Building on success will bring jobs to the region

Jan 22 2010 by Chris Knox, The Journal

A NATIONAL builder is to launch new offices in the North East and seeks to create over 20 jobs to help support £117m worth of building projects across the region.

Hertfordshire-based firm Willmott Dixon moved to offices at Team Valley, Gateshead, last year after landing a £100m contract to carry out extensive refurbishments at six schools in Middlesbrough.

The firm, which is already on site at Teesside schools, Acklam Grange School, Beverley and Tollesby Schools, Ormesby and Priory Wood and Ashdale, hit a first year turnover of £37m.

It believes it can more than double this to £75m this year after securing a raft of new contracts in the region and building up a 30-strong local workforce, which it plans to grow to 50 in the same period.

These include a £16m contract to build a primary care centre in Blaydon – due for completion in October – which will be the first in the UK to include joint health and leisure facilities.

The firm, which launches the office officially on Monday, has benefited from its experience in the leisure sector and is due to complete the £7.5m refurbishment and modernisation of Gateshead Leisure Centre in April, and is also working to transform Heworth Leisure Centre, as part of a £6m contract that will see it fit a new swimming pool.

The North East division is currently bidding on a host of new contracts that would help to support further growth in the region into 2011 and 2012, including the construction of a new headquarters for Northumbria Police.

It is also due to start phase one of the construction of a new canopy at Gateshead International Stadium, which will be completed in time for the Aviva Games in June.

Phase two of the project will include the refurbishment of the west stand changing areas, TV booth and media centre.

The firm said that, although it was trading in an uncertain market, it expects further growth in the North East and that it would begin to turn its attention back to the private sector over the coming months.

Willmott Dixon spokesperson Andrew Geldard said: “We have operated in the North East for a number of years, but never had a base in the region.

“With such large projects in the area, it made sense to be closer to the work. This has now paid dividends and we are confident that sales will continue to rise as a result.

The firm is also looking to developing its local supply chain in the region, with the vast majority of its expenditure going towards providing work to companies within 25 miles of Newcastle.