Willmott Dixon has launched a groundbreaking 12-month pilot programme with Black Professionals in Construction's (BPIC) skills and labour supply social enterprise, Building Professionals, that will create sustained employment pathways for individuals from underrepresented communities into London's construction sector.

The initiative will see at least 50 people from BPIC's Skills Academy placed into construction roles across Willmott Dixon projects and its extensive supply chain network over the next year. To drive meaningful retention and support BPIC's long-term sustainability, the organisations will work in partnership, with Willmott Dixon providing financial and commercial support to the programme.

The programme represents a fundamental shift from treating social value as a compliance requirement to positioning it as a competitive advantage, with Willmott Dixon taking industry leadership in creating scalable talent pipelines that address both skills shortages and systemic barriers to opportunity.

Richard Bartlett, director at Willmott Dixon Interiors, which is leading the initiative for Willmott Dixon:

"This partnership with BPIC’s Building Professionals exemplifies our purpose in action - transforming lives and strengthening communities by removing barriers to opportunity. We're not simply filling vacancies; we're fundamentally changing how our industry identifies, develops and retains talent from communities that have been historically underrepresented in construction.

"By working collaboratively with Black Professionals and our supply chain partners, we're creating a blueprint that can be replicated across London and beyond. This is about industry leadership - showing what's possible when we align commercial success with social impact."

Amos Simbo OBE, director at BPIC, added:

“We are proud to be strengthening our partnership with Willmott Dixon. Over the past five years, BPIC Network has evolved into a recognised industry assurance body for inclusion, supported by the continued commitment of our industry partners.

“To enhance and streamline our operations, Building Professionals has been established as a talent and labour supply social enterprise subsidiary that creates a sustainable pipeline for diverse talent, providing opportunities from training through to employment. With a dedicated team of experts overseeing talent pipelines, training providers, and sector engagement, this initiative represents an exciting new chapter in our mission to advance inclusion across the construction industry.

“Attracting new talent is only the first step; retaining and empowering that talent is equally vital. Our network and community ensure that people are supported, with a continuous pathway for growth and progression across the sector, a truly holistic approach to career development.”

Both Willmott Dixon’s construction and interiors businesses will now focus on the pilot programme, testing and refining the model before expanding industry engagement. It will share this learning with other contractors as a business-led initiative focused on social value, skills development and employment pathways.

Richard Bartlett continued, "London's construction industry faces a significant skills challenge, yet we know there are talented individuals in our communities who simply lack access to opportunities. This programme addresses both challenges simultaneously - creating pathways for BPIC graduates while building the diverse, skilled workforce our industry needs for the future.”

The initiative aligns with Willmott Dixon's broader commitment to social mobility, reinforced through its King's Awards for Enterprise in Promoting Opportunity and recognition as the UK's highest-ranked contractor in the FT's Diversity Leaders list (2020-2025). The company aims to achieve gender parity across all levels of its workforce by 2030 and continues to champion pathways for underrepresented groups across the construction sector.