We always try to consult with the local community before carrying out construction work nearby. And we’ll usually provide information by newsletters, webcams etc., and provide opportunities for feedback through open meetings.

We may also use this opportunity to introduce ourselves to schools, young people and those not in training through educational sessions and site tours. We develop training opportunities for local students and raise the profile of construction as a great career.

In addition, for every project Willmott Dixon carries out, we will do some work for the surrounding community. What we do depends on the particular needs of the community.

We often carry out in-depth consultations with local community bodies to find out what sort of help would be most beneficial. To make sure the efforts are carried out efficiently, each project has a community development team coordinator.

Recent examples include:

• building a wall for a school's vegetable garden
• carrying out a makeover in a children's hospital ward
• running a race to raise money for charity
• clearing weeds from a stretch of riverbank

Within Support Services, tenant liaison officers perform the same function, working with residents to solve problems and develop programmes.

Our foundation

Because of the growth of the community support activities within Willmott Dixon we are creating the Willmott Dixon Community Development Foundation which will give the Group a strategic approach to CSR and future community engagement programmes, register our activity and work out a return on social investment. It will set strategy for the entire group and create joint ventures with third parties like The Prince’s Trust that cover national programmes.

Charity work

Individually, staff are encouraged to give two days of work per year towards a community project and last year staff raised over £100,000 for good causes. We support local employment and have a target to employ 20% local on each sites, with some meeting 50%. As a group, we sponsor DARE, a charity established to reduce drug, solvent and alcohol abuse and violence by teaching children the consequences and resistance skills.

Social economic investment

We participate in the construction ambassadors scheme which acts an industry ambassador for young people. It shares positive experiences with young people who are considering construction as a career, raising awareness of construction through schools, colleges, career events and organising site visits.

We take an active part in helping people gain employment, both young people (14-19) and those who are older. we have an apprenticeship programme training around 40 young people per year.

For larger projects we bring together key local influencers and stakeholders to decide the best kind of help they can offer an area, whether large, one-off interventions or providing ongoing support including the Job Centre, the college, council and community organisations to attend focus groups.

We also arrange placements through our opening doors programme and last year 172 young people spent around two weeks gaining site experience. This can be one day a week for up to six months and help some young people out of a job / placement catch 22.

Our commitment to considerate construction

We register all our sites with the Considerate Constructors Scheme and are proud to be one of a select number of 'Associate Members'.

Targeting high scores in this scheme is a key part of our sustainability strategy. In a recent assessment of our house building business by NextGeneration we had the highest average CCS score. NextGeneration assesses the social and environmental responsibility of the top 25 house builders in the UK

For some of our top performing sites and our scores over time please click here.