'Modular Man' Retires After 40 Years
Keith Blanshard, Director of Yorkon, retires this month after more than 40 years spent pioneering off-site construction.
Nicknamed ‘Modular Man’, Keith has been a high profile ambassador for the modular industry since he was involved in setting up the award-winning Portakabin subsidiary, Yorkon, in 1986.
Keith joined the Portakabin Group in 1970 as a Production Engineering Planner, has held a variety of sales, commercial and operational roles and headed up off-site specialist, Yorkon, for 20 years. He has worked with numerous professional bodies and institutions, is a renowned and often controversial conference speaker, and has given evidence on behalf of the modular industry to a House of Commons Select Committee.
His contribution to the off-site sector and to the construction industry was recognised with the award for Personality of the Year at the Specialist Contractor Awards in 2005.
Commenting on Keith’s retirement, David Johnson, who is now Director and General Manager of Yorkon, said, "Keith has played a hugely important role in pioneering off-site construction in every sector so that it is now seen as an effective and mainstream alternative to traditional site-based building methods. He has spearheaded our work with some of the UK’s leading architects to prove the case that modular construction can produce exciting, inspirational and permanent buildings that delight."
"Keith’s enthusiasm for a challenge and drive for innovation has led Yorkon to break new ground in every sector and achieve numerous industry firsts, awards and accolades. His commitment and passion for off site is unsurpassed and we are looking forward to building on his achievements of the past four decades."
"As a business, we are wholly committed to design and innovation to ensure Yorkon remains at the forefront of the industry, and to forming long-term partnerships with blue chip clients such as Tesco, main contractors, architects and consultants. This is in the context of the biggest issue now facing the construction industry – sustainability, and the team we now have is well placed to meet the challenge."
Keith retires this month and will return to the Portakabin Group in a strategic consultancy role from the autumn. 
David Johnson joined Yorkon in 1988 as Commercial Manager before becoming Operations Manager. He was appointed Managing Director of sister company Foremans Relocatable Building Systems in 2002, and returned to head up Yorkon as Director and General Manager.
Yorkon provides modular buildings in sectors as diverse as supermarkets, offices, hospitals, airports, restaurants and schools. Benefits of its highly sustainable approach to construction include programme times reduced by up to 50 per cent, certainty of delivery on time and on budget, less disruption and enhanced thermal performance.
