Shepherd Building Group

In 1890, 35 year old joiner Frederick Shepherd started the business in York. His younger son Frederick Welton Shepherd joined and expanded the firm known, from 1910, as F Shepherd and Son. They diversified from house building to general contracting, and incorporated, in 1924, as F Shepherd and Son Ltd. By the late 1930s there was a workforce of 700 that operated throughout Yorkshire, and also the North East of England.{{Cite thesis |last=Morrey |first=Nicola |date=2013 |title=Enacting product-service business models: the role of lean thinking |url=https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/dspace-jspui/bitstream/2134/13591/4/Thesis-2013-Morrey.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180422132814/https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/dspace-jspui/bitstream/2134/13591/4/Thesis-2013-Morrey.pdf |archive-date=22 April 2018 |access-date=21 April 2018 |publisher=Loughborough University|type=thesis }}{{cite web|url=http://www.shepherd-group.com/history.html|title=Shepherd Building Group: History|publisher=Shepherd Building Group|access-date=2009-05-07|archive-date=15 April 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090415073734/http://www.shepherd-group.com/history.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |date=1924-11-19 |title=F Shepherd and Son Ltd Incorporation |url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uYNdK-TDE_ZNWgWvQOcrrk9QxjtDwuvk/view?usp=sharing&usp=embed_facebook |access-date=2022-06-07 |website=Companies House |archive-date=7 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220607173010/https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uYNdK-TDE_ZNWgWvQOcrrk9QxjtDwuvk/view?usp=sharing&usp=embed_facebook |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=SHEPHERD CONSTRUCTION LIMITED overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/00201860 |access-date=2022-06-07 |website=Companies House |language=en |archive-date=7 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220607173051/https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/00201860 |url-status=live }}

File:Portable buildings depot - geograph.org.uk - 3365231.jpg

The firm undertook extensive work at military sites up to, and during, the Second World War. Post conflict contracts were predominantly public sector, often incorporating prefabricated concrete panel systems developed by CLASP, Wates, and Yorkshire Development Group.

In 1962, F Shepherd and Son Ltd reorganised under Shepherd Group Ltd, and land was purchased at Huntington. Initially it was used for manufacturing, but in 1995 the headquarters moved there from Blue Bridge Lane, near the River Ouse.{{Cite web |title=SHEPHERD GROUP LIMITED overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/03446265 |access-date=2022-06-07 |website=Companies House |language=en |archive-date=7 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220607173037/https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/03446265 |url-status=live }} The old headquarters site became a Mecca Bingo hall before that too was demolished{{cite news|url=https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/22818261.rare-york-minster-view-revealed-mecca-bingo-demolished/|title=Rare York Minster view revealed as Mecca Bingo demolished|date=2021-10-01|access-date=2022-10-30|work=York Press|first=Maxine|last=Gordon}} to make way for the construction of Frederick House student accommodation in 2022.{{cite news|url=https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/23043232.student-roost-york-student-flats-open-cinema/|title=Student Roost York student flats open with own cinema|access-date=2022-10-30|date=2022-10-12|first=Haydn|last=Lewis|work=York Press}}

By 1968, the group employed 6,788 staff. That fell to 3,587 in 1971, and by 2009 there were 3,200.

Shepherd Group was a main contractor for leisure, commercial, industrial, residential, healthcare, education, retail, and research buildings. The construction division also included companies engaged in mechanical and electrical services, facility management and housebuilding.{{cite web

|url=http://www.shepherd-construction.co.uk/?mod=about&pageid=11

|title=Shepherd Construction: About Us

|publisher=Shepherd Building Group

|access-date=2009-05-07

|archive-date=7 October 2011

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007092057/http://www.shepherd-construction.co.uk/?mod=about&pageid=11

|url-status=live

}}

File:Portakabin® Portaloo® The Esplanade, Weymouth - geograph.org.uk - 2660772.jpg

In 1951 Donald Shepherd, grandson of the founder, developed a bulk cement silo, for use in precast concrete construction, as an alternative to paper sacks. They were sold to other contractors, initially manufactured from plywood. He changed the construction to metal in 1953, and diverted joinery shop capacity released to the production of portable, prefabricated site huts. He conceived the need for easily portable site shelters on a windswept construction site at Catterick Garrison. Initially the huts were for the firm's own sites, but from 1961 they were sold to other contractors. He called the silos and cabins Portasilo and Portakabin.{{Cite web |last=Glancy |first=Jonathan |date=1997-04-02 |title=Obituary: Donald Shepherd |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-donald-shepherd-1264901.html |access-date=2022-06-08 |website=The Independent |language=en |archive-date=3 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603234500/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-donald-shepherd-1264901.html |url-status=live }}

Donald Shepherd continued product development in 1966 with the Portablu portable toilet, soon rebranded Portaloo.

