Last week family owned construction company, Robert Woodhead Ltd, celebrated as it welcomed it’s 100th and 101st members of staff – a record breaking milestone for the family business.
The company, which was formed in 1946 by Robert Woodhead, has grown from £200,000 a year to an anticipated £26million business in 2014.
The company is working on multimillion pound flagship projects, like the conservation of Lincoln Castle as well as carrying out refurbishment and maintenance programmes for a range of Local Authority clients and businesses. Woodhead’s growing numbers reflects the changing picture across the region following last month’s announcement that the East Midlands has seen a drop in unemployment figures.
Glenn Slater, Business Development Director at Woodhead, said: “I’m delighted to welcome our newest members of the Woodhead team, they mark a memorable milestone in the company’s history.
We have been doing our bit to help the unemployment rates drop in our region, increasing our own workforce by approximately 25% since the start of 2014, as well as enabling the sub contractors we work with to grow their workforce too. For those companies like ourselves that have remained steadfast during the recession, I believe we’re in a strong position for continued growth into 2015.”
Woodhead’s latest recruit, Site Manager, Roderick Arkle, will be working on a number of sites across the region, starting on a housing development in Northampton this month. Arwen Guthrie, an Administration Assistant who joined the company on the same day will be supporting the company to continue to build their presence in Lincolnshire at Woodhead’s recently opened Lincoln Office.
This year the business has taken on over 20 new members of staff, who support Woodhead on a huge range of diverse projects across the East Midlands and Yorkshire including:
With 400,000 construction workers due to retire within the next decade, and 182,000 more needed to meet demand over the next five years, it’s vital that young people are encouraged to work in the sector. Woodhead is committed to inspiring young people to take their first steps into the construction industry. Through the B.I.G. (Building to Inspire a Generation) initiative the firm works with schools, colleges and training providers to encourage young people to pursue one of the varied career opportunities available in construction.
Pictured: Woodhead’s Lincooln Office, new Recruit Arwen Guthrie will be based at The Terrace in Lincoln.