National Apprenticeship Week is between 5-11 February. Funding and Learning Manager Janette Welton-Pai explains why this week matters to the future of the construction industry.
Janette Welton-Pai, Funding and Learning Manager
Quite simply, our future depends on attracting and upskilling many more people. This puts National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) into sharp focus as an opportunity to showcase the industry and attract the best.
While in the past there may have been misperceptions about apprenticeships based on outdated stereotypes, this has changed. Willmott Dixon’s own approach has evolved massively, to a point where apprenticeships are integral to developing skills and supporting career mobility for our people.
To do this, we use funding from the Apprenticeship Levy to access an array of apprenticeships for our people. This pathway of learning is not only for people at the start of their careers; it is also available for people already established in their roles who want to turbo-charge their opportunities with new skills and qualifications.
A shift in how we upskill tomorrow’s leaders
We place a lot of emphasis on our management trainee programme as the foundation for a new generation of future leaders. There’s no better illustration than Graham Dundas, our new CEO, who started on the programme in 1998.
Success means adapting. In recent years, we have moved away from registering all management trainees for degree courses to now include apprenticeships. So now many trainees are registered for apprenticeships at levels 4 – 6 (equivalent to degree). This includes Construction Site Management, Quantity Surveying technician, Design and Construction Management and the Construction Site Supervisor apprenticeships.
However, as mentioned, it’s not just about people at the start of their careers. Apprenticeships are becoming important in supporting our business priorities. An example is our data apprenticeship, which is being delivered by Corndel and Imperial College Business School. In January 2024, 12 of our people started the level 3 Data driven apprenticeship programme, following the success of recent learners who completed the level 4 Data analyst apprenticeship.
This shows how apprenticeships can meet the changing skills landscape in an era of unprecedented technological innovation and change. We’re on a journey to establish a common culture to use data to its full potential, which this apprenticeship neatly serves.
Apprenticeships are allowing our people to progress their careers at different levels, and as a company that wants its people to feel challenged and able to enjoy a pathway for their own personal development, this is important.
Retaining the best people
Apprenticeships help us develop potential and retain talent. Our focus on using apprenticeships to support mid-career upskilling and mobility has seen us register people for HR support at level 3, Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Practitioner at level 4 and Digital and Technology Solutions Professional at level 6.
This was recognised in November 2023, when we achieved a second Gold award from the 5% club for our ‘earn and learn’ programmes.
So with the national spotlight on apprenticeships, it’s a timely reminder of the role they play in addressing recruitment, skills and career progression. Certainly at Willmott Dixon, they are a vital way we remain an employer of choice and a key element of how we help our people enjoy what we term a ‘career of a lifetime’.
We are proud to have been recognised in the BPIC Awards for Best Community Project. This is our third social value award we have achieved this year.
This accolade has been awarded for the work we have completed in the community in Walthamstow, as part of our Soho Theatre Walthamstow project.
Above: The team with the award
We are currently transforming the theatre from an empty and deteriorating building, into an exciting new London venue. The building will benefit from better ventilation, cooling, and a weather-tight exterior, with the live performance venue consisting of 1000 seats with restaurants, café, and bar areas. A true revitalisation of the space and a regeneration of Walthamstow’s high street.
In addition to creating a vibrant building within the heart of Walthamstow, working with Waltham Forest Council, we generated over £6.5m social return on investment within the local community. This includes working with several different local schools, colleges, and businesses within Walthamstow.
We have partnered with local businesses to support people into work as well as providing work experience, construction tours, CV writing sessions, and talks about potential career opportunities within the construction industry. To create greener spaces, we have donated and planted trees within the local community, hosted discussions around the importance of sustainability and run mini projects with pupils to design and pitch their own school whilst working within a team to divide up responsibilities. Connecting over 1000 people locally, we have helped to support people into better careers and improve employment.
A large contribution to our social value work was the three community-based projects ran by our management trainees, as part of their annual Trainee Challenge. This solely focused on improving local spaces, providing more green space, and encouraging people outdoors.
