Willmott Dixon Interiors are currently carrying out the refurbishment of more than 9,000 sq ft of space at Montagu Hospital in Mexborough, Doncaster. The project will deliver two new Endoscopy suites at Mexborough’s Montagu Hospital on behalf of Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Our project team at Montagu hospital including Carrie Hallsworth, Richard Wilde, Stuart Dack, Chris Hall and Phil Green.
As part of the work we are doing, our project team worked with Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals (DBTH) to organise a personalised health educational session covering prostate health for our site team and supply chain partners.
The health talk informed our people about the symptoms of prostate cancer, which can include an increased need to pee, straining whilst urinating or feeling that the bladder has not fully emptied. Whilst these symptoms should not be ignored, they can be caused by other health issues, such as an enlarged prostate. Our team were informed that if they experience these symptoms, they need to contact their GP for further investigation.
Stuart Dack, Site Build Manager for Willmott Dixon Interiors, said: “We are delighted to have been a part of this educational session and appreciate the time given by the clinical team at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals. The wellbeing of our workers is important to Willmott Dixon Interiors, and we look forward to participating in future sessions on men’s health and other topics.”
Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals delivering the health awareness talk on prostate cancer.
Due to the success of the session, DBTH will be delivering further talks for our project team on men’s health awareness and have scheduled an additional talk to include testicular cancer and how to identify early symptoms.
Nicki Sherburn, Deputy Divisional Nurse for Surgery at DBTH, said: “The Trust takes great pride in helping not just our patients but also the people that work alongside our organisation. This is a great example of our clinical team going above and beyond their day-to-day roles to ensure our community can learn about crucial healthcare matters.”
Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals delivering the health awareness talk on prostate cancer.
Michelle Corbet, Matron for Clinical Specialty Services, said: “Empowering our local community through health awareness sessions is important to us as we recognise that it makes a significant difference in helping people detect the early symptoms of cancer. With approximately 1 in 8 men being diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime, it is essential that we actively engage with this high-risk population. I am extremely proud of the team on Rockingham ward for the work they have done to promote health and wellbeing. This is a fantastic example of collaborative working supporting such an important topic.”
Prostate cancer awareness boards at Montagu Hospital.
Marie Evers, Sister on the Rockingham Ward at DBTH, gave thanks to her colleagues for their help in organising and facilitating the session. Marie said: “Amanda Peck, Healthcare Assistant and Wellbeing Ambassador, has worked hard to boost prostate cancer awareness within the ward. Amanda spotted the perfect opportunity to further this awareness by initiating this session, which really engaged key members of the public who will directly benefit from this experience. We were also fortunate to have Tina Soar, Urology Nurse Specialist, provide her expertise in urology care and give her time to answer questions on prostate cancer following the session.”
The current work we are carrying out forms part of a significant scheme of improvements at Montagu Hospital, find out more about the refurbishment and reconfiguration of the Montagu Hospital Community Diagnostic Centre here.
Refurbishment and reconfiguration of the Montagu Hospital Community Diagnostic Centre
In 2019 Willmott Dixon Interiors (WDI) won Waltham Forest Council’s tender to refurbish the Grade II* EMD Cinema, an iconic heritage asset, into a multi-purpose entertainment venue for residents and businesses. Soho Theatre Walthamstow is set to kick off their first full programme in the 970-seat venue in 2024.
As industry leaders in the refurbishment and fit-out arena, social value is a priority within our projects. Our approach is encapsulated in our Now or Never Strategy, 2020 to 2030. For every penny spent, we seek to ensure the legacy of our work by investing in the local communities where we are active. As of April 2023, through this project we have delivered an impressive £5.33m Social Return on Investment (SROI) against the original minimum target of £2.16m, as set by the Procurement Hub Framework.
Our Social Value activities encompass local schools, colleges, and businesses. Recent initiatives include: –
- WDI worked closely with London Borough of Waltham Forest (LBWF) and supply chain partners to support local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This collaboration helped to aid SMEs in gaining an understanding of the build profile, and how to procure work with WDI and our supply chain. This result to date is that £6.6 million has been spent with local suppliers.
