About Us
Together we inspire better ways of creating the places, communities and business of tomorrow.
We are Wates, the UK’s leading family-owned development, building and property maintenance company. Founded over 125 years ago, we know about the built environment. We partner with a wide range of public and private sector customers and partners to create the places, communities and businesses of tomorrow.
6,000
Employees (2024)
£2.18bn
Turnover (2023)
£225m
Social value generated (2023)
45%
Reduction in Scope 1 & 2 emissions against a 2019 baseline
Reimagining places for people to thrive
Now in our fourth generation of family ownership, we are committed to the long-term sustainability of the built environment and to making our industry more inclusive and representative of the communities we work in.
Our goals are to be more sustainable, trusted and progressive, and our people are driven by our behaviours of ‘we care’, ‘we are fair’, and ‘we look for a better way’.
Long term financial resilience
As a multi generational, family-owned business we are not driven by short term shareholder demands, but by decisions which are in the long term interest of the business.
Our owners, the Wates Family, are committed to handing over to the next generation, an even stronger, more sustainable business. This approach drives all our investment decisions and allows us to achieve progressive earnings growth and to partner with customers to deliver products and services that offer the best value for money possible.
Health and safety
Our safety strategy: Zero Harm: We’re Safer Together, has produced better results every year since it was first introduced in 2016.
It is aimed at eliminating physical and psychological harm entirely from all our workplaces. In 2022, we led the industry across all key health and safety metrics, while continuing to search for new ways to make us even safer still.
Quality
We are committed to eliminating the practical and economic impacts of any quality failures from each of our businesses, while also achieving full compliance with all relevant regulatory and legislative standards.
Our commitment to quality across the industry was demonstrated through our role in helping draft the Government’s Construction Playbook best practice guide in 2022.
Inclusion and diversity
Our ambition is to have a more diverse workforce and to be recognised as a leader in promoting diversity and inclusion in our own business and in the wider industry.
We are developing a more inclusive culture by establishing clear, non-negotiable expectations about colleagues’ behaviour and language.
We have developed award-winning inclusivity programmes to help change our culture, and we are always looking to build on that work further.
Environment
Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to becoming a net zero carbon company and we’re working to eliminate Scope 1 and 2 carbon and waste from our business operations.
We are also collaborating with customers and suppliers to achieve reductions in Scope 3 emissions in response to rapidly developing customer demands as the net zero agenda becomes ever more important.
Innovation
We have always looked for new and better ways of meeting our customers’ needs and we are committed to developing and embracing the best new ideas that generate value and help us to tackle shared challenges.
Whether we’re cutting operating costs with optimised construction or saving energy with Passivhaus technology, we can connect you with the right answers.
Latest career opportunities
Disrepair Supervisor
Location: Streatham
Job Type: Trades and Labour
Application Deadline: 10-02-2025
We have an opportunity for a Disrepair Supervisor to join our Wates team within our Maintenance division. You will be working out of our Brixton office on one of our social housing contracts, delivering reactive and some planned maintenance to our residents.Key Accountabilities will include: Ensure high quality service is provided with the management of the work scheduling in accordance with company procedures, standards and SLAs Represent Wates at client and resident performance meetings as requested by the Operations Manager Manage the responsive repairs function to ensure consistent performance against targets Effective and efficient management of material costs and ensure that all are following correct processes and procedures Monitor quality of work through inspection, inspection reports, analysis of key performance indicators and analysis of customer satisfaction surveys. Lead, manage and contribute to the development of your team and determine optimum employment levels to comply with the provision of the serviceYou must have a full UK driving licence.To be successful in the role you must also be an excellent communicator with the ability to problem solve, multi task and work to tight deadlines. Prior responsive maintenance experience is crucial to the role. You must also have your SSSTS qualification as a minimum.Given the nature of this position, you will need to undergo a Basic Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) at offer stage. Applicants with criminal convictions will be assessed individually, and we assure you that we do not discriminate based on an applicant's criminal record or the details of any disclosed offenses. Additionally, certain roles may be subject to additional pre-employment checks. To learn more about the checks included in this process, please click on the following link: National Security Vetting
Multi Trader/ Floor Layer
Location: Walton-On-Thames
Job Type: Trades and Labour
Application Deadline: 10-02-2025
Wates have an opportunity for a Multi Trader/ Floor Layer to join our Wates team within our Responsive Maintenance division. You will be working out of our Walton-On-Thames office on one of our social housing contracts, delivering reactive maintenance to our residents.Key Accountabilities will include: Undertaking repair/renewal works Advising Supervisor in a timely manner where other trades are required Working solely on certain tasks Working in partnership with other operatives to complete certain tasks Completing daily work sheets detailing work undertaken and materials used after each job undertaken Working in a timely and productive manner to complete programme tasksYou must have a full UK driving licence with access to a vehicle.To be successful in the role you will be an excellent communicator with the ability to problem solve, multi task, work to tight deadlines, have high standard of workmanship, productivity levels and ability to provide excellent customer service at all times is essential.Given the nature of this position, you will need to undergo a Basic Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) at offer stage. Applicants with criminal convictions will be assessed individually, and we assure you that we do not discriminate based on an applicant's criminal record or the details of any disclosed offenses. Additionally, certain roles may be subject to additional pre-employment checks. To learn more about the checks included in this process, please click on the following link: National Security Vetting
Project Director
Location: Nationwide
Job Type: Operational
Application Deadline: 10-02-2