Willmott Dixon
British residential construction company
 | |
| Company type | Private Limited Company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Construction |
| Founded | 1852, by John Willmott[1] |
| Headquarters | Letchworth, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom |
Key people | Rick Willmott, executive chairman Graham Dundas, CEO |
| Revenue |  £1,101.5 million (2021)[2] |
 £22.9 million (2021)[2] | |
Net income | £11.3 million (2021)[2] |
| Website | willmottdixon |
Willmott Dixon is a British privately owned contracting, residential development and property support business.[3]
History
The company was founded at Bassingbourn in Cambridgeshire by a bricklayer, John Willmott, in 1852. During the second half of the 19th century and much of the 20th century, the company remained small. However, by 1980, the company was earning revenue of nearly £30 million per annum and, in the early 1980s, the company bought a motorhome, made by Winnebago Industries, from which to conduct board meetings at regional locations and thereby keep in touch with local management. At that time the company expanded internationally, into Egypt and Portugal.[4]
The company moved its headquarters from London to the Spirella Building in Letchworth in 2000.[5]
In 2001, Rick Willmott became the fifth generation of the Willmott family to lead the business.[4]
In January 2008, the company re-acquired its social housing business, Inspace, which it had floated on the London Stock Exchange in 2005.[6]
In March 2013, Willmott Dixon invested £1 million in the 4Life Academy, located in Perry Barr, Birmingham.[7]
In January 2024, Rick Willmott stepped down as group chief executive and became Willmott Dixon's new executive chairman. Chief financial officer Graham Dundas was promoted to chief executive.[8]
Operations
Willmott Dixon has several business streams including construction, residential construction and interior fit out and refurbishment.[9] In 2017, it sold a 70% stake in its London-based residential development business Be Living to Malaysia's EcoWorld International, creating EcoWorld London.[10]
Major projects
Major projects involving the company have included:
- Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, completed in 2010[11]
- University of Worcester Arena, completed in 2013[12]
- Woolwich Central, the largest ever development by Tesco's in-house development business Spenhill, was completed in 2014.[13] The development was named Britain's worst new building, being awarded the 'Carbuncle Cup' for a design judges described as "oppressive, defensive, arrogant and inept"[14]
- The refurbishment and fit out of the Design Museum in Kensington, completed in 2016[15]
- A specialist building in Exeter, housing the Met Office's new supercomputer, completed in 2017[16]
- The redevelopment of Orchard Village in South Hornchurch, completed in 2017.[17] Since its construction, Orchard Village has been beset with problems of build quality and estate management which have been reported in the media, in particular by the Romford Recorder[18][19][20]
- The fit out of the new hospitality suite in the East Stand at Twickenham Stadium, completed in 2018[21]
- The refurbishment of Alexandra Palace, completed in 2018[22]
- Brentford FC's new Community Stadium at Lionel Road South in Brentford, London, completed in 2020[23]
- Bassaleg School, Newport, completed in 2023[24]
The company is also working with Poplar HARCA to redevelop Aberfeldy Village in Poplar, London, due to complete in 2024.[25]
Fire safety provisions
Woolwich Central was the subject of a £46.7 million claim by Tesco against Willmott Dixon for cladding replacement;[26] Willmott Dixon then sought to reclaim the same amount from five members of its supply chain:[27] Lindner Exteriors and its subsidiary Prater, architect Sheppard Robson, AIS Surveyors, and fire engineer AECOM.[28] When the case was heard in February 2023,[26] two suppliers countered by saying the problems arose due to Willmott Dixon's negligence.[29]
In June 2023, Willmott Dixon said its financial performance had been adversely affected by costs associated with Building Safety Act compliance. CEO Rick Willmott said: "The aggregate provision for these legacy issues stands at a very material £62 million and we naturally expect to recover a substantial portion of this from designers, fire engineers, supply chain and insurers who, so far, have not faced up to their responsibilities or obligations across those 'in scope' projects."[30][31]
Awards
The company was listed as No. 4 in the East of England Region of the mid range businesses of The Sunday Times Best Companies to Work For in July 2019.[32] It also won the Queen's Award for Enterprise in 2014, 2018 and 2019.[33]
Subsidiaries
Willmott Dixon Holdings own a few subsidiaries, including:[34]
| Subsidiary name | Area of business |
|---|---|
| Willmott Dixon Construction | Construction company across various sectors |
| Willmott Dixon Interiors | Interior refurbishment and fit-out |
| Fortem | Planned and responsive maintenance to residential properties |
| EcoWorld London | Sustainable property development within London. Willmott Dixon hold a 30% share.[35] |
References
- ^ The story of John Willmott & sons, Willmott Dixon Group