Above: Our management trainees at the Trainee Challenge last year
The first project was at Langthorne Park; a play centre and toy library for children and parents. This focused on improving their outdoor space and indoor area to facilitate community sessions.
The second project was at Project Zero; a community centre focused on reducing knife crime to zero in Walthamstow. Here, we decorated indoor areas, which were later used when King Charles and Queen Camilla visited, and enhanced the biodiversity outdoors to invite people to socialise.
The third project was at Lime Academy, an SEN school, where we created an accessible school farm for them to encourage students to be outside and learn about agriculture.
To continue this legacy, we have been working with Project Zero by hosting sessions to promote young people into the industry and work on improving racial diversity in the industry.
Above: CGI of how the completed project will look at Soho Theatre Walthamstow
As a result of the work we have been delivering on the theatre, it was taken off of the Theatre’s at Risk Register this year. This was a major milestone in the building’s history which we are proud to be a part of.
We are proud of the work we have achieved on this project so far and the value it is already delivering to the local community and pleased this has been recognised in receiving this award
Willmott Dixon Interiors’ green-focused trainee challenge has been honoured at this year’s London Construction Awards.
‘The Power of Green’, which focused on creating accessible green spaces for local communities, has won the Excellence in Community Engagement award at a glittering ceremony in London.
The challenge was led by assistant design coordinator, Abi Inskip, who managed a team of 18 trainees tasked with investing in environmentally sustainable projects in London’s Waltham Forest and Alum Rock in Birmingham. Projects were also designed to educate people on the importance of accessibility and inclusion within the built environment.
Above: Abi Inskip with the London Construction Award
Abi has since led the roll out of our Building Green legacy programme, continuing an investment in the creation of accessible green spaces. Building Green is split into two branches: Building Green Lives, working in schools, universities, community centres and youth clubs to promote the construction industry and green skills; and Building Green Spaces, working alongside project delivery teams to create accessible outdoor community spaces.
Abi said: “It was a true privilege to lead the trainee challenge and make such an impact on multiple communities. It was amazing to see the transformation we made to the spaces and I’m proud to be continuing the legacy of this initiative with the Building Green programme.”
Bev Williams, director and responsible for trainees, Willmott Dixon Interiors, added: “We are hugely proud that our fantastic trainee challenge has been recognised and are incredibly proud of Abi and the efforts of our trainees in investing into local communities.”
Above: Our trainees and team that were involved in the project collecting the award
‘The Power of Green’ – a snapshot of our award-winning trainee challenge projects:
Walthamstow:
- Project Zero – a centre supporting reduction in violent crime, working with local young and unemployed people, and refugees. We engaged in careers fairs, decorated a previously empty car park on site, and painted brick walls ready for a local artist to create a mural. We also added planters and benches for visitors who can now use the previously disused bus for internet access for activities such as access to the debt service, job applications or arranging visas. Internally, we decorated a room which will be used to host sessions on sexual and mental wellbeing, drugs/alcohol awareness, and first aid. We continue to work with Project Zero on a new programme to improve racial equality within the construction industry and promote careers to the next generation.
King Charles and Queen Camilla are pictured in the internal room we decorated during a recent visit.
Above: Internal room our trainees decorated
- Langthorne Park – a pavilion run by the E17 toy library which helps low and supported-income families. We cleaned the amphitheatre and added planters to the outdoor area for growing fruit and vegetables. The kitchen area was also refurbished, allowing the delivery of cookery classes and supporting the charity’s aspiration of running a café to increase revenue.
Old kitchen appliances were shipped to Uganda to support a small family restaurant.
Above: Our trainees at Langthorne Park
- Lime Academy – a special educational needs school for ages 4-18. We transformed a large unusable open space into a school farm containing animal enclosures, over 35 planters, 6 bug hotels and a large sensory garden with level flooring. It provides outside space for many students who do not otherwise have access to a garden and/or family pets and allows for the curriculum to include agriculture lessons for students.
Above: The large field our trainees transformed into a school farm
Birmingham:
- Norton Hall – a community centre with a nursery facility that supports local young people including young mothers and those with special educational needs and disabilities.
