Willmott Dixon
Willmott Dixon is a privately owned contracting, residential development and property support business.[3]
 | |
| Type | Private Limited Company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Construction |
| Founded | 1852, by John Willmott [1] |
| Headquarters | Letchworth, United Kingdom |
Key people | Rick Willmott, Group Chief Executive |
| Revenue |  £1,101.5 million (2021)[2] |
 £22.9 million (2021)[2] | |
| £11.3 million (2021)[2] | |
| Website | willmottdixon |
History
The company was founded in 1852, by John Willmott.[4] In 2001, Rick Willmott became the fifth generation of the Willmott family to lead the business.[4] In March 2013, Willmott Dixon invested £1 million in the 4Life Academy which is located in Perry Barr, Birmingham.[5]
Operations
Willmott Dixon has several business streams including construction, residential construction and interior fit out and refurbishment.[6] In 2017, it sold a 70% stake in its London-based residential development business Be Living to Malaysia's EcoWorld International, creating EcoWorld London.[7]
Major projects
Major projects involving the company have included:
- Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, completed in 2010[8]
- University of Worcester Arena, completed in 2013[9]
- Woolwich Central, the largest ever development by Tesco's in-house development business Spenhill, was completed in 2014.[10] 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".[11]
- The refurbishment and fit out of the Design Museum in Kensington, completed in 2016[12]
- A specialist building in Exeter, intended to house the Met Office's new supercomputer, completed in 2017[13]
- The redevelopment of Orchard Village in South Hornchurch, completed in 2017.[14] 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.[15][16][17]
- The fit out of the new hospitality suite in the East Stand at Twickenham Stadium, completed in 2018.[18]
- The refurbishment of Alexandra Palace, completed in 2018[19]
- Brentford FC's new Community Stadium at Lionel Road South in Brentford, London, completed in 2020.[20]
The company is also working with Poplar HARCA to redevelop Aberfeldy Village in Poplar, London, due to complete in 2024.[21]
Fire safety provisions
Woolwich Central was the subject of a £46.7m claim by Tesco against Willmott Dixon for cladding replacement;[22] Willmott Dixon then sought to reclaim the same amount from five members of its supply chain:[23] Lindner Exteriors and its subsidiary Prater, architect Sheppard Robson, AIS Surveyors, and fire engineer AECOM.[24] When the case was heard in February 2023,[22] two suppliers countered by saying the problems arose due to Willmott Dixon's negligence.[25]
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 £62m 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."[26][27]
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.[28] It also won the Queen's Award for Enterprise in 2014, 2018 and 2019.[29]
References
- The story of John Willmott & sons, Willmott Dixon Group
- "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 2011-07-09. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
- It does not take much to say well done Camden FB, 15 December 2011, retrieved 11 March 2012
- "Birmingham leader commends Willmott Dixon's approach to skills in the city". Midland Businbess News. 22 March 2013. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
- "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 Finane 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". www.brentfordfc.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-06-08.
- "Willmott Dixon to start on £250m East End estate". 13 July 2013. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
- 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.
