A construction firm working on local schools has defied the downturn by chalking up 75 new jobs and promising 15 more before the end of the year.

National company Willmott Dixon set up its Dartford office just under two years ago to take advantage of Thames Gateway construction projects and Building Schools for the Future (BSF).

The family-owned firm founded in 1852 says the decision has already paid off with projects in Kent, Essex and East London bringing good work to the offices at Riverbridge House, Crossways Business Park.

They have enabled the firm to set up a 130-strong workforce, with regional managing director Rob Lambe expecting that total to rise to 145 by the end of the year and eventually going up to 175.

"We settled in Kent and Dartford as being the most convenient for the region," he said. "As a result, we’ve expanded our teams and created new jobs at the Dartford office in disciplines like project management, planning estimating, business development and design management, as well as construction management roles on our sites."

The firm’s Dartford office has already notched up turnover of around £100m, thanks partly to its involvement in the BSF project - it is re-building Northfleet Girls School and Whitstable Community College - and Her Majesty’s Prison at Swaleside on the Isle of Sheppey. Together, the three deals are worth £74million.

Other projects in the pipeline should secure more jobs, Mr Lambe said. Willmott Dixon is also working closely with young people to develop industry skills, and recently helped set up a construction skills academy at Northfleet Girls School.

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