Pictured above: Peter Owen
Willmott Dixon is on the verge of becoming a £1 billion
after posting a substantial 69 per cent growth in turnover.
The group's annual results for the year to 31 December 2009 show
a turnover of £998.946 million compared to £592.446
million for the previous year. Pre-tax profits rose by 52 per cent
to £18.183 million from £11,971 million in 2008 and net
current assets also increased to £73.179 million from
£28,983 million in 2008.
Encouragingly Willmott Dixon has already secured more than 84
per cent of its budgeted workload for 2010 with the Midlands
division actuallysecuring its entire 2010 regional revenue target
of £115m in quarter one of this year, a notable feat in the
current market.
Peter Owen, Managing Director of Willmott Dixon's Midlands's
construction office comments:
"While 2009 was a mixed year with market conditions remaining
tough , we maintain a strong presence in key markets like
education. For the company to increase its turnover by two thirds
is no small feat and as a team we can certainly be proud of the
contribution we have made, not only towards the delivery of another
excellent set of results, but also to the region's economy as a
whole."
Willmott Dixon's balance between being a national company and
having local presence helps the company's 'local pound' approach of
working with local companies where possible, with up to 40 per cent
of a project's spending distributed within 20 miles.
Across the Midlands the company is currently working on 13
'live' projects. Most recently this included the appointment as
preferred bidder by Staffordshire County Council for a new
£35 million Academy in Tamworth. The facility is a brand new
home for Landau Forte Academy, Tamworth, which replaces Woodhouse
Business and Enterprise College in its existing facilities from
September 2010 before taking up residence from 2011 in the new
buildings that Willmott Dixon will create.
Peter concludes: "As a region we are clearly in excellent
shape for 2010 achieving the critically important feat of
maintaining forward momentum. However, we are certainly not
complacent and whilst 2011 is likely to be a more difficult year we
will face it with a clear strategy, a strong balance sheet and most
importantly an excellent team of people."