Willmott Dixon, a UK-based construction and property services company, has agreed a three year commitment to become a strategic partner of the UK Innovation Corridor (UKIC).
The UK Innovation Corridor is a highly advanced sci-tech superhighway.
The Corridor joins London and Cambridge. It is an economic region comprising businesses, maverick academics, ambitious start-ups, City finance and law firms, creating a supply chain throughout the UK and globally.
The Innovation Corridor resides at a pivotal spot in the world, making it the chosen place for entrepreneurs, intellectuals and investors to congregate.
The city axis of London and Cambridge – only 60 miles apart, hot-linked by the M11 motorway, and 1 hour by train – is networked with prized international rail and flight links.
Brundell stressed the need for businesses to leverage their collective strengths and learn from one another
Willmott Dixon will now take their place on the Board of UKIC alongside the 15 local authorities and six universities currently represented, creating a powerful collaboration of the public and private sector driving innovation, growth and cohesion across the region.
The announcement of Willmott Dixon’s partnership with the UKIC coincided with the publication of the UKIC Growth Plan which demonstrates that the region is on course to almost double the size of its economy, growing from £189 bn to £350 bn by 2050.
Commenting on the new relationship with Willmott Dixon, Jackie Sadek, chair, UKIC, explained that UKIC’s ambition had long been to establish a “ground up” partnership with the private sector.
Sadek added: “As one of the region’s largest privately-owned companies, we are delighted to welcome Willmott Dixon as a strategic partner of UKIC and our first private sector partner.Their commercial acumen and particular expertise in development will prove invaluable as this region looks towards a period of rapid growth.”
Hitchin-based Willmott Dixon, established in 1852, has its roots in Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire, local to the UKIC region.
Their aim was to foster an environment where “collaboration can thrive and innovation can flourish
A recent King’s Awards for Enterprise winner for sustainable development, the company has completed numerous projects in the region, including educational projects such as the Department of Materials Science & Metallurgy for the University of Cambridge and the European Bioinformatics Institute, Cambridge.
Current projects include building a new head office for Hertfordshire Constabulary in Welwyn Garden City as well as a number of mixed-use regeneration developments in London.
Speaking at UKREiif in Leeds, Stewart Brundell, Managing Director at Willmott Dixon for North London and the Northern Home Counties, explained that the company’s new relationship with the UKIC underscored the company’s commitment to connectivity, partnerships and seeing the region grow and prosper.
Brundell stressed the need for businesses to leverage their collective strengths and learn from one another.
“In this complex, fast moving and volatile world, no individual business can resolve the challenges that we have alone”, Brundell commented.
the region is on course to almost double the size of its economy, growing from £189 bn to £350bn by 2050.
Brundell explained that Willmott Dixon viewed themselves as enablers, bridging the gap between public and private sectors, a role which he saw becoming increasingly important.
Their aim was to foster an environment where “collaboration can thrive and innovation can flourish,” Brundell said.
Brundellf added that Willmott Dixon was looking forward to helping the UKIC drive forward a future of shared success and innovation.
