Graduate Management Trainee Programme - Business Development Manager

Willmott Dixon have supported many graduates to join our management trainee scheme for over 40 years and many of these are now in senior managerial roles. We are currently recruiting for a Business Development Management Trainee to join our London and East team starting in September 2025. Our office is based in Hitchin, Hertfordshire.

We are looking for the successful candidate to focus on Business Development but as part of this scheme you will be supported to spend time in other areas of construction including site management, quantity surveying, design management and other areas of pre-construction on a placement basis. This provides you with broad construction experience and supports your career development. The London & East region of Willmott Dixon delivers construction projects across multiple sectors within Hertfordshire, north London, the northern home counties and East Anglia so you would be expected to travel/work at one of our sites in this area.

As a Business Development Management Trainee your career will focus on understanding the Willmott Dixon service offering which will help you to identify viable project opportunities which the business can bid/tender for. You will also learn how to manage new and existing customer relationships in order to establish and maintain long-term partnerships and project pipelines.

We welcome applications from graduates studying a construction related degree as well as graduates from other subjects including STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). Willmott Dixon believe that a willingness to learn and a passion to work in the construction industry can prove to be as important as technical skills. Our graduate programme lasts between 24 and 36 months depending upon your degree qualification, and you will be supported to study a professional qualification whilst gaining valuable, hands-on work experience on our construction projects. This is a structured, proven route to a management role in one of the most forward-thinking construction companies in the UK.

On successful completion of the 24 or 36 month programme, you will be promoted into an assistant manager level role within your chosen discipline.

As a Management Trainee you will receive

• Competitive Salary


• Incentive Scheme


• Pension


• Laptop


• Training


• Book Allowance


• Day release to study (where applicable)


• Pay for your college/university/vocational study fees (if applicable)


• Study leave (where applicable)


• Travel Expenses


• Mobile phone

You will be joining a values-based business: our values are at the centre of every activity we undertake. With 170 years of rich history, Willmott Dixon’s purpose is beyond profit; delivering brilliant buildings, transforming lives, strengthening communities and enhancing the environment so our world is fit for future generations. Ensuring that we add lasting value to the neighbourhoods we work in; our values, people, innovation, partnerships and focus on sustainability has allowed us to build a successful and solid privately owned business where our people can thrive.

Willmott Dixon really is a great place to start your career, some of our accolades include:

• No. 1 Best Big Company to work for - 2022


• Platinum accreditation with Investors In People


• The Times Top 50 Employers for Women 2022


• The Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality 2024 

Next steps

The application closing date will be 5th January; the next intake of trainees is due to start in September 2025 with assessment centres taking place from February/March 2025.

Please be aware that you may not receive further feedback until applications have been reviewed after the closing date.

Willmott Dixon embraces diversity in the workplace and will consider flexible and agile working. We are a disability confident employer.