Getting a foothold in China ahead of its rivals will soften the blow of the decision to axe or defer the UK school building programme.

The Shipley-based Robinson Design Group has seen 25 per cent of its business affected by Education Secretary Michael Gove’s decision to mothball projects under the Building Schools for the Future programme in which the award-winning firm was heavily involved.

Another blow is the axing of Yorkshire Forward, the regional development agency, with which Robinson was accredited and through which the firm hoped to generate new contracts..

Managing director Tony Mobbs said the firm was hoping some school projects would eventually go ahead but was reviewing its strategy in the light of the new policy. He said: “Work in the education sector has been a major part of our business so the decision to put projects on hold or cut them presents a major challenge.

“At least our expanding work in China will help plug the gap left by cuts in the public sector in the UK.”

Mr Mobbs is hopeful that the private sector would start to revive projects which had been put on hold during the recession.

Robinson has been operating in China for six years and is now involved in massive design and build projects across the country which are providing 25 per cent of the firm’s turnover.

The firm has a team of 20 mainly Chinese staff in Chengdu in China headed by Keith Linch who has been there since 2004. Mr Linch said Robinson had set up in south west China rather than Bejing or Shanghai as the Chinese government was focusing development there – and it was the first UK architectural firm to set up there. Others were now looking to follow.

Robinson is also working for the Noble House Group for which former Deputy Prime Minister Lord Prescott is an ambassador.