Willmott Dixon is following up its successful completion of Essex’s first medical school with a pledge to stimulate more growth in the county.

The company, which recently handed over Anglia Ruskin’s School of Medicine on the university’s Chelmsford campus, is underlining its commitment to Essex’s future by opening an office at Saxon House on Duke Street in Chelmsford.

The School of Medicine in Chelmsford

The new office will provide a base for the Willmott Dixon team in Essex, expanding the company’s presence in the area as it looks to deliver more projects that play a key role in the county’s future. Another recently completed project, Stansted Airport College, part of Harlow College, opened its doors to students this September.

Willmott Dixon managing director Chris Tredget explained: “Willmott Dixon has been well established in the county for years and it’s a natural step to locate a team here by opening an office in Chelmsford, close to where many of our people live. Essex has a really bright future with many bold and imaginative initiatives afoot across the county to encourage growth and investment. We want to be part of shaping that by basing ourselves in an area that is close to our partners and customers.”

Cllr Roy Whitehead, Leader of Chelmsford City Council:

“Chelmsford has experienced significant economic growth and regeneration over the last decade and we want to make sure that continues.Attracting successful businesses to Chelmsford is an important part of ensuring we are a cutting-edge city, and so I am very pleased Willmott Dixon has chosen Chelmsford as a base for their work.”

Cllr Gagan Mohindra, Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Essex County Council:

"Essex is set to grow significantly in the coming years with the building of new homes, creation of new infrastructure and the fostering of new communities. I welcome Willmott Dixon to our county, who as a new business to the region, will help contribute to delivering that future growth.”

Willmott Dixon is one of the UK’s largest privately-owned construction firms, and this year was one of only six companies to win a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the category of Promoting Opportunity.

The prestigious award recognised the company’s ethos to improve the wellbeing of communities through skills training, mentoring and volunteering work on community projects, something it aims to increase in Essex.

Willmott Dixon has a significant track record in the region. Projects delivered by the company include Colchester Institute, the Holiday Inn Hotel at Southend-on-Sea and building the first homes commissioned by Thurrock Council in 30 years for people over 55. It was also behind Harlow College’s new Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Centre, which is equipping local young people with much needed skills as manufacturers relocate to Harlow’s Enterprise Zone.

The new office at Saxon House has been designed to promote an agile, collaborative, project-led working approach. It will accommodate both preconstruction and operations staff, with partners and customers also encouraged to utilise the space.

Chris Tredget continued: “As a company with a long legacy in Essex we want to play a part in its future growth, as well as provide opportunities to help attract and retain the next generation of workers in the county.”