Awards. The awards are organised by Building magazine in association with the Department of Trade and Industry and were attended by 700 industry professionals.

An academy of 100 senior industry figures comprising construction clients, leading architects, and contractors, judged the awards, looking for innovation, best practice and supply chain integration. Yorkon was honoured by the academy for its commitment to innovation in manufacturing, construction and design.

According to the judges, "Yorkon has done more than any other firm to grow the productive capacity of the off-site industry. In the course of doing this, it has transformed itself into one of Britain's leading experts on designing, costing, project managing and financing modular construction."

"As a result, Yorkon has been associated with many of the groundbreaking developments in British construction over the past five years…..Then there is the increasing penetration of off-site manufacturing into the public sector, where Yorkon is helping to deliver projects such as Bradford Teaching Hospital, which was described by the client as ‘splendid'."

Keith Blanshard, Director and General Manager of Yorkon, said, "We have received many awards for the groundbreaking buildings we have completed. However, to receive this award for Yorkon as a company and for the second consecutive year, is a fantastic accolade and achievement for the team." /continued…

"The award recognises our success in every area of the business – from our approach to quality and innovation in sectors as diverse as hospitals, schools, offices, supermarkets, airports and restaurants – to our commitment to training and development and the exceptionally high level of work we receive from past customers."

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone in the company for their valuable contribution in helping us to win this important industry award again, and all our customers and partners for the confidence they have shown in our services and approach."

The awards celebrate the rising power of specialist contractors, which are now responsible for 80 per cent of all construction expenditure and play a pivotal role in both the design and execution of all types of building projects.

Yorkon's pioneering approach to construction involves the manufacture of steel-framed modules in a factory environment in York, whilst the foundation works are completed on site. The modules are delivered to site by road where they are craned into position in just a few days ready for fitting out.

Off-site construction is a highly innovative method of building, which offers a number of significant advantages, including improved thermal performance, reduced programme times by up to 50 per cent, guaranteed quality, minimal disruption, improved site safety, earlier commissioning of the building and a faster return on investment for the client.