As head of education, Chesterton will develop the builder’s education offering, providing strategic leadership on the future direction of the business.

She will also be responsible for coordinating Willmott Dixon’s relationships with Partnerships for Schools, framework partner Scape, local authorities and central Government.

Her arrival allows sector manager Bob Athroll to focus on continuing to develop best practice and supporting educational bids across the group.

Prior to joining Willmott Dixon, she spent five years on Bristol City Council’s PFI and BSF teams, where she undertook negotiations for the council on its schools PFI schemes.

Chesterton brings experience from being a commercial manager at PfS and from Northgate Managed Services, where she had significant and varied engagement across the education sector.

Peter Owen, Willmott Dixon’s managing director for the Midlands who is also responsible for education, said: “Janie will add strategic leadership to a key sector for us, which will continue to offer opportunity despite the well publicised spending cuts.

“It highlights how we will continue to invest to broaden our range of skills and ensure we challenge our thinking.”

He added: “Janie’s appointment comes at a time when we are addressing the ‘more for less’ value challenge of our clients with a number of exciting new products, including our Sunesis range of standardised designs, in joint venture with Scape.”