- Supporting local employment: We have supported 32 unemployed residents, providing basic qualifications – including Level 1 Health and Safety training, specialist construction training and work experience. This aided 19 graduates in gaining employment and through cross-agency partnership with LBWF, 41 local people secured employment in diverse roles, both with WDI, and our supply chain partners.
- Through partnering with organisations such as Women into Construction (WiC), WDI empowers target groups to explore careers within the Construction sector. Local resident Tamar Moseley gained employment following work experience and overcame the challenges of being a working mother who had been unemployed for four years. Read her story here.
- To support local community projects: WDI employees donated over 2000 volunteer hours to support local initiatives. This included connecting with 1203 local people through careers education events hosted by the council and local schools, as well as instigating employability workshops which engaged 133 young people. This included care leavers, college students and young people ‘Not in Employment, Education or Training’ (NEETs). These workshops are designed to improve ‘Routes into Construction’. Recently, 40 students from Waltham Forest College attended an Open Doors workshop and site tour. The tour was recorded on YouTube and then shared widely with local schools. See here.
- Volunteers supported a Project Zero anti-knife crime charity to transform a disused area into an inclusive space. The project included converting a bus with internet access. These initiatives were co-designed to engage vulnerable young people, counter antisocial behaviour and promote employment opportunities.
- Employability sessions were delivered to Lime Academy Special Educational Needs (SEN) students. The team assisted in CV writing, team building exercises, and communication skills. These sessions are designed to inspire young people in employment opportunities, within construction.
- Volunteers worked with the Toy Library in Langthorne Park to improve access to green space. By cleaning the disused kitchen, installing new appliances, de-weeding the amphitheatre, and creating planters for fruit and vegetables, this made a positive contribution to health and wellbeing for local low-income families.
- 25 WDI, Council and local volunteers planted a Mini Forest at Mansfield Park, Chingford. See here for further details.
Our social value work continues during the fit out and refurbishment of the historic EMD Cinema in Walthamstow, transforming it into Soho Theatre Walthamstow, which promises to be a local theatre with a national profile. We are proud of the initiatives we have achieved to date, together with the lasting impact we have made to individuals and the overall community.
We are proud to be able to support and help develop those aspiring to have a career in the construction industry through our social value programmes which focus on our ‘Building Lives’ theme.
Modassir Zaman initially joined us for a work placement on our project at St Michael’s hospital in Warwick and due to his determination and enthusiasm within the role, he has now gone on to achieve a full-time role working with Willmott Dixon Interiors through an agency.
We hear from Modassir about his mental health challenges that he faced, and how he has overcome them to build a career within construction.
Modassir Zaman.
“My Name is Modassir Zaman and I am 25 years old.
I successfully graduated with a construction management degree in 2020. However unfortunately my mental health rapidly deteriorated in October 2021. Due to the extent of my mental health and current condition at that time, I was sectioned to a mental health hospital for 4 months. I was then released back home in January 2022 after they had diagnosed me with paranoia schizophrenia. After 9 months, I felt like my mental health had improved, and so I felt like it was time for me to get back into work and into a routine. I was still extremely nervous and worried about how I would transition back into a job due to my lack of confidence.
As I had graduated with a construction management degree, I wanted to continue with my passion and look for a job within the construction industry. Through a mutual connection, I was lucky to meet with Nabeel Javed, Construction Manager at Willmott Dixon Interiors. I applied for a two week work experience placement at Willmott Dixon Interiors, which I was successful in landing. This placement has now led onto a full time job working with Willmott Dixon Interiors through an agency for 7 months.
I am extremely thankful for the opportunity Willmott Dixon Interiors has provided. The site team are like a family and have really assisted me in settling back into work. I cannot thank Nabeel Javed enough for taking me under his wing and actually really changing my life around. He has helped not just enhance my construction knowledge and skills but also improve my mental health. He has also boosted my confidence and helped build my people skills.
