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. In 2023 our headline sponsors are Shepherd Group and its flagship business, modular building manufacturer Portakabin.
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.
Crombie Wilkinson Solicitors is a team of experts in North Yorkshire providing specialist legal advice to Private and Business Clients. Its legal services include those within the property, planning and commercial arena. With commitment to providing the highest levels of care to all its clients, Crombie Wilkinson holds a number of awards including Management Standard Awards from Lexcel (the Law Society Practice Management Standard Scheme), Investors in People, and the Legal Services Quality Mark in Family. Find out more here.
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.
Leeds Environmental Design Associates (LEDA) is a team of designers dedicated to creating great sustainable buildings that respect the environment and are a joy to use. Registered in 1997, the company is a multi-disciplinary co-operative of architects and building services engineers. Their aim is to deliver quality, efficient, integrated design solutions in tandem with specialist advice, feasibility strategies and low carbon consultancy. Ultimately they help clients address all aspects of sustainability: social; environmental and economic.
LEDA offers a range of architectural services in close collaboration with its building service engineering colleagues. The company works on projects large and small, extensions and refurbishments, residential, community and commercial. Where additional expertise is needed, LEDA has long established working relationships with other consultants who can assist, including quantity surveyors. Find out more.
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.
Ravage Productions provides commercial photography to businesses of all sizes and is owned and operated by Duncan Lomax. Duncan has photographed at some previous YDA launches, and also regularly photographs for RIBA Yorkshire and the RTPI. Being Official Photographer at York Minster means he is used to impressive buildings, but Duncan has also worked for architects, developers and planners, and recent work includes photographing two of last year’s YDA winners, and documenting the transformation of York’s most prestigious address – St Leonard’s Place. He’s keen to work with developers, planners, builders and architects, and will be photographing the YDA launch and awards. Find out more here
Shepherd Group is one of the leading family-owned private businesses in the UK. It was founded in 1890 in York and its head office remains in the city.
The Group’s long history and success has been driven by passion, ambition, professionalism, innovation and outstanding customer service through manufacturing and distribution operations in the UK and Europe. Following a significant strategic restructure in 2015, Shepherd Group is purely focused on its flagship business, Portakabin, Europe’s market-leading modular building innovator.
Employing more than 1,750 people across seven European countries, Portakabin creates hospitals, schools, laboratories, universities and factories for every need. As the pioneers of modular construction, Portakabin can deliver permanent-quality buildings of any size, for sale or hire, to fulfil any application, up to 70% faster than using traditional construction, delivering on time and on budget.
Portakabin embodies the values of Shepherd Group and its family shareholders; Visionary Stewardship, Integrity & Respect and Pride in Quality.
Find out more here.
Based on The Mount in York, The Partners Group is a PR and marketing communications consultancy working extensively in the building, construction, architectural and events sectors. The company’s experienced team of eight practitioners works with clients locally and across the UK to deliver strategic and creative communications programmes which effectively maintain the reputation and profile of their organisations.
It has supported the York Design Awards since 2010 and maintains strong links with the city’s development community working with a number of the key local developers, plus architects, consultants and associated property and building firms. Find out more here.
A valued supporter of the York Design Awards from day one The Press is York’s longest established local news provider and it plays a vital role at the heart of the community. Based on Walmgate in the city centre, today The Press is printed by the Newsquest (York) Ltd, a subsidiary of the Newsquest Media Group, but its roots date back to 1882 when it launched as the Yorkshire Evening Press – a name it kept until the late 1990s.
The Press plays an active role through its “People’s Choice Award”. This enables the citizens of York to vote for their favourite building of the year, which can be done via the printed newspaper, their website and the annual public display held for a week in May/June. Read The Press at www.thepress.co.uk.
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.
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.
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.
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.
