Willmott Dixon committed to using social enterprise businesses to supply everything from everyday items, such as hand soap and stationery, through to design and print work, cleaning services, catering, venue hire, and team away days.
“We see [using social enterprises] as a strategic form of corporate responsibility.
If companies like Willmott Dixon and our other Buy Social Corporate Challenge partners can help social enterprises... we can help them scale up the positive impact they are having. Partnerships like this mean that wider society benefits from the day-to-day spend of Willmott Dixon.”
Andy Daly,
corporate partnerships, Social Enterprise UK
Willmott Dixon started working with Grace Enterprises first social enterprise business, Radiant Cleaners, in 2018, on their building project at Nottingham Science park. Through this project, we built a relationship with Willmott Dixon and they firmly support our mission.
"The quality and standard of their service is fantastic... always professional, reliable and friendly. Through supporting local social enterprises like this, we can all contribute to making the world a better place."
Zoe Anastasi, Social Value Manager
Since 2018, Radiant Cleaners have been their preferred cleaning company on all sites in the Nottingham area.
Our partnership has created work for people facing barriers to work, like Karen.
Karen, who is in her late 50s, was unemployed for 18 months when she met Radiant
Cleaners. She was struggling to find employment during the pandemic and started
to lose hope of ever working again.
After securing a contract to work on Willmott Dixon's site at Bingham Leisure Centre, Karen was able to become employed and started working in their site cabins 15 hours a week. Surrounded by a supportive team, paid the Real Living Wage and working daily, Karen has found a renewed sense of purpose and hope for her future. Karen said of the opportunity:
“It’s been fantastic. I never thought I’d get a job before I retired. This has given me purpose in my life, and I feel much better in myself, in terms of mental health. I feel uplifted."
For more from Willmott Dixon and Karen's story see their Now or Never case study series online.