- ^ a b c "Annual Review 2021". Willmott Dixon. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
- ^ "2010 Sunday Times Top Track 100" (PDF). Sunday Times. 20 June 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 July 2011. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
- ^ a b "It does not take much to say well done". Camden FB. 15 December 2011. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ "70 new jobs as company expands Letchworth headquarters". The Comet. 9 February 2011. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ "Willmott buys 'undervalued' Inspace back for £148m". Building. 25 January 2008. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ "Birmingham leader commends Willmott Dixon's approach to skills in the city". Midland Business News. 22 March 2013. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
- ^ Morby, Aaron (2 January 2024). "Willmott Dixon shuffles main board". Construction Enquirer. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
- ^ "What we do". Willmott Dixon. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
- ^ Prior, Grant (2 August 2023). "Ecoworld London to cut jobs as resi market stalls". Construction Enquirer. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
- ^ "Aylesbury Waterside Theatre: Leading role". Building. 25 July 2008. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
- ^ "Willmott takes stage on £10m Worcester Arena". Construction Enquirer. 1 December 2010. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
- ^ "Spenhill's Woolwich Central construction workforce peaks at 700". Spenhill. 19 April 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
- ^ Booth, Robert (3 September 2014). "Tesco scoops Carbuncle Cup for 'inept, arrogant, oppressive' Woolwich store". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
- ^ "Willmott Dixon to fit out Design Museum". Construction Index. 29 June 2015. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
- ^ "Project of the year: £20m to £50m". Construction News. 14 July 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
- ^ "Made in Dagenham – a construction epic / Orchard Village starts the countdown for the completion of Phase One". Circle. 8 November 2010. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
- ^ Farand, Chloe. "Call for building inspection at 'nightmare' Orchard Village estate, Rainham". Romford Recorder.
- ^ Farand, Chloe. "Watchdog opens investigation over 'shocking' energy bills at Orchard Village, Rainham". Romford Recorder. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
- ^ Gelder, Sam. "Nightmare new homes in Rainham estate have leaks, damp and bad wiring". Ilford Recorder. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
- ^ "At least Twickenham's new hospitality is a winner". Building. 12 November 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
- ^ "Willmott Dixon completes Alexandra Palace restoration". Development Finance Today. 10 December 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
- ^ FC, Brentford. "Brentford FC and Willmott Dixon sign Development Agreement for Brentford Community Stadium at Lionel Road South". brentfordfc.co.uk. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
- ^ "Willmott Dixon wins £25m Newport school job". Construction Enquirer. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
- ^ "Willmott Dixon to start on £250m East End estate". 13 July 2013. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
- ^ a b Vogel, Ben (27 January 2023). "Willmott Dixon sues Aecom and Prater over high-rise cladding". Construction News. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
- ^ Rogers, Dave (18 July 2022). "Willmott Dixon rips into supply chain for 'dodging' £44m cladding repair bill". Building. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
- ^ Gayne, Daniel (23 February 2023). "Willmott Dixon keeps promise and hits firms with £47m writ for cladding repairs bill". Building. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
- ^ Vogel, Ben (16 February 2023). "Suppliers blame Willmott Dixon's 'negligence' in cladding court battle". Construction News. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
- ^ Prior, Grant (22 June 2023). "Willmott Dixon vows to recover building safety millions". Construction Enquirer. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
- ^ Rogers, Dave (14 July 2023). "Willmott Dixon bosses keep up pressure on firms it accuses of 'not facing up to' £62m cladding repair bill". Building. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
- ^ "Best companies". Retrieved 23 July 2019.
- ^ "Willmott Dixon marks Queen's Awards hat trick". UK Science Park Association. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
- ^ "Our structure". Willmott Dixon. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
- ^ "Development - EcoWorld London". Willmott Dixon. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
External links
- Official website
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| House builders |
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| Integrated construction |
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| Suppliers |
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