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Willmott Dixon helps Nottingham school pupils with IT and digital skills

Willmott Dixon helps Nottingham school pupils with IT and digital skills

A team from Nottingham-based construction company, Willmott Dixon has linked up with local social enterprise ‘Helping Kids Achieve’ to deliver a series of workshops that will bring important IT and digital skills to young people age 9-16.

Founded by Keiron Thompson, the social enterprise has been running for the past two years in Nottingham and has now linked up with Willmott Dixon,  which has a strong presence in the city and was behind projects such as retirement accommodation at Winwood Heights, the BioCity Discovery Building and part of the Trent Basin regeneration. 

The Willmott Dixon team, which comprised of people from its IT department and local office, held their first workshop this week. It saw the company donate computer equipment alongside running a programme to develop the young people’s skills, as well as showcasing roles and career opportunities available in the construction industry.

Vicky Trowell, head of IT project support at Willmott Dixon said:

“I was delighted to see how successful this first session was, the young children were fully engaged and couldn’t wait to have access to the technology.  Being able to donate recycled devices to Helping Kids Achieve and having the chance to support young people developing skills for the future is fantastic – it has also been a great opportunity to tell them more about all the brilliant careers available in our industry. We are now planning to follow the same model for other social enterprises in the future.”

As part of its ‘purpose beyond profit’ ethos, it works with social enterprise companies whenever possible, to support their aim to reinvest profits back into good causes.

Keiren Thompson from Helping Kids Achieve said:

“I'm delighted that helping kids achieve and Willmott Dixon have created a partnership to support and help young people upskill themselves, ensuring they are work ready once they leave full time education. 

“I'm looking forward to the future projects and all the young people that will benefit from this partnership.”

The company also appeared at no 3 in Europe (and no 1 in the UK) in the FT’s Diversity Leaders list for its approach to diversity and inclusion and is passionate about attracting more young people into construction.

Picture: (L-R) Andy Hobson, Willmott Dixon, Keiren Thompson, Helping Kids Achieve and Vicky Trowell, Willmott Dixon


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