Integra, a Brighton-based building company, has been named one of the UK's most talented building firms and runner-up in the Entrepreneur of the Year Awards.

The awards are run by the construction industry publications Building magazine, and Local Authority Building Control.

The 80-strong Brighton firm said the award was recognition for its forward-looking approach.

It is an approach the firm's founders, Joe McNulty and Jon Wright, came up with as students in Brighton and put into practice when they set up Integra in 1993.

Mr McNulty said: "Our competitors thought we were mad for not just going with the flow. Now we have been proved right and many of them are struggling to catch up."

While other builders complained of a lack of skilled labour, Integra has been training apprentices - a total of 15 in eight years.

The firm allocated more than £40,000 to training this year and was the first building company in the South-East to be named an Investor in People.

Integra's main clients are schools, doctors' surgeries and housing associations.

It has also worked on the refurbishment of the Royal Pavilion and redevelopment of the Old Parochial Court and its grounds to provide a mix of luxury private flats and social housing.