By 1967 the prefabricated buildings were being used outside of construction, as offices, classrooms, and even operating theatres.

File:Tower block and Portakabin, Wetherby High School (11th September 2019).jpg, 2019]]

Shepherd Group introduced prefabricated, relocatable buildings under the Yorkon brand in 1980. By 1987 they outsold the portable cabins. A heavily insulated Pullman variant earned subsidiary Portakabin Ltd a Queens Award for Technological Achievement in 1992.{{London Gazette|issue=52898|page=1|date=21 April 1992|supp=y}}

By 2009 there were two semi-autonomous, manufactured product divisions of Shepherd Group, distinct from the original contracting, and building service division:

• Portakabin, Allspace, Yorkon, Foremans, Konstructa and Portaloo brands of modular buildings and toilets.
• Portasilo and Portastor, silo and modular products.

They were supported by 75 hire centres. The cabins could be found as far afield as Antarctica and Libya.

File:Portable buildings depot - geograph.org.uk - 3364992.jpg

The Portakabin division was consistently profitable. By 2015 the others were not, and directors chose to sell or close them.

In January 2015, 80 redundancies were announced at Shepherd Group's silo and modular products division.{{cite news |url=https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/11747552.80-redundancies-looming-at-portasilo-and-portastor/ |title=80 redundancies looming at Portasilo and Portastor |date=2015-01-25 |access-date=2022-06-09 |first=Mike |last=Laycock |website=York Press |archive-date=10 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220610200929/https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/11747552.80-redundancies-looming-at-portasilo-and-portastor/ |url-status=live }} It was closed in 2019, and the Portasilo and Portastor products discontinued.

In May 2015, Galliford Try's Linden Homes subsidiary purchased Shepherd Homes, affecting 60 employees.{{cite news|title=Shepherd sells housing business|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/shepherd-sells-housing-business-1-7259803|access-date=24 June 2016|work=Yorkshire Post|date=14 May 2015|archive-date=13 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160913212620/http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/shepherd-sells-housing-business-1-7259803|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=Shepherd results justify construction exit|url=http://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/shepherd-results-justify-construction-exit|access-date=24 June 2016|work=The Construction Index|date=24 June 2016|archive-date=25 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625123454/http://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/shepherd-results-justify-construction-exit|url-status=live}}

Later in 2015, Wates Group purchased Shepherd Group's mechanical and electrical services and facilities management businesses, and some of the Shepherd Construction contracts, for £9.8 million. It did not acquire Shepherd's loss making Colindale mixed use development, or take over liability for past contracts. Twelve hundred Shepherd Construction staff transferred to Wates Group.{{cite news|last1=Prior|first1=Grant|title=Buyout sees 1200 Shepherd staff join Wates|url=http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2015/10/01/buyout-sees-1200-shepherd-staff-join-wates/|access-date=24 June 2016|work=Construction Enquirer|date=1 October 2015|archive-date=27 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160127034109/http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2015/10/01/buyout-sees-1200-shepherd-staff-join-wates/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Morby|first1=Aaron|title=Shepherd Group suffers £74m hit from sold building arm|url=http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2016/06/24/shepherd-suffers-74m-hit-from-offloaded-building-arm/|access-date=24 June 2016|work=Construction Enquirer|date=24 June 2016|archive-date=25 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625124803/http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2016/06/24/shepherd-suffers-74m-hit-from-offloaded-building-arm/|url-status=live}}

Shepherd Group accounts for 2020 show ongoing costs of £29.3 million in that year, and £19.7 million in the prior, arising from Colindale and other legacy construction contracts.