Willmott Dixon Interiors have been great to work with and it’s so evident they put their people first. If Nabeel had not believed in me and helped me through this journey there’s a chance my mental health could have deteriorated further. It’s ironic how I was once a patient sectioned in a mental health hospital and now I am part of an amazing site team whom are helping the NHS trust improve these facilities.
As an ex-patient I totally appreciate and understand the importance of improving mental health facilities and I hope to continue a successful career with Willmott Dixon Interiors.”
We want to thank Modassir for sharing his inspiring and courageous story which might help others to overcome the challenges they face and spur them on to pursue their passions.
Nabeel Javed, Construction Manager at Willmott Dixon Interiors says “Modassir has been a fantastic asset to the site team and I had seen potential in him from the very first day he walked onto site. He has great drive and enthusiasm, you can tell he really has a passion for construction. His story is truly inspirational, and it goes to show anything is possible.”
Nabeel Javed and Modassir Zaman on site at St Michael’s Hospital in Warwick.
Find out more about the work we are doing at St Michael’s hospital in Warwick here.
Willmott Dixon Interiors has raised vital funds for BSUH Charity, a dedicated charity of University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, after taking part in Brighton’s Marathon Weekend.
Our team took on the Brighton 10K, one of the oldest and most prestigious races in the south east.
All members of the mixed ability team completed the course along the iconic Brighton & Hove seaside, with the final runner clocking in at a leisurely 77 minutes.
Thanks to their efforts, we’ve been able to make a donation of £1,160 to BSUH Charity, which will fund health advancements and innovations that will enhance patient care at the Trust’s hospitals in the region.
Steph Kirby, Communications Officer at BSUH Charity, said: “Huge congratulations to all of the team for completing the 10k challenge! Thank you all so much for your brilliant fundraising, it is such a fantastic amount to have raised and it will make a real difference to our patients.”
Pictured above: From left to right, Steve Crump from BSUH Charity, Kevin Davidson, Justin Champneys and James Howard from Willmott Dixon Interiors.
As Operations Manager, James Howard explains, we’ve been working with University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust on multiple projects that are improving facilities for staff and patients alike.
He said: “Last year we completed the Urgent Treatment Centre at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, which was delivered using modern methods of construction.
“The project was procured via Scape and has created additional clinical treatment space within the hospital’s emergency department. This has increased A&E capacity and greatly improved the care environment for patients receiving urgent care.
“Working with the Trust is hugely rewarding and is helping to reduce the pressures the NHS is under.”
We are currently on site at The Princess Royal Hospital in West Sussex where we are creating a new urology consulting department. A separate project is also being delivered at Royal Alexandra’s Children’s Hospital in Brighton which will see the creation of new paediatric audiology booths. Another project is being delivered for the Trust at Royal Sussex County Hospital for the complete refurbishment of the Acute Floor at the Accident & Emergency Department.
Supporting local and national charities and taking part in fundraising initiatives is important to Willmott Dixon Interiors. Last year we raised over £10,000 in donations to charities that have supported a variety of good causes.
Willmott Dixon Interiors’ hosts an annual Trainee Challenge, where Management Trainee’s can volunteer to lead on a project that will leave a legacy in the local community.
The challenge is supported by our people and Supply Chain Partners donating money and time. This year, Abi Inskip, Design Management Trainee, was chosen to lead the challenge, titled ‘ The Power of Green.’
In this blog, Abi speaks on her experience of leading the challenge and what it involved.
Abi Inskip
Design Management Trainee
Trainee Challenge 2022 Lead
What made you want to lead the trainee challenge?
I decided to put myself forward to run the Trainee Challenge for this year as it is a great opportunity to give back to the communities we work in and manage the trainee team. The Challenge I proposed to run directly supports our pre-construction team in terms of furthering our offering within social value and sustainability, whilst also supporting those specific teams. Further to this, as I am in my penultimate year of my trainee scheme, this is also a great way to get exposure internally, but also with key external stakeholders including our supply chain and consultants to support my career.
What did your project involve?
