PIONEERING work in offsite construction has earned a major industry award for York-based modular building specialist and Portakabin subsidiary Yorkon.

The company was presented with the award for the Best Modular Specialist at the 2003 Specialist Contractor Awards, at the Grosvenor House Hotel, in London.

The award, sponsored by Building magazine in association with the Department of Trade and Industry, was judged by an academy of 200 senior industry figures comprising construction clients, leading designers and contractors who looked for innovation, best practice and supply chain integration.

Yorkon, based at Huntington, was applauded by the academy for its "commitment to innovation in manufacturing, construction and design, and to maintaining long-term partnerships with its customers".

Keith Blanshard, director and general manager of Yorkon, said: "We have received many awards for the groundbreaking buildings we have completed.

"However, this award is for Yorkon as a company, in recognition of our achievements in every area of the business - from our approach to quality and innovation in sectors as diverse as offices, housing, supermarkets, schools and hospitals - to our commitment to the training and development of all our staff and the exceptionally high level of work we receive from past customers."

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 modular building system involves the manufacture of steel-framed modules in a factory environment in York, while 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.

Updated: 11:47 Friday, December 12, 2003