The Midlands construction sector has been given a major New Year boost with plans by Willmott Dixon to create 200 new jobs across the region.

The company, which has local offices in Coleshill, Kingstanding and Kings Heath, already employs more than 1,000 people in the West Midlands and is recruiting across the board to support its planned growth in 2014.

Opportunities available include vacancies for building managers, estimators, purchasers, quantity surveyors and planners, plus roles for plasterers, joiners and carpenters.

Willmott Dixon is also expanding its house building operations in the Midlands under new managing director Simon Leadbeater, who is working alongside the company’s construction managing director for the Midlands Peter Owen.

Willmott Dixon’s housebuilding business is already mid-way through a series of care home schemes for Housing 21 in Warwickshire and Chevin Housing Association in Derbyshire.

It is also carrying out work for The Wrekin Housing Trust to create an extra care complex in Wombourne, an extension for Rooftop Housing Group to Yates Court extra care complex in Evesham, plus housing for Worcester Community Housing and Walsall Housing Group.

Mr Leadbeater, said: “Much of our work is for the retirement sector and that’s not surprising as Government data tells us that by 2030 we will see a 50 per cent rise in the number of over-65s and a doubling in over-85s.

“The market needs quality places for them to live independently with access to care when needed.”

On the construction side, major projects include the £46 million phase two of Birmingham City University’s new campus in Eastside, adjacent to Millennium Point, and University of Leicester’s £42 million Centre for Medicine, the largest non-residential project to meet Passivhaus standards.

The company expects to announce further projects soon.

The company is also responsible for delivering repairs and maintenance to 60,000 properties owned by Birmingham City Council.

Last year it invested more than £1 million to create the 4Life Academy in Perry Barr, which has already trained some 2,000 people.