 | |
| 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] | |
| £11.3 million (2021) [2] | |
| Website | willmottdixon |
Willmott Dixon is a British privately owned contracting, residential development and property support business. [3]
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]
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 involving the company have included:
The company is also working with Poplar HARCA to redevelop Aberfeldy Village in Poplar, London, due to complete in 2024. [25]
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]
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]
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] |
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