The aim of the York Design Awards is to encourage and promote excellence in design and conservation, striving for the highest standards which will delight present and future generations.
Founded in 1977 as an architectural practice, Simpson & Brown has evolved into a multi-disciplinary firm which now also offers archaeological, architectural history, heritage consultancy and master planning services.
During this time the practice has not only been responsible for conserving some of the United Kingdom’s most important historic structures but has also developed a growing reputation for the design of award-winning contemporary buildings. Our aim is to improve the quality of the built environment through scholarly conservation work and well-mannered contextual design that is true to its time and place. Whilst respecting and acknowledging the past, our architecture strives to respond to the challenges of the future, particularly with regard to sustainable design.
York Conservation Trust cares for many of York’s most historically significant buildings. Originally established as Ings Property Company in 1945 by former Lord Mayor of York, Dr John Bowes Morrell and his brother Cuthbert, the organisation is now freehold custodian of 82 buildings including York Theatre Royal, De Grey Rooms, The Assembly Rooms, St Anthony’s Hall, The Herbert House & Lady Peckett’s Yard, Fairfax House, Ingram House and significant timber framed properties on Micklegate, Walmgate and Goodramgate.
Each building is occupied by commercial or residential tenants and rental income applied in full to programmes of conservation, maintenance, repair and repurposing. In 1976 the organisation became a charitable company, formalising the original intentions of the founders.
York Civic Trust is a membership organisation, open to all who wish to protect and enhance York’s architectural and cultural heritage, to champion good design and to advance the high place which York holds amongst the cities of the world. The Trust values its independence, but seeks to work collaboratively with the City of York Council and other organisations. Find out more here.
Reigning UK Racecourse of the Year and home to the World’s Best Race in 2024, York Racecourse stages eighteen days of high-quality flat horseracing. The award winning stands are the backdrop to a warm Yorkshire welcome.
United by Design is an independent brand and design agency based in York. With an excellent track record for creating and nurturing brands, United by Design work with individuals and organisations across a range of sectors in the UK and overseas including architecture, housing, building and development.
Working in three key areas of brand strategy, brand identity and brand experience, United by Design’s team work closely with business owners, directors and senior leadership teams as well as marketing and communications specialists to deliver strategic and impactful design that helps navigate change and focusses on organisational success.
The company’s broad local and regional client base reflects its strong connections with the city’s business community. Managing Director, Owen Turner, along with his team, maintain an active role in initiatives that work towards making York an even more prosperous city. Find out more here.
The Churchill is a luxury hotel that combines English heritage with contemporary design in a central location set in the heart of the city. An ideal base for business, shopping or sightseeing.
Some of the best bedrooms in York with Dewsnaps modern British brasserie for some of the finest food in the city serving great Yorkshire produce prepared to the highest of standards.
The Wellington bar serves a fantastic collection of craft beers and world spirits or the bartenders’ favourite tipple
Taking place for two weeks each June, York Festival of Ideas presents a diverse programme of over 200 mostly free in-person and online events designed to educate, entertain and inspire. Led by the University of York and made possible by the generous support of our sponsors, the Festival features world-class speakers, performances, exhibitions, tours, family-friendly activities, and much more. One of the largest free festivals of its kind in the UK, it promises something for all ages and interests with topics ranging from art to archaeology, history to health and politics to psychology. The Festival’s Patron is the acclaimed children’s author Michael Morpurgo.
Listen on DAB+ radio, smart speaker, app and the YorkMix website – news, things to do and music worth sharing across York & North Yorkshire.
Royal Pilgrim provide strategic communications advice to the built environment sector across the UK. The team has unmatched experience of delivering results in complex and challenging planning and development situations.
They create bespoke communication strategies for each project to get planning application approvals and Local Plan allocations, as well as managing corporate reputations.
Welcome to St Peter’s School, York, the fourth oldest school in the world and one of the country’s leading schools.
Life has never been so full of opportunities, with challenge and change ever-present and our aim is to develop confident, rounded young men and women who make the most of their abilities in preparation for a successful, fulfilled life.
An All-Round Education – Our academic results are outstanding but we believe that independent thinking and a love of learning are just as important as excellent grades. Here there is a real focus on developing intellectual curiosity in the classroom and beyond, with pupils and staff being members of a vibrant, learning community.
There is something for everyone at St Peter’s with high levels of participation offering opportunities for the specialist as well as the all-rounder. We offer a huge range of sporting, artistic and cultural opportunities because we want our pupils to establish interests that stay with them for life, as well as learn the skills that will make them stand out in a fast-changing world.
York St John University is a high quality, friendly university with a campus based in the heart of York. The university strives to be exceptional in all it does and achieves, in doing so building an excellent reputation for its academic excellence, a strong community spirit and a magnificent campus. Its vision is to be the best of England’s small universities by being inclusive, innovative, transformative and ambitious with a strong sense of belonging.
Explore York Libraries and Archives is a mutual benefit society with charitable status. The company, more commonly known as Explore, is made up of the libraries and archives services which were previously part of City of York Council. It is owned by its community members and staff, and is managed by a Chief Executive and representative Board.
Established in York more than 25 years ago, Fulprint is an independent printing company with a wealth of printing knowledge and experience. A supporter of the York Design Awards in its early years and becoming a sponsor in 2014, Fulprint plays an active role in the community and it has implemented a number of initiatives to minimise the environmental impact of its operations. This includes powering its business with the help of 50 solar panels and sending most of its local deliveries by bike.
Fulprint offers a vast array of print options with an expert team skilled to guide clients through the whole process from enquiry, through design and production to delivery. Find out more here.
The City of York Council is a unitary local authority providing services to around 200,000 people in an area covering approximately 105 square miles. The council sets out its five priorities as “Create jobs and grow the economy; Get York moving; Build strong communities; Protect vulnerable people; Protect the environment”. A good quality designed environment is a key component to achieving many of these aims and the council fully supports the York Design Awards in promoting and celebrating these achievements. Find out more here.
York based O’Neill Associates has been providing specialist advice on a wide range of planning, development and infrastructure issues for over thirty years.
With its team of experienced planners, the company has extensive knowledge of the planning system, both in terms of submitting and processing planning applications and making plans and strategies. The practice has a strong track record of achieving positive outcomes on a wide range of small and large scale development proposals. Find out more here.
