Willmott Dixon, one of the largest privately-owned construction companies in the UK, has become a member of the Manufacturing Technology Centre.
The tie-up between the billion pound turnover business and the MTC further strengthens the MTC’s growing construction and infrastructure portfolio, as it develops systems and processes to help improve performance and productivity in the construction sector.
Hertfordshire-based Willmott Dixon has more than 3,000 employees and is run by the fifth generation of the same family who established the business in 1852. The company is a major housebuilder, delivering more than 2,000 homes a year, but also works across other sectors including education, public sector, health, leisure, office, retail and fit-out. Major projects include the National College for High Speed Rail in Birmingham.
The team working with the MTC to improve productivity within the business is led by Willmott Dixon director Tim Carey who heads their National Product Team.
He said, “Willmott Dixon’s ‘Constructing our Future’ strategy supports our strategic ambition to deliver a perfect product with significant productivity improvements, which strongly aligns with the MTC’s capabilities and work within the construction sector. We recognise and look forward to the opportunities which will come from working in partnership with both the MTC and its other members to develop and adopt innovative methods and products that challenge existing approaches and improve the quality, efficiency and cost-effectiveness of our end product.”
The MTC already has a proven track record developing new technologies and manufacturing systems for a range of other sectors including defence, automotive and aerospace, and is promoting the advantages of adapting technologies like automation, robotics and virtual reality for the benefit of the construction industry.
Trudi Sully, associate director for construction and infrastructure at the MTC, said they were delighted to have Willmott Dixon joining.
“Willmott Dixon coming on board strengthens and diversifies our construction membership portfolio which will enhance our ability to deliver game-changing approaches to improve productivity and efficiency in the construction sector. The MTC has established a position supporting change in the construction and infrastructure sectors but we need the commitment and engagement of proactive companies like Willmott Dixon to ensure successful industry adoption and benefit realisation,” she said.
The MTC was founded by the University of Birmingham, Loughborough University, the University of Nottingham and TWI Ltd. The MTC’s industrial members include some of the UK’s major global manufacturers.
The MTC aims to provide a competitive environment to bridge the gap between university-based research and the development of innovative manufacturing solutions, in line with the Government’s manufacturing strategy. The MTC is part the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, supported by Innovate UK.