The defence sector plays an essential role in ensuring our national security, and at Willmott Dixon, we understand that modernising the estate to meet the demands of evolving defence strategies is a complex but critical challenge.

Proven expertise in defence infrastructure

With extensive experience in the defence sector, we bring specialised knowledge, proven expertise, and a collaborative approach to delivering high-quality, secure infrastructure projects. We prioritise security, resilience, and compliance to meet the evolving needs of the armed forces. As a result, we have become a trusted partner in defence project delivery.

Our approach includes early contractor involvement, ensuring that projects are set up for success. This approach fosters transparency, alignment across stakeholders, and helps break down silos, resulting in smoother project delivery and improved outcomes.

Key projects and investments

An example of the commitment to improving defence infrastructure is the new purpose-built facility for Army musicians at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS), opened in January 2025. This project is part of the Defence Estate Optimisation (DEO) Army Programme, which is investing £3.35bn over ten years to enhance living, working, and training accommodation for military personnel.

Aleksia Xhaferraj, DIO Project Manager said:

“We are proud to have delivered this new purpose-built facility, which will bring significant benefits to Army musicians. The successful completion of this project is testament to excellent collaboration between DIO, the Army and our contractors.”

We are also delivering a £61m estate investment at Kendrew Barracks, Rutland. Procured through the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) framework for the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), this project is facilitating the rebasing of an Army Education Centre and a Military Working Dogs unit.

Innovation and sustainability

We leverage modern methods of construction (MMC) and cutting-edge digital technologies to optimise project efficiency, sustainability, and quality. We ensure better project planning, reduced waste, and long-term performance.

A recent example is the state-of-the-art training facility at the Combat Manoeuvre Centre in Bovington, which houses immersive simulators for Ajax capability synthetic military training.

Commitment to sustainability and social impact

Our focus on sustainability aligns with the defence sector’s environmental goals. We implement energy-efficient designs and low-carbon solutions to reduce the carbon footprint of each project. Through our decarbonisation service, we aim to reduce costs and enhance the operational efficiency of our customers’ assets on a long-term basis.

Our commitment to supporting the armed forces community has been recognised with a Silver award through the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS). We actively recruit veterans, reservists, and military spouses, providing opportunities for career progression and skills development. Our tailored career paths allow veterans to apply their leadership, problem-solving, and teamwork skills to various roles within the construction industry. See our Armed Forces careers page.

Broad expertise across sectors

Our expertise extends beyond defence, with experience in secure environments, blue-light services, science and technology, and residential sectors. This diverse expertise enables us to deliver comprehensive and adaptable solutions for defence projects. Our culture of duty and commitment ensures we deliver with precision and trust, no matter the challenge.