Picture caption: Emily Palmer was Willmott Dixon’s Trainee of the Year for 2023, following a long line of winners since 1989 when the annual competition was created to recognise Willmott Dixon’s future leaders. Joining Emily are CEO Graham Dundas, left, and executive chairman Rick Willmott.

Willmott Dixon is launching a drive to recruit 30 management trainees across a range of disciplines as it invests in a new generation of future leaders.

The company, which was recently the highest placed contractor in the FT Diversity Leaders list and one of only two included in this year’s The Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality guide, is providing a host of opportunities for school leavers and graduates to start a career in construction. Key roles are in construction management, quantity surveying, design management, M&E, IT, health & safety, business development, estimating and planning, as well as year-out placement opportunities.

Picture caption: our current trainees learning skills on a series of away days to support team cohesion and development.

Willmott Dixon’s training programme was established in 1979 as a fast-track way to train its future leaders. Notable examples include Graham Dundas who joined the company in 1998 as a management trainee and was appointed Willmott Dixon’s Chief Executive Officer in 2024. Another is Stewart Brundell, who was the company’s first trainee of the year in 1989 and now is managing director for its London and East region.

The roles available are across the country to match Willmott Dixon’s network of offices in England and Wales. It is part of the company’s annual investment of £2.5m to train its people so they are equipped with the skills to enjoy what the company calls a ‘career of a lifetime’ at Willmott Dixon.

The company currently has 85 trainees undertaking the programme which takes between 2 to 5 years (depending on entry point) and allows them to ‘earn while they learn’ as they study for a relevant qualification. Importantly, trainees get experience of all areas of the business to develop their understanding of construction.

The application process

Anyone can apply online at https://www.willmottdixon.co.uk/careers/job-search?category=management+trainee

The company is looking to hear from people with a real passion for working in construction, and the process includes submitting a video interview, with those selected then invited to meet the team at a special assessment day.