The Challenge was broken into four key projects – Langthorne Park, Project Zero, Norton Hall and Lime Academy. Each of these supports the Better Planet and Building Lives themes of our Now or Never strategy. These can also be used as pilots for future concepts to deliver Social Value and Sustainability for our projects. In total, these four projects were conducted during 5 weeks of delivery. Further to the four projects, the Challenge also involved planning Learning and Development for our internal people, together with donations of pre-loved toys and running Employability Sessions.
How did you plan the project?
Whilst still working on a project full time, I planned the project in and around my day-to-day tasks initially, before this became my full-time role for three and a half months. Through discussions with my Director, I outlined what I wanted to get from the Challenge and focused on four key areas – having an impact on everyone in the business, building my personal brand, understanding disability and the power of green. These key areas allowed me to focus my ideas before reaching out to find projects. Initially with my ideas focused on a refurbishment of an outside space in Walthamstow and Birmingham, I had to find some key contacts to help me find a location. Once in contact with the correct individuals at Waltham Forest Council and at Birmingham City University, I established my brief for the project, and we began working together closely to find projects that fit the brief. With four projects, I needed a lot of support from the current trainees. Through 1-2-1s with them all, I identified key leads from both Operational and Surveying disciplines for each of the projects. This allowed me to have a more holistic overview of the Challenge as a whole, with the individual leads focusing on their own project. At this point, it was also made clear that further operations support was required. To support the leads, an Operations Manager was also allocated to support each individual project as a secondary line of support for both myself and the specific project leads.
What was your highlight?
The highlight of the Challenge for me, has been providing life changing spaces for the communities we have worked within. There have been some great relationships built with the beneficiaries we have worked with, which I hope to see continue into the future.
What were the key challenges?
Personally, the key challenges were time management, working with my peer group and managing the commercial side of the Challenge. Whilst working on my day job and planning the Challenge, I had to be very strict with my time to deliver to deadlines. This has taught me a great deal about how to plan out my time in the future. Working within a peer group is hard, but ultimately a great skill to have developed. Working with friends may not always be easy, but it is massively rewarding when you deliver an amazing project as a real team of friends. As a Design Management trainee, managing the commercial side of the project has been a real learning curve for me, allowing me to focus on wish lists, collating donations and distributing money between the project was a massive task. I am ever so grateful for the support I received from the commercial trainees during this time.
How do you feel after leading the challenge?
I am very proud of the Challenge that I delivered and grateful for the opportunity to have done this. It has helped develop my own skill set, but also allowed me to support the growth of my peers’ skills too. Supporting communities that really needed better access to green space has been an incredible experience as I know that the work we have done has been truly appreciated by the beneficiaries and local community.
Well done to all of the team involved in the Trainee Challenge this year.
The Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022 was a huge event in the West Midlands which brought people from across the globe together to support the incredible athletes who took part in 27 sports and 8 para-sports over 11 days, creating a buzz of excitement within the region.
14,000 volunteers gave their time up to help make the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022 such a fantastic success and this included our Social Value Manager, Jayne Anderson who was allocated the role of Flash Quote Reporter at the games.
We caught up with Jayne following her time at the games to find out more about her role and experience.
Jayne Anderson, Social Value Manager
What made you first want to volunteer for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022?
I decided to take the opportunity to apply to be a part of the commonwealth games collective of volunteers as it was a great opportunity to take part in a massive sporting event being held locally, which is viewed around the world and showcases Birmingham and the Midlands. I felt that it would be an opportunity to give back to the region where I live and work as well as work in a role that would potentially be something different to my day job.
What did your job role entail at the games?
I was based at the University of Birmingham, covering the hockey throughout the games. My role was a pretty intense one but also one of the best roles in the commonwealth collective I think. It involved me watching each hockey match, during which I made notes on who scored and played well, etc as well as researching the players on each team to find an area of interest to ask them about when I interviewed them after the match.
Once the match was finished I let the support team know who I wanted to speak to from either of the teams. All players have to walk through the Mix Zone, which is where all reporters gather from TV, Newspapers, On-line publications etc. Players don’t have to speak to the press if they do not wish to but are usually happy to. The support team would bring over the player or players I wanted to interview and I would use my research to pull together my interview questions.