We transformed the centre’s previously unusable, overgrown outdoor space into a memorial garden, with a quiet area for reflection and downtime. We also added benches and planters, removed undergrowth and cleaned graffiti, as well as delivering an associated landscape design competition for undergraduate students at Birmingham City University.
Above: Norton Hall’s memorial garden
Investing in the Next Generation: Our Trainee of the Year
Our trainees are the future of our business. Our Management Trainee scheme provides those that are new to the industry with valuable skills and experience that enables them to go far in their career. Many of our Board members and Senior Leaders were once a Management Trainee.
This year, our Trainee of the Year is Chanell Fraser-Kellman. Upon her completion of her traineeship last year, she was promoted to Assistant Build Manager.
A Success in Operations
Chanell’s infectious enthusiasm and positive attitude bring energy to each project she undertakes. She engages confidently with colleagues, customers, and supply chain partners, creating collaborative working relationships that lead to successful outcomes. She is not afraid to push herself outside her comfort zone and consistently seeks opportunities to learn and grow.
Leading a Transformation
Chanell’s inspirational work ethic doesn’t stop at her day-to-day. With Chanell as Operational Lead, our trainees transformed a large field that was unused at SEN school Lime Academy in Walthamstow. The team created a school farm to house chickens and ducks, adding planters throughout for agriculture lessons and creating a large sensory garden for students. This addition feeds into the school’s curriculum, as well as supporting students’ mental health and wellbeing by encouraging them outside and supporting time with animals.
Championing Diversity & Inclusion
Outside of her day-to-day, Chanell is an advocate for diversity. This has been demonstrated through her active involvement with the EDI team at Willmott Dixon Interiors. She has actively participated in conversations and initiatives with great passion.
Mentoring is important to an individual’s growth, and Chanell sees the value in this. She has been mentoring young people from Project Zero – an anti-knife crime charity based in Walthamstow – to raise awareness of the benefits of the construction industry, and encourage them to consider it as a career option.
Through mentoring, Chanell has been able to introduce numerous people to the construction industry. She has improved their knowledge around the roles available in the sector, provided career insights, and offered advice on how to have a successful career. The attendees have also had the opportunity to undertake mock interviews and CV writing, with Chanell’s lead.
Empowering the Future
We are proud of our Management Trainees’ achievements, their commitment to progressing in their careers whilst also investing into the community themselves is inspiring. We celebrate Chanell as our Trainee of the Year this year, and our impact of the trainee scheme.
Every year, our first-year Management Trainees embark on an informative 2-week Trade Awareness residential course in Bircham Newton.
This unique experience provides an interactive and hands-on opportunity to delve into various trades and acquire new skills within the Built Environment. The course offers an immersive learning environment and the chance to catch up with Management Trainees from different parts of the business. At the end of each week, our trainees are assessed, and awards are presented to acknowledge their achievements.
The Trade Awareness course offers a holistic learning experience, where trainees get to explore diverse aspects of construction, including Brickwork, Steel Fixing, Formwork, and Concreting, etc. The sessions are designed to combine theoretical knowledge with practical experience, enabling participants to gain real-world understanding of the challenges faced by the supply chain while working in these trades.
We caught up with Finn Collins, one of our Commercial Management Trainees in the Midlands, to gain an insight into his experience:
What was your favourite session and why?
“My favourite session throughout the two weeks was the Formwork and Concreting day, although doing the SFS and Fire stopping was also an enjoyable experience, which I took away a lot of knowledge from. Both of these sessions featured a lot of practical work which allowed me to better experience and understand the processes in place as well as the challenges which the supply chain might face when working.”
What skills did you learn and any key takeaways you can share with us?
“One of the main takeaways I had from the course was regarding the challenges that Supply Chain Partners might face on site. Working on each of the trades provided different challenges and required different solutions and skill sets to rectify. Getting the opportunity to partake in them certainly helped me to gain a better understanding of the processes as well as the standards which would need to be met. It was beneficial to work with new people across different tasks; as is usually the case, everyone had different strengths and skillsets and it was worthwhile to be figuring out how to assign tasks and get the most out of the different members of the team. Delegating different roles allowed individuals to better represent themselves and what they were good at, so I think that really helped to provide a more memorable learning experience.”
