Willmott Dixon hosted a behind-the-scenes tour of its £48.8 million Queen Mary University of London project as part of an exclusive preview for Open Doors 2026, the UK's leading construction industry careers initiative taking place 23-28 March.

The event, delivered in partnership with Build UK at the seven-storey School of Business and Management development in London's East End, welcomed Construction Management students from the local Global Banking School who experienced first-hand the breadth of career opportunities available in modern construction.

Willmott Dixon CEO Graham Dundas talks about careers in construction from his own experience

Students heard about the different roles involved in delivering the complex university project before changing into PPE to see the site in action, gaining real-world context for their studies whilst exploring career pathways in an industry that needs to recruit around 50,000 extra workers each year to meet demand.

Industry Leadership Through Build UK Partnership

Speaking on Willmott Dixon's partnership with Open Doors, Graham Dundas, Chief Executive Officer at Willmott Dixon and a member of the Build UK Board, said:

"As a leading contractor and proud Open Doors partner, we are committed to attracting and developing the next generation of construction talent. Through Open Doors, we've seen first-hand how opening our doors to visitors can spark curiosity and reveal career possibilities that young people simply hadn't considered before. Students visiting our sites will be stepping into an industry that offers incredible opportunities, diverse careers, and plays a vital role in building Britain's future - and they'll see the quality and innovation we bring to projects like Queen Mary University of London's new business school."

Willmott Dixon will open project sites across the country during the week-long programme in March, showcasing the diversity of modern construction careers across its portfolio of sustainable schools, housing regeneration schemes, and cutting-edge commercial developments.

Addressing Construction's Critical Skills Challenge

The event earlier this month demonstrated the authentic engagement that has made Open Doors increasingly successful, with last year’s programme attracting a record 7,000 visitors. The initiative directly addresses one of construction’s most pressing challenges, with the industry requiring approximately 240,000 additional workers by 2029 according to CITB’s Construction Workforce Outlook report.

Tamsin Parkes, Open Doors Project Manager at Build UK, said:

"There’s no better way of inspiring the next generation of construction professionals than giving them the opportunity to see the construction industry in action. For today's students, their visit has helped not only to affirm their career aspirations but given real world context to their studies. There is a career in construction for everybody, and Open Doors is a first step for young people to explore what the industry has to offer."

Demonstrating Corporate Purpose in Action

The Queen Mary University of London project exemplifies the type of transformational development that Willmott Dixon will showcase during Open Doors 2026. The development will offer high-quality, flexible learning and teaching spaces whilst contributing to the wider enhancement of Mile End Road and the improvement of public spaces.

For Willmott Dixon, Open Doors represents a natural extension of the company's commitment to transforming lives and strengthening communities – a purpose that has earned recognition as Europe's 4th best place to work in the 2024 FT Best Employers guide and the best big construction firm to work for in the Sunday Times Best Places to Work guide.

As the UK's highest-ranked contractor in the FT's Diversity Leaders list (2020-2025), the company brings proven expertise in creating pathways for underrepresented groups into construction careers, recently launching a groundbreaking partnership with Black Professionals in Construction to place 50 graduates into sustained employment.

Opening Doors Nationwide

Graham Dundas continued:

"Our involvement in Open Doors aligns perfectly with my role on the Build UK Board and our broader commitment to securing construction's future workforce. By opening our sites nationwide, we're not just showcasing individual projects – we're demonstrating how construction careers contribute to building the sustainable, thriving communities our country needs."

Event registration for Open Doors 2026 is now open, with construction companies encouraged to register sites early to support educational groups in planning their visits Companies interested in finding out more about hosting events should visit https://opendoors.construction/event-hosts