Willmott Dixon Launches Pilot Programme with Black Professionals in Construction

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05 November 2025

50 people from ethnic minority communities will be placed into construction roles across Willmott Dixon’s projects and its supply chain network over the next year.

This collaboration with the Black Professionals in Construction programme (BPIC) seeks to identify, develop and retain talent from communities that have been historically underrepresented in construction.

Willmott Dixon will also provide financial and commercial support to the programme.

The construction sector has suffered from an overall lack of representation of people from a Black, Asian or ethnic minority background. According to The Construction Industry Council,  just 5.4 per cent of construction workers are from a BAME background. This compares to around 13.8 per cent of the UK population being from a minority ethnic background, with London having 40 per cent of its population within this bracket.

Richard Bartlett, Director at Willmott Dixon Interiors, which is leading the initiative for Willmott Dixon, said: "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.”

Picture: a photograph taken at the scheme’s launch evening. From left to right: Andy Geldard, Amos Simbo, Beth Penwarden, Tayene Robertson and Ibrahim Mohamed. Image Credit: Willmott Dixon

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 05 November 2025

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