What was the most challenging thing for you during the course and why?
“The most challenging part of the course was probably the socialising aspect at the beginning; personally I find it to be a challenge to meet new people and settle into new groups. With everyone attending for the same reasons it was easy to find common ground and move past this and I hope to think I left the event with some new friends.”
What advice do you have for future trainees undertaking the Trade Awareness course?
“My advice for the trade awareness event would be to listen to the instructors and try to take notes during the presentations they give; there is a lot of information to be taking in and in order to get the most from the sessions. It’s good to have something to relate back to, especially for when it’s time to do the presentations at the end of the fortnight.”
What was the best aspect of the course?
“Aside from the learning sessions, I enjoyed being able to spend time with my colleagues in the evenings, getting to know people better outside of the working environment during the day times.”
We are proud to have been shortlisted in 8 awards across the Construction News Awards, London Construction Awards, British Construction Industry Awards, Inspiring Women in Construction & Engineering Awards, and the National Social Value Awards.
Our social value work in Waltham Forest for our project to transform the former EMD Cinema into Soho Theatre Walthamstow has been Highly Commended in the National Social Value awards for Best Private Sector Project.
Some examples of the social value work we have carried out for Waltham Forest are:
- Supported multiple work experience students
- Delivered £5.33m in Social Return on Investment to Waltham Forest directly
- Supported local employment
- Delivered 3 community-based projects solely focused on improving local spaces and encouraging people outdoors
- Connected over 1000 local people to careers education events
We are currently delivering the refurbishment of Walthamstow’s Grade II* listed former EMD Cinema into a multi-purpose entertainment venue and cultural hub, Soho Theatre Walthamstow. This project was procured through Procurement Hub.
Above: CGI of the refurbishment we are currently delivering to transform the EMD Cinema into Soho Theatre Walthamstow
Our Thomas Hardy House project has been shortlisted for two awards:
- Project of the Year (under £20m) – Construction News Awards
- Cultural and Leisure Project of the Year – British Construction Industry Awards
In Enfield, we refurbished Thomas Hardy House and Dugdale Arts Centre to create a new office and community accommodation. Works included a strip out and CAT B refurbishment of the first and second floors of the existing building. Additionally a museum and community space has been created on the ground floor within the Dugdale centre. We delivered this for London Borough of Enfield, procured through Scape.
Above: Cat B refurbishment of Thomas Hardy House
Our Management Trainees worked on a community-based project last year ‘The Power of Green’, led by Design Management Trainee, Abi Inskip. This has been shortlisted for three awards:
- Community Engagement project of the Year – Construction News Awards
- Excellence in Community Engagement – London Construction Awards
- Community Investment Initiative of the Year – British Construction Industry Awards
The Power of Green, our Trainee Challenge for 2022, included four community projects across Walthamstow and Birmingham. Each project improved the environment and facilities that the buildings were in, providing more green space for the users and local community.
Above: Our trainees taking part in the Trainee Challenge
With a large focus on sustainability, we refurbished The Bailey last year to create our new London Office. This has been shortlisted for the below:
- Excellence in Sustainability Project – London Construction Awards
We transformed the space to suit the ever-evolving purpose of the office, and to benefit our people. This space consists of one floor of open plan office space with meeting rooms, an amphitheatre, biophilic design, collaboration areas, and desks.
Above: Refurbishment of our London Office, The Bailey
Social value and community investment is a top priority for our business and projects. Due to the huge impact they make on communities, our Social Value team has been shortlisted for the below:
- Excellence in Outreach – Inspiring Women in Construction & Engineering Awards
Our social value team work incredibly hard on each of our project to improve the lives of those in the community and invest time into increasing employability skills.
Above: Our Social Value team
We look forward to attending each of these events throughout the year, well done to each of our people across our shortlisted projects for this recognition.
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.
In 2020, Willmott Dixon announced intention to plant 100,000 trees in the UK by the end of the decade. The plans form part of our Now or Never, Our decisive decade, an industry-leading sustainability strategy with ambitious targets.
