Willmott Dixon is putting collaboration at the heart of its business, having moved in to its new city centre hub in Birmingham.
The company has taken 4,000 sq ft at One Snowhill on a 10-year lease, with the space designed specifically to meet the future needs of the construction sector.
Nick Gibb, deputy managing director at Willmott Dixon, said: “Willmott Dixon has been well established within the region for over 30 years, operating from our headquarters in Coleshill, but we’ve never had an office in Birmingham city centre.
“Birmingham is where business is being done and now, more than ever, it is hugely beneficial for us to be located close to our partners and customers. Collaborative working is at the heart of what we’re doing as a progressive, forward-looking business.
“The timing of this move has been key for us, as we’ve just completed the process of incorporating our residential construction arm into the business. As with any sector, there are constantly changing requirements and we need to ensure that we’re taking them into account.”
Able to accommodate 32, the office has been designed to take advantage of a collaborative, project-led working approach and will accommodate both preconstruction and operations staff, with partners and customers encouraged to also utilise the space.
The company’s main headquarters in Coleshill will be retained, with some teams relocating to the new Birmingham office.
The interior fit-out of the space has been designed and delivered in-house, specifically with the needs of the business in mind and to encourage collaboration with partners and customers.
Alongside specialist project tables, dedicated meeting rooms and breakout space, the office features a digital design room, which offers the latest in BIM (Building Information Modelling).
The intelligent 3D model-based process is a key tool used by Willmott Dixon as it provides insight and tools that help to more efficiently plan, design, construct and manage buildings and infrastructure.
Nick Gibb continued: “Technology, and the use of BIM in particular, has become such a vital element for us throughout the construction process. Having a dedicated BIM space was a key requirement for this office as it allows our teams, partners and customers to fully appreciate a building’s design and garner a greater understanding of the built environment.
“As a company with a long legacy in the Midlands, we want to play a part in supporting Birmingham’s growth, provide opportunities for greater collaboration, thinking and influencing, and both attract and retain the next generation of workers.”
Willmott Dixon recently won awards for its pioneering approach to use of digital technology in construction, prioritising its people’s health and wellbeing, and encouraging young, diverse talent.
The company was also one of only six national organisations to be recognised in the Promoting Opportunity category of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for the work that it undertakes to enhance the lives of young people.
The company invested a total of £2.5 million back into communities in which it was working in 2017, including providing mock interviews to 1,471 young people, offering over 900 work experience opportunities and delivering workshops to over 32,000 students.
Willmott Dixon is currently engaged on a number of projects across the Midlands, including over £90 million of work for a number of the region’s universities such as the Green Heart project that is redefining University of Birmingham’s landscape.
The company has also recently delivered the refurbishment of the landmark The Lewis Building.