Letchworth-based development company Willmott Dixon has been listed in The Times’ Top 50 Employers for Women for the third consecutive year.

This follows its position as the UK’s highest placed contractor in the 2020 FT Diversity Leaders list of the top 850 European companies for inclusion.

Companies appear on the list after a thorough process of evaluation that identifies firms which make gender equality a key part of their business strategy, accessing companies in a range of areas, including approach to recruitment, family friendly policies and championing gender equality in the context of the pandemic.

Rick Willmott, group chief executive at Willmott Dixon, said: “We are proud to again be recognised for our approach to gender diversity, through retaining our position as a Times Top 50 Employer for Women.

"This is an important benchmark, not only for us, but the entire construction industry, to promote career opportunities available for people from all parts of our community so that they can enjoy as we say, ‘a career of a lifetime’, while also making a long-term impact on society that increases the life opportunities for many thousands of people.

“I am a firm believer that an inclusive and balanced business leads to better outcomes for our customers and a great place to work for our people.

"We are at the forefront of unlocking the wealth of opportunity the construction industry offers to both men and women, consequently we have an ambitious drive to achieve gender parity in what was widely perceived as a male dominated industry by 2030."

Charlotte Woodworth, gender equality director at Business in the Community, said: “COVID-19 has shone a light on how far we have to go on gender equality. By having to pick up things like the bulk of extra caring responsibilities, women have been disproportionately affected by lockdown.

“We congratulate the many employers who have maintained their efforts towards gender equality at this time, often introducing innovative policies to support their workforce during this period.

"Employers like Willmott Dixon haven’t forgotten women at work and they are committed to making gender inequality a thing of the past.”