We have planted more than 2,600 trees at locations close to our construction sites in Leeds, London and the West Midlands, thanks to an innovative partnership with a leading nature charity.
In this article, Hayley Newman, our Sustainability Manager, explains how we have done it and what we plan to do next.
Helping to build a better planet
Willmott Dixon’s Now or Never strategy sets clear and stretching ambitions and targets for its business, focused on three key themes: Brilliant Buildings, Building Lives and Better Planet.
The latter is all about putting the climate, biodiversity, and resource crises at the heart of the way it does business, leaving a better world for future generations.
“As a business we’ve been carbon neutral since 2012 and are committed to becoming a zero-carbon company without offsetting by 2030,” says Hayley Newman.
“We’ve also eliminated all single-use plastic from our offices and banned diesel on our sites where fuel is unavoidable.
“Better Planet sets out wider ambitions and that includes delivering enhancements to nature through projects that improve environmental services such as habitats for biodiversity, flood defence and wellbeing. Put simply, it means leaving the environment in a measurably better state than before, helping to create happier and healthier communities in the process.”
Connecting people with nature
Trees are one of the world’s biggest tools in combating climate change and have been a stabilising factor on our planet for millennia.
It is no surprise that a large-scale tree planting campaign was identified as a way of contributing to the delivery of the Better Planet strand of Now or Never.
Yet planting the most appropriate species in the right location isn’t entirely straightforward, which is why Willmott Dixon Interiors teamed up with The Conservation Volunteers (TCVs).
Hayley explains: “We conducted a lot of research into potential partner organisations as we wanted the project to be localised and relevant to the communities in which we work.
“Choosing TCV has allowed us to tap into more than 60 years’ of conservation experience in connecting people with nature. What really captured our imagination was its concept of blending traditional and Miyawaki-style planting. It’s something different and exciting, and we thought its benefits would appeal to our stakeholders.”
Mighty oaks from mini forests grow
A dense patch of fast-growing shrubs, trees, or canopies, a Miyawaki-style ‘mini forest’ is about the size of a tennis pitch – perfect for introducing vibrant pockets of nature into urban areas.
Using the Miyawaki method, we planted a mini forest in Mansfield Park, a residential area of the London Borough of Waltham Forest.
It’s located less than four miles from the site of the Grade II* Former Granada/EMD Cinema, where we are delivering a restoration project on behalf of Waltham Forest Council.
More than 25 volunteers spent two days planting 642 trees at Mansfield Park, with support from the council and sponsorship from several of our supply chain partners.
“We’ve created a thriving ecosystem in a tiny space,” adds Hayley.
“It’s a multi-layered woodland including oak, beech, hazel, hornbeam, willow, wild cherry and spindleberry, which will provide food sources for a wider range of species.
“Some studies suggest that mini forests can boost biodiversity by up to 20 times more than traditional planting and that’s really important to us – this isn’t a tick box exercise, it’s all about the impact we can make.”
Strengthening relationships
Other projects delivered in partnership with TCV include a woodland restoration initiative at Lickey Hills Country Park in Birmingham and tree planting at Pendeford Mill Nature Reserve, just a few miles from where we are completing the refurbishment of Wolverhampton’s Civic Halls.
More than 600 trees were also planted on land owned by the local authority in Bramley, Leeds, increasing the urban canopy cover in the city and supporting the local council’s own ambitious plans to help combat the climate emergency.
Planting in multiple locations has enabled maximum engagement and delivered much more than carbon related benefits.
Our people have been given the opportunity to volunteer and meet new people, while relationships have been strengthened with various local authorities, supply chain partners, communities and customers.
In total the project has delivered:
- 2,642 trees planted
- 18 different native species
- 56 volunteers attended across five separate events
- 335 volunteer hours recorded
- Four customers directly engaged
- 15 supply chain partners and consultants engaged
Our partnership with TCV doesn’t end here.
Arrangements have been put in place for the ongoing maintenance of each tree planting project, ensuring that they will continue to flourish for years to come.
Hayley says: “We were really clear at the outset that we wanted every project to have lasting outcomes for the environment and our communities.