File:The University of York's Central Hall.jpg, University of York]]

Shepherd Construction was main contractor for buildings including:

{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|

• Foxwood School, 1956
• HM Prison Everthorpe, 1956
• University of York, 1963
• Trevelyan College, Durham, 1967
• Hunslet Grange Flats, 1968{{Cite web|url=https://southleedslife.com/leek-street-flats-social-history-shared-facebook/|website=South Leeds Life |title=Leek Street Flats – A Social History Shared On Facebook|date=13 March 2014|access-date=7 June 2022|archive-date=17 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117010407/https://southleedslife.com/leek-street-flats-social-history-shared-facebook/|url-status=live}}
• York Minster (foundations), 1972
• Leeds railway station (expansion), 1973
• National Railway Museum, 1973
• Wolfson College, Oxford, 1977
• HM Prison Frankland, 1981{{cite web|url=https://www.shepherd-group.com/assets/images/sbg-img/SHEPHERD_MASTERv1.pdf|date=2015|publisher=St Matthew's Press|last=Watson|first=Nigel|title=The Story of Shepherd Group|website=Shepherd Group|access-date=7 June 2022|archive-date=2 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211102200221/https://www.shepherd-group.com/assets/images/sbg-img/SHEPHERD_MASTERv1.pdf|url-status=live}}
• The Ridings Centre, 1983
• Potteries Shopping Centre, 1989
• HM Prison Doncaster, 1994
• St Paul's bus station, 2000
• Bishop Auckland Hospital, 2002{{cite web|url=https://www.hicl.com/bishop-auckland-hospital-uk|title=Bishop Auckland Hospital, UK|publisher=HICL|access-date=8 April 2018|archive-date=30 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030052145/https://www.hicl.com/bishop-auckland-hospital-uk|url-status=live}}
• Liverpool Civil and Family Court, 2006{{Cite web|url=https://vertikal.net/en/news/story/858/the-two-towers?acceptCookies=1|title=The two towers|website=vertikal.net|access-date=7 June 2022|archive-date=7 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220607141904/https://vertikal.net/en/news/story/858/the-two-towers?acceptCookies=1|url-status=live}}
• Sky Plaza, 2009{{Cite web|url=https://www.e-architect.com/leeds/unite-sky-plaza|title=UNITE Sky Plaza - Leeds Student Accommodation|date=26 June 2009|website=e-architect|access-date=7 June 2022|archive-date=7 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220607141856/https://www.e-architect.com/leeds/unite-sky-plaza|url-status=live}}
• Trinity Walk, 2011
• Hitachi Newton Aycliffe, 2015{{cite news |url = http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/business/news/10779589.Shepherd_to_build___82_million_train_factory/ |title = Shepherd to build £82 million train factory |first = Laura |last = Knowlson |date = 1 November 2013 |work = The Press |location = York}}

}}

{{notelist|group=eld}}

File:The Sky Plaza.jpg]]

File:LangwithBblock.JPG, University of York CLASP construction]]

File:East Leeds Family Learning Centre.jpg]]

File:Trevelyan College, Durham - geograph.org.uk - 241529.jpg]]

File:Portakabin Hire Centre, Bristol - geograph.org.uk - 3217382.jpg

In July 2021, Shepherd Group subsidiaries asked the High Court of Ireland for a Norwich Pharmacal order to require Google to disclose any identity information it held relating to a gmail address. The address had been used to suggest Portakabin products did not comply with Irish building standards; were of poor quality, and that named managers were incompetent and dishonest. The claims were derogatory, damaging and untrue. The Court ordered Google to provide Shepherd Group with the requested information.{{Cite web |title=Portakabin Ltd & Anor v Google Ireland Ltd (Approved) [2021] IEHC 446 (02 July 2021) |url=https://www.bailii.org/cgi-bin/format.cgi?doc=/ie/cases/IEHC/2021/2021IEHC446.html |access-date=2022-06-07 |website=Bailii |archive-date=7 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220607184746/https://www.bailii.org/cgi-bin/format.cgi?doc=%2Fie%2Fcases%2FIEHC%2F2021%2F2021IEHC446.html |url-status=live }}

In August 2017, Shepherd Group was served a Health and Safety Executive Improvement Notice because of hand tools causing excessive hand arm vibration at their York site. It complied with the Notice by February 2018.{{Cite web |title=Notices served - Enforcement notices public |url=https://resources.hse.gov.uk/notices/notices/notice_details.asp?SF=CN&SV=308274839 |access-date=2022-06-07 |website=Health and Safety Executive |archive-date=7 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220607173052/https://resources.hse.gov.uk/notices/notices/notice_details.asp?SF=CN&SV=308274839 |url-status=live }}

