Construction company ‘making positive impact on society’ is Europe’s best

A national contractor headquartered in Letchworth has been ranked the highest-placed construction company in Europe for its leadership in diversity and inclusion.

Willmott Dixon, which has 20 offices across England and Wales, including one in Hitchin, has been included for the fifth time on the FT Diversity Leaders list that features Europe’s top 850 employers.

It follows inclusion on The Times list for Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality earlier this year.

Stewart Brundell, managing director for London and East, said: “The construction industry has traditionally been seen as a male domain, but that has changed in recent years and we are proud to be leading the way.

“Being recognised for our commitment to diversity and inclusion is testament to the values we hold at Willmott Dixon. A diverse workforce not only brings a range of perspectives, skills and ideas that drive innovation and problem-solving, but it also reflects the communities where we work.

“This recognition reinforces our dedication to building a workplace where everyone feels valued and inspired to make an impact.”

The company has also been awarded Platinum status through the Investors in People initiative, placing it in the top two per cent of similar sized companies. Only seven per cent of eligible companies achieve this standard.

“One of the most uplifting pieces of feedback we received was that 93 per cent of our people think that we have a positive impact on society. Our purpose beyond profit approach is important to us and it is satisfying to see that our workforce recognises that.”

Completing the set of accolades, Willmott Dixon has been given platinum status in the 5% Club, an organisation that works with UK employers to increase accessible workplace learning, focusing on apprentices, sponsored students and graduates.

The 2024-25 audit recognised the company’s investment in upskilling people through apprenticeships, degree programmes, NVQs, HNDs and graduate schemes. The platinum status is only awarded to companies that have successfully held the gold award for three consecutive years.

“This underlines our approach to using a multitude of ways to upskill our people to help them grow, develop and achieve success in their careers.”

For further information about Willmott Dixon, visit willmottdixon.co.uk