“All of the sites we chose are linked to organisations that work locally and we’re arranging specific dates for their maintenance. It means that we can not only create green spaces for people and nature but contribute to a long-term improvement in people’s health and wellbeing too.”
Buoyed by the experience, we are planning a follow-up tree planting project and currently delivering a separate biodiversity scheme at a construction site in Portslade, Brighton. We also have plans to develop a rehabilitation garden for stroke patients as part of a refurbishment project in Epsom, which will include sensory areas and special pathways.
“We’ve started on a fairly small scale but the experience has given us valuable information and so many new ideas about how we can further enhance green spaces for our customers and their communities,” adds Hayley.
“We’re looking forward to continuing the development of our approach and applying what we’ve learnt to our next tree planting season which starts in November.”
Click here to watch our video for more information.
Each year Willmott Dixon Interiors hosts the ‘Trainee Challenge’. Our Management Trainee’s lead to deliver a project which will leave a legacy in the local community. This is in support of the aims of the Willmott Dixon Foundation and our 2030 sustainability strategy, ‘Now or Never’.
The Challenge is delivered through donated time, materials, and money from Willmott Dixon Interiors, their Supply Chain Partners and Consultants. This year, Abi Inskip, Design Management Trainee, has been chosen to lead the Challenge titled ‘The Power of Green’.
“The projects will help an array of people across the Borough of Waltham Forest and Alum Rock in Birmingham by encouraging them into outdoor spaces that are accessible to those who may not have previously had access to green space. Spending time outdoors, gardening and looking after animals can have massive physical and mental benefits which will support the local communities.” – Abi Inskip, leader of Willmott Dixon Interiors’ Trainee Challenge 2022.
The first project will be carried out at Langthorne Park. The Walthamstow Toy Library and Play Centre is situated here, and they run Leytonstone Toy Library. The E17 Toy Library runs a site where they host support play sessions from a rented pavilion. Willmott Dixon Interiors will be renovating the kitchen, building planters, and cleaning up the park’s amphitheatre. As a part of this, a session with families using the E17 Toy Library will be run where children and parents can spend time painting the planters that will be in the park for growing food. Helen Crockford, Director for the E17 Toy Library has said “We are so grateful for Willmott Dixon Interiors to be doing some projects with us.”
Above – Langthorne Park before our Management Trainee’s work on the area
The second project will be delivered at Project Zero which is a community space set up to reduce knife and violent crime in Walthamstow. Willmott Dixon Interiors will be creating an outdoor space for the community to spend time, play sports and socialise as well as redecorating two indoor rooms for the centre. In partnership with LBWF, Willmott Dixon Interiors will also be hosting work experience for Groundworks. Stephen Barnabis, founder of Project Zero, along with an array of staff members, run employability sessions, host alternative provision learning and run sessions during school holidays. This is to prevent gang involvement and support young people to one day reach a year where there are zero deaths from knife and violent crime.
Above – Project Zero’s Mobile Youth Venue
The third project will be with the SEN school Lime Academy near Blackhorse Road which has a large field that is currently unused. Willmott Dixon Interiors will be creating a school farm to house chickens and ducks, adding planters throughout for agriculture lessons and creating a large sensory garden for students. This addition will feed into the school’s curriculum, as well as supporting students’ mental health and wellbeing by encouraging them outside and supporting time with animals. Assistant Head George Lambrou has said “Our vision is to shape lives one lesson at a time and there is no better opportunity for our learners than to be able to experience a farm in house here at William Morris.”
Above – Lime Academy
The fourth project will be running at Norton Hall Family & Children’s centre in Alum Rock, Birmingham with the support of the Willmott Dixon Interiors Midlands Office. Here, Willmott Dixon Interiors will be creating a memorial garden and clearing up an outdoor space for the community to spend time in.
Above – Norton Hall before our Management Trainee’s work on the area
Willmott Dixon Interiors will be running a Social Enterprise and Small Local Business fair on the 12th of August to celebrate the work done. If you would like to have a stall at this event, please send your details to abi.inskip@willmottdixon.co.uk for more information.