'Hall' of Fame for Willmott Dixon with new sustainable appointment

NATIONAL contractor Willmott Dixon has appointed a dedicated head of sustainability for the Midlands, to support its ambitious net-zero carbon targets.

Maggie Hall – who has more than 20 years’ experience in sustainability within the construction and telecoms sectors – has been hired to lead the contractor’s Now or Never strategy across the region.

Willmott Dixon has set several challenging targets to meet by 2030 – including achieving operational net zero across all new build and refurbishment projects, being a zero-carbon company without any offsetting, and improving more than 100,000 lives through its social value commitments.

With a strong sustainability strategy in place, Maggie believes the business is well positioned to influence significant change. She said: “Sustainability is an ever-evolving concept – especially in the construction sector – and net-zero targets across the industry are constantly changing. However, what has been immediately clear to me is that Willmott Dixon has a clear approach to where it wants to be and how it will get there.

“It is encouraging to see how many people in the business are already actively engaged in making Now or Never a success, and that a collaborative approach with our team, clients and consultants is going to be essential in helping us achieve the targets we’ve set.”

Maggie has previously worked for Vodafone and Cable & Wireless as part of their environmental teams and has joined the business from Eurovia UK, where she was head of sustainability.

She continued: “For me, a large part of this role will be understanding how we work as a business and identifying the operational areas where we can make the right decisions to deliver on our targets. If we can measure the right data and make it more visible and accessible for all parties, raising that awareness of what we’re doing will become a shared responsibility.

“It’s also about understanding architects’ approaches and working out how we can create buildings that are resilient to climate change and also meet bio-diversity net gain targets, which are becoming a high-profile issue as we get a better understanding of the ongoing impact our projects are having on the environment.”

Nick Gibb, deputy managing director for the Midlands at Willmott Dixon, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Maggie to the team as her experience and expertise will be invaluable for successfully delivering our Now or Never strategy.

“Sustainable thinking is at the core of what we do. As head of sustainability, Maggie’s role is integral to ensuring that we remain ahead of the curve – as well as supporting our clients with their carbon footprint and net-zero goals. By focusing on sustainable strategies that encompass reduced embodied carbon, lower-impact materials, and the circular economy, we can make a tangible difference to the industry and meet our Now or Never targets.”

To learn more about Willmott Dixon’s Now or Never strategy, visit: https://www.willmottdixon.co.uk/now-or-never