Rick Willmott FCIOB, executive chairman of Willmott Dixon, has been made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the King’s Birthday Honours List for services to the construction industry.

The list unveiled on 12 June marks the extraordinary contributions and service of people across the UK.

Rick is the fifth generation of the Willmott family to lead Wilmott Dixon since its founding in 1852.

He joined in 1982 as a management trainee and became chief executive in 2008 and executive chairman in 2024.

In that time, he has led the company’s strategy on diversity and inclusion and sustainability.

Awards and accolades

Those efforts saw Willmott Dixon listed as a top European company in the FT’s annual Diversity Leaders list, coming higher than any other UK contractor. It has also featured four times in The Times’ Top 50 Employers for Women guide. In 2022, Willmott Dixon was declared the UK’s best workplace according to Best Companies.

Under Rick Willmott’s guidance, the company has also won two Queen’s Awards for Enterprise in recognition of its work to promote sustainability.

It aims to be net-zero carbon in operation by 2030 without the need to offset emissions, extending that to its supply chain partners by 2040.

The company has also won a King’s Award for Enterprise in the Promoting Opportunity category.

Willmott set up the Willmott Dixon Foundation soon after becoming chief executive to help people from disadvantaged backgrounds achieve their potential.

“When you scratch below the surface in the communities where we work, the level of deprivation is staggering,” he said. “We can make a difference – it’s the role of big business to make more of its purpose.”

Also from the industry

Ten further built-environment professionals were honoured in this year’s Birthday Honours List. They include:

• Andrew Mitchell, Tideway chief executive, knighted for services to construction;
• Steve Elderkin, National Highways’ director of environmental sustainability, made OBE for services to the environment and transport;

• Ian McDermott, Peabody Trust chief executive, made Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to social housing;

• Peter St John, founder and director of Caruso St John Architects, made CBE for services to architecture;

• David Birkbeck, Design for Homes chief executive, made OBE for services to housing design;

• Dr David Bonnett, architect and access consultant, made OBE for services to architecture and inclusive design;

• Alison Brooks, founder of Alison Brooks Architects, made OBE for services to architecture;

• Aileen Evans, lately chief executive of Grand Union Housing Group, made OBE for services to social housing;

• Professor Anthony Fretton, architect, made OBE for services to architecture;

• Mina Hasman, sustainability director at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, made OBE for services to architecture and sustainable design.