In one of the first matches I covered, where Scotland won against South Africa, I learned that one of the Scotland players was born in South Africa but who now plays for Scotland. I therefore asked her what it was like to play against the country of her birth in the opening match of the games. I tried to get interesting angles such as this within the interviews as well as asking about the match itself.
Once I had interviewed the players I had to rush back to the press area and type in my interview and submit it to a system so that all the press can access the quotes to post them on social media and in on-line publications etc. This element of the role was intense with tight timings as they liked to have the quotes within about 10 minutes of the game finishing if possible.
Were there any particular highlights that stood out for you?
I was lucky enough to be working at the match when the England women’s hockey team won, which was on the same day that the Lionesses (England woman’s football team) won against Germany in the UEFA women’s EURO 2022 tournament. It was an amazing atmosphere to watch and an incredible day for women’s sport. I therefore used this as an angle when I interviewed one of the England hockey players.
How did the volunteer work make you feel?
The role was intense but rewarding and fun. It was like no other role I have done previously in my career or will likely ever do again. The team I worked with were all lovely and we worked really well together.
What skills have you learnt from your time there?
I utilised the people skills I already have within my Social Value Manager role, in order to create those relationships with the team of volunteers and the players, who we saw move through the rankings of their group throughout the games. I learned lots about what is required of reporters at these events and how to work well under the pressure to produce accurate and interesting quotes within minutes of a match finishing.
What was the best thing about volunteering?
The thing I enjoyed the most about volunteering was meeting all the different people along the way! The Midlands is such a diverse community with so many different cultures that feed into it to make it the amazing place it is and it was the perfect backdrop for the Commonwealth Games 2022 for these reasons.
I am proud to come from the Midlands as well as to live and work here and I felt proud to wear my Commonwealth Collective uniform throughout the games and be a person that the public felt they could approach on public transport, in the street and of course at the hockey venue to ask questions or just to talk to about the games, ask what my role was and tell me about what they had been to see and what they felt about it all.
At Willmott Dixon Interiors, volunteering lies at the heart of our core values and is all about giving something back to the people and communities in which we work. We are so proud of the great work that Jayne achieved and experienced throughout her time at the games and we actively encourage our people to take part in volunteering initiatives.
To support our people to do just that, we commit to giving up to 22.5 hours of work time per year for company organised volunteering activities and up to 15 hours for personalised volunteering activities to help our people get involved.
If you would like to work with Willmott Dixon Interiors, please take a look at our current vacancies here: https://www.willmottdixoninteriors.co.uk/vacancies/
As part of our social value initiatives, Willmott Dixon Interiors have worked with the Ministry of Justice to deliver a programme to prisons within Leeds and Wandsworth to help support those looking to develop new skills and potentially start a new career within the construction industry.
Focusing on Women in Construction in Leeds
In Leeds, our social value team worked with cohorts of inmates to deliver a programme with a focus on Women in Construction at HMP New Hall.
New Hall is a women’s prison and women often think of construction as a male focussed sector but Willmott Dixon Interiors are keen to change this view and make it clear that our sector is open to all with roles for everybody.
The cohorts of learners were taken through career journeys from some of our people at Willmott Dixon Interiors, providing insight into the transferable skills they have gained along the way as well as the various Routes Into Construction.
A session on Me PLC formed part of the programme, where inmates thought about, discussed and wrote down the skills and qualities they can bring to an employer. They then went on to write an elevator pitch about themselves that they can use in any future job interviews.
Jayne Anderson, Social Value Manager delivering our programme to inmates at HMP New Hall
Jayne Anderson, Social Value Manager at Willmott Dixon Interiors said:
“This programme delivers high impact social value and supports those facing significant barriers into being on the path to good careers. It is a fantastic way to inspire, work on building confidence and focussing on the skills and qualities the women are able to offer an employer.”
Continuing our programme at HMP Leeds
We also attended some sessions at HMP Leeds following the success of the HMP New Hall programme.
