A BUILDING contractor has brought forward its expansion plans and moved to bigger premises in the York area.

F Parkinson Ltd, which was in Elvington has chosen S Harrison Development Ltd’s newly-completed Escrick Business Park to double its size at a new base for its Yorkshire and North Eastern operations, occupying 2,600 sq ft of the development.

The successful 75-year-old firm which has its national headquarters in Blackpool and regional office in Manchester has ridden the recession better than many in the construction industry.

It employs 30 people across the North East, eight of whom will move into the new Escrick offices next month and there are plans to recruit four more people there next year.

Steve Jackson, regional director of F Parkinson Ltd puts its success down to sound management and a commitment to customer care with quality as the core principle.

He said: “As we plan our expansion across Yorkshire we needed to upgrade our image to better reflect those values. “Escrick Business Park fits the bill perfectly. It’s well designed with a good specification and build quality, and it has excellent road links across the region, away from York’s ring-road congestion.”

Parkinson’s has enjoyed a long relationship with North Yorkshire County Council as well as the City of York. It has undertaken a number of projects across a range of sectors including education, health, commercial, industrial and leisure. The move has been welcomed by Denise Stuart, the chief executive of york-england.com, the inward investment organisation for York and North Yorkshire.

She said: “It is great news that a business, particularly in the construction sector, finds itself still expanding and making a commitment to our region in a top class location. We really do need more of them.”

F Parkinson Ltd is the latest in a series of successful businesses to move to Escrick Business Park. Others include award winning healthcare companies Domus Healthcare and Riccall Carers.

Phil Hill, of York-based S Harrison Development Ltd said: “There can be no better accolade than a quality building company selecting Escrick for the quality of its office design and building.”

Office and industrial units are still available freehold or leasehold at Escrick Business Park – with office units and warehousing/industrial units from 1350 sq ft. Agents are Lawrence Hannah in York 01904 659800