Hobson & Porter, Innovation based on tradition

Hull based building contractor Hobson & Porter has been awarded one of the top accolades at the regional RICS Property Awards in Leeds, and cemented their position as one of the regions up and coming contractors. The Commercial Building of the Year award was handed to the company for the latest phase of the JZ Flowers Distribution Centre at Newport, East Yorkshire, and beat tough opposition from other high quality schemes across Yorkshire.

The RICS Pro Yorkshire Awards Dinner was held on Friday 11th May at the Centenary Pavilion, Leeds United FC, Elland Road, Leeds and the glittering event, sometimes referred to as the ‘Property Oscars’, was well attended by all sectors of the Property industry.

The RICS Judging Panel had considered the merits of a number of projects in each of the 8 categories with the winners in each category announced on the night.

The new UK Headquarters for JZ Flowers is a testament to the foresight and drive of founder Jelle Zwemstra in developing a sustainable development utilising innovative design and construction methods, with energy saving initiatives and minimum disruption to the environment. The new development includes offices, warehousing and distribution facilities which centralise their previously separate operations, and has resulted in the most modern state of the art floral bouquet production facility both in the UK and Holland.

In praising the scheme, the RICS Judging panel said – “the utilitarian design ethos was completely aligned to their relationship with their supermarket clients. The cold store buildings have satisfied all the occupier objectives with an economic solution. Production costs have been cut by 5% by internal layout, heat recycling and a computer BMS system. The project manages simultaneously to create a pleasant space for staff, is easy to maintain to a high standard and facilitates recycling of 95% of all waste.”

Hobson & Porter Managing Director Jason Papprill commented, “The JZ Flowers facility is the culmination of many years hard work by the client, design team and contractor, and marks a significant step in the growth of Hobson & Porter. The scheme is a fine demonstration of collaborative working and a fitting reward to a client who took a brave step in continuing to develop a business and investing into an area during difficult financial times”

Papprill added “Hobson & Porter has been known locally as a builder for many years, but this demonstrates the scale of our growth and our ability to undertake work on a wide range of building types not traditionally associated with the company”