In June 2016, Shepherd Group recovered registration of domain name portalooservices.co.uk from Nominet. It had been abusively registered by a third party.{{Cite web |date=2016 |title=Portakabin Limited v Mr Sean Westwood (Full Decision _Transfer) [2016] DRS 17379 (05 July 2016) |url=https://www.bailii.org/cgi-bin/format.cgi?doc=/uk/cases/DRS/2016/D00017379.html |access-date=2022-06-07 |website=Bailii}}

In September 2017, Shepherd Group recovered registration of domain name portaloohirebirmingham.co.uk from Nominet. It had been abusively registered by a third party.{{Cite web |date=2017 |title=Portakabin Limited v James Simms (Summary Decision _Transfer) [2017] DRS 19203 (18 September 2017) |url=https://www.bailii.org/cgi-bin/format.cgi?doc=/uk/cases/DRS/2017/D00019203.html |access-date=2022-06-07 |website=Bailii |archive-date=7 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220607184803/https://www.bailii.org/cgi-bin/format.cgi?doc=%2Fuk%2Fcases%2FDRS%2F2017%2FD00019203.html |url-status=live }}

Shepherd Construction Group subsidiary Shepherd Engineering Services subscribed to the Consulting Association's illegal employment blacklist. In 2009, it was one of 14 firms issued with enforcement notices by the Information Commissioner's Office.{{Cite web |date=2009-08-05 |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/business-consumer/blacklist-firms-hit-by-enforcement-notices-1032990 |access-date=2022-06-09 |website=Daily Record |title='Blacklist' firms hit by enforcement notices |archive-date=7 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220607141946/https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/business-consumer/blacklist-firms-hit-by-enforcement-notices-1032990 |url-status=live }}

In 2008 Shepherd contracted with William Hare Group to provide structural steelwork for Brendan Flood's{{cite web| url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2011/jan/11/trafford-centre-battle-ends-in-peel-group-victory |title=Trafford Centre battle ends in Peel Group victory| website=The Guardian|access-date=3 April 2025|date=11 January 2011| first=Julia| last=Kollewe}} Trinity Walk shopping centre development in Wakefield. Shepherd subsequently sought, under a pay when paid clause, to withhold payment in the sum of £996,683.35 because the ultimate client had gone into administration. In 2009 Mr Justice Coulson of the Technology and Construction Court ruled against the payment being withheld.{{Cite web |title=William Hare Ltd v Shepherd Construction Ltd [2009] EWHC 1603 (TCC) (25 June 2009) |url=https://www.bailii.org/cgi-bin/format.cgi?doc=/ew/cases/EWHC/TCC/2009/1603.html |access-date=2022-06-04 |website=Bailii |archive-date=4 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220604160511/https://www.bailii.org/cgi-bin/format.cgi?doc=%2Few%2Fcases%2FEWHC%2FTCC%2F2009%2F1603.html |url-status=live }} That judgement was upheld at the Court of Appeal in 2010. Shepherd had used an obsolete form of words in their contract with William Hare.{{Cite web |title=William Hare Ltd v Shepherd Construction Ltd [2010] EWCA Civ 283 (18 March 2010) |url=https://www.bailii.org/cgi-bin/format.cgi?doc=/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2010/283.html |access-date=2022-06-04 |website=British and Irish Legal Information Institute |archive-date=4 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220604160501/https://www.bailii.org/cgi-bin/format.cgi?doc=%2Few%2Fcases%2FEWCA%2FCiv%2F2010%2F283.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=William Hare Ltd v Shepherd Construction Ltd [2009] EWHC 1603 (TCC) (25 June 2009) |url=https://www.bailii.org/cgi-bin/format.cgi?doc=/ew/cases/EWHC/TCC/2009/1603.html |access-date=2022-06-04 |website=Bailii |archive-date=4 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220604160511/https://www.bailii.org/cgi-bin/format.cgi?doc=%2Few%2Fcases%2FEWHC%2FTCC%2F2009%2F1603.html |url-status=live }}

Shepherd went on to purchase the part built shopping centre, with AREA Property Partners, in order to complete it.

• F. Pratten and Co Ltd

{{reflist|colwidth=26em}}

{{Construction industry in the United Kingdom}}

Category:Construction and civil engineering companies of the United Kingdom

Category:Housebuilding companies of the United Kingdom

Category:Construction and civil engineering companies established in 1890

Category:Privately held companies of the United Kingdom

Category:1890 establishments in England

Category:Toilets

Category:Portable buildings and shelters

Category:Prefabricated buildings

Category:Construction equipment rental companies

Category:Companies based in York

Category:Construction equipment rental companies of the United Kingdom