HMP Leeds is an adult male prison in the Armley area of Leeds. Our team which included Jayne Anderson, Chris Hall and Stuart Dack delivered a two day programme to 2 cohorts of inmates, which consisted of the below:
- Interactive session: This was an interactive tower building session, where inmates were paired up to design their tower from the equipment provided. They then swapped plans and built a tower designed by another pair. This session is based around communication, teamwork and provides an element of fun to engage the inmates.
- Routes into Construction: The team provided an overview of the various roles available in the construction sector, with some of our team providing first-hand details of their career journey and experiences.
- Strengths, skills and qualities quiz: The third session had the cohort taking a quiz to find out what their strengths are as well as what kind of team-mate and leader they are. This generated thought and discussion around the skills they already have that an employer would see as valuable.
The inmates were lively and engaged throughout and we look forward to returning to work with HMP Leeds on more programmes like this.
Jayne Anderson (WDI Social Value Manager), Chris Hall (WDI Senior Operations Manager) and Stuart Dack (WDI Building Manager) working together with HMP Leeds.
Working with Wandsworth Prison
Willmott Dixon Interiors have been working with HMP Wandsworth since the 2nd May 2022. Our partnership focuses on supporting men who are coming up to their release date, allowing our social value team to work with cohorts of men who have either an interest in construction or are open to any type of work.
During our first session we delivered a workshop to 24 men who are soon to be released from prison; we shared an introduction to Willmott Dixon Interiors and provided information about the different Routes Into Construction and our supply chain partners.
The session then looked at how to create a good CV and how to prepare for an interview. The team discussed what questions employers might ask and the best way to answer difficult questions.
The WDI team working with HMP Wandsworth
Following a successful first session, Willmott Dixon Interiors were invited back to host some positive and supportive one to one mock interviews with a small cohort of men who were about to be released. There was an opportunity for the interviewees to ask questions as well, allowing for an open and honest dialog and building positivity and confidence.
Lili Bidwell, Accelerator Employment Advisor said:
“Thank you so much for coming in yesterday. It was a brilliant session with some great takeaways for the men who attended. I genuinely think that those one-to-one conversations can prompt real change in an individual’s mindset.”
Our prison programme has been a great success across all the locations, and our team have found it an inspiring and motivating experience helping others to develop new skills and providing them with more opportunities to find a sustainable and enjoyable career.
Our team will be visiting HMP Wandsworth with further sessions and will also be working with HMP Brixton and HMP Wormwood Scrubs going forward.
As part of Willmott Dixon’s commitment to supporting young people into careers within the construction industry, we joined the government-backed Kickstart Scheme in 2021, which aims to create new jobs for 16-24 year olds at risk of unemployment.
The Kickstart Scheme provides 6-month placements for young people providing an insight into the industry and the wide variety of jobs that are on offer. In 2022, 9 people joined Willmott Dixon Interiors through the Kickstart Scheme across the business in London, Leeds and in the Midlands.
Joshua Bell, Kickstarter at Wolves Civic Halls, Wolverhampton
Joshua Bell, joined us in February 2022 as a Project Administrator and is currently working on our Wolves Civic Hall site in Wolverhampton. Joshua was new to construction, but was interested by the different roles and opportunities that the industry could offer.
“I think what interests me most about the industry is the many different avenues and opportunities that construction can offer me. I am also interested in the many different job roles that I can work towards and that no two days are the same. As someone who has entered the industry with no previous knowledge, I am intrigued to learn about the many components which help make a project successful and, in the process, potentially find an area that most interests me.”
Through Joshua’s placement he has been able to experience a number of different roles and gain valuable insight, developing his skills both as a person and as an employee. The placement has also allowed him to build up more confidence and meet new people within the workplace.
“I have started developing key skills since joining Willmott Dixon Interiors. I have learned how vital communication can be in this industry, and have developed my communication skills week by week. Another fundamental skill I have developed is team working. Working with and as part of a team in construction is crucial to the success of a project and since joining the team, it has helped me work with people better and more effectively. My experience so far with Willmott Dixon Interiors has definitely helped me both understand and recognise the many different roles available to me in this industry and will continue to learn and hopefully I will find a particular area I would like to pursue the most.”
