INDEPENDENT York property firm HPC Healthcare Property Consultants has won a prestigious award.

Ian Wilkie and Nigel Newton Taylor, directors of the York firm, which specialises in providing consultancy services to the care sector, collected the trophy forProperty Consultants of the Year from veteran broadcaster and journalist Andrew Neil in front of 1,200 guests at the HealthInvestor Awards, at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel.

Mr Newton Taylor said: “We believed there was a gap in the market for experienced, independent consultants to work closely with clients, delivering high-quality advice as part of their team. This award suggests that is the case.

“We are grateful to all our clients for recognising there is a place for independent firms in a corporate world.”

The firm beat strong competition from property giants including Savills, Knight Frank, Jones Lang LaSalle and CBRE.