Elliot Woodhead, part of the Kickstart scheme and based at Leeds Bus Station.
Elliot joined our team at Leeds Bus Station in January 2022. His placement has allowed him to build up his knowledge of the construction industry and through the work he has been doing, he has developed a keen interest in learning about the design stage of the projects that we do.
The Kickstart Programme has provided him with an opportunity to meet new people, develop new skills and build up a new understanding of the roles and responsibilities available which has helped start to shape his future.
“Through my placement at Willmott Dixon Interiors, I have been able to develop my organisational and administrative skills which is something I wanted to pursue. I’m surrounded by good, hardworking people that motivate me to be like them some day.”
Matthew Jarvis, Kickstarter at EMD Cinema
Matt has been working as a Kickstarter on our EMD Cinema project in Walthamstow as an Assistant Project Administrator. Throughout the scheme so far, he has developed new skills, learnt more about the construction industry and the journey of a project.
“I have started developing many different skills now as I have settled into the job role. These skills include working in a large team, using different software connected to Willmott Dixon like Msite, MI projects etc. also having the responsibility of invoice approval and handling the orders for the site’s needs. Willmott Dixon Interiors has helped me with my career as I have learnt how to work in a team of many people with different roles which is very significant in any type of job.”
Matt has enjoyed being a part of a team, learning new skills and seeing what it is like to work in the construction industry.
We want to thank all the people who have joined us at Willmott Dixon Interiors through the Kickstart Scheme. Their hard work and enthusiasm inspires us to share our knowledge and passion with the younger generation helping them to succeed in good sustainable careers.
As part of our 2030 sustainability strategy, Now or Never we are committed to supporting 500,000 people with their careers, which includes providing programmes of activity to at least 100,000 people, supporting at least 1,000 people into sustainable careers and recruiting at least 100 people facing barriers into careers at Willmott Dixon.
Find out more about our Now Or Never strategy here.
For more information on how to apply to this scheme, head to the Department for Work and Pensions job board.
As part of our current project work within the Coventry and Warwickshire area, our team recently approached a local baby hospice; Zoe’s Place in Coventry, to offer their services to redecorate their sensory room.
Tracey Armstong (Deputy Head of Care at Zoe’s Place), Nabeel Javed (Senior Building Manager at Willmott Dixon Interiors), Dominic Kelly (Project Surveyor at Willmott Dixon Interiors), Beth Abbotts (Community Fundraiser at Zoe’s Place) and Emily Shotbolt (Corporate Fundraiser at Zoe’s Place)
Zoe’s Hospice is a Registered Charity providing palliative, respite and end of life care to babies and infants aged from birth to five years suffering from life-limiting or life-threatening conditions.
The sensory room is a key part of the hospice and is regularly used to help calm and focus the children to aid learning and interaction with others. However, due to the pandemic, the refurbishment had been put on hold so was in need of an update.
Our team, led by Nabeel Javed (Senior Building Manager), Dominic Kelly (project surveyor) and Louise Davenport (Administrator) worked together with Zoe’s Place and our supply chain partners to revamp the room, working to a very short timescale and in a live environment so the hospice could continue providing care for the children uninterrupted.
The work consisted of:
- Removing the existing flooring and fitting brand new vinyl flooring as well as fitting a special type of skirting for infection prevention.
- Redecorating the walls and ceilings, including filling any previous holes made and a fresh coat of paint. The walls are used to project images for the children so they have been kept cream to allow for better projections.
Thank you to our supply chain partners; Décorer Ltd who did the painting and decorating and Westcotes Flooring who fitted the new flooring.
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- Works in progress within the sensory room
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- New vinyl flooring laid
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- Decoration completed ready for the new sensory equipment
The work the team has carried out has totally transformed the use of the space and made a real difference within the hospice. Upon completion the staff at Zoe’s Place were completely overwhelmed and happy with the transformation.
Ian Carr, Head of Fundraising (Coventry) from Zoe’s Place said:
“I just want to say a big big thank you to you for all that you’re doing for us here at Zoë’s Place. It’s a big big deal getting this room done and to have you guys come in to volunteer is incredible. Not only are you patching up a terrible paint job, an incomplete floor but you’re doing it in a short space of time. Thank you so much for taking the time to organise this with your suppliers and team. This room is used to help the children have sensory time, calm them down when they aren’t feeling great and will be a space that every child can access. It’s been a project that was put on hold due to the pandemic so thank you for helping it come back to life.”
If you would like to help support Zoe’s Place, please find out more by visiting their site here: https://www.zoes-place.org.uk/coventry/default.aspx
National fit-out and refurbishment specialist contractor, Willmott Dixon Interiors has delivered a new initiative to create a vibrant pocket of nature in Chingford, Waltham Forest.
A new Miyawaki-style ‘mini forest’ has been planted at Mansfield Park, in partnership with leading nature charity, The Conservation Volunteers.
The mini forest comprises 642 trees and features a mix of 18 species, including oak, beech, hazel, hornbeam, willow, wild cherry and spindleberry.
The two-day project was delivered with the support of more than 25 volunteers, including representatives from Waltham Forest Council, as well as supply chain contractor AVV Solutions which also provided sponsorship towards the cost of the trees planted.
Other sponsors included Aimbec, Centre Stage, CMB Mechanical, DES, M&C Roofing and Shaca, which are all supply chain partners of Willmott Dixon Interiors.
A dense patch of fast-growing trees, mini forests cover an area as small as a tennis pitch and are perfect for introducing pockets of nature into urban areas.
Some studies suggest that they can boost biodiversity by up to 20 times more than traditional planting, with a multi-layered woodland providing food sources for a wider range of species. Following huge success in the Netherlands, the innovative forests and their benefits are now being introduced across the UK.
The Mansfield Park project has been delivered as part of Willmott Dixon’s Now or Never sustainability ambitions, which sets a target to plant 100,000 trees nationally by 2030.
Willmott Dixon Interiors has partnered with The Conservation Volunteers and nature reserves close to its construction projects, to improve the local environment for occupiers. The contractor has hosted five separate tree planting events already this year, in locations across the West Midlands, Yorkshire and South East.
Mansfield Park is located less than four miles from the site of the Grade II* former Granada / EMD Cinema, Walthamstow, where Willmott Dixon Interiors is delivering a restoration project on behalf of Waltham Forest Council. The heritage venue is being transformed into a 950-seat multi-purpose entertainment hub to be run by Soho Theatre and is expected to open to the public as Soho Theatre Walthamstow later this year.
Graham Shaw, Managing Director of Willmott Dixon Interiors, said: “We are hugely grateful for the support of our employees, customers and supply chain partners in the sponsorship and delivery of this fantastic project at Mansfield Park. As a business, we are committed to leaving the environment in a measurably better state than before and that includes improving health and wellbeing by creating green spaces for people and nature. Working in partnership with The Conservation Volunteers has enabled us to put arrangements in place to ensure the success and longevity of the project, so that this tiny forest will continue to flourish for years to come.”
Cllr Clyde Loakes, Deputy Leader of Waltham Forest Council and Cabinet Member for the Environment, said: “It’s important for the Council to partner with organisations that share its commitment to tackling the climate emergency. For such a transformative project like the redevelopment of the former Granada/EMD cinema, it’s only right that our construction partners are thinking big with their sustainability interventions, planting 642 trees in total, and 18 different types of trees – from oaks and willow trees to dogwoods and spindleberries. I’m proud that Council officers mucked in on the Chingford project, and really pleased to welcome another forest to Waltham Forest, adding to the Council’s extensive tree-planting efforts. The latest of these, our Great Tree Giveaway last year, gave thousands of school-aged children in Waltham Forest the opportunity to plant their own tree, helping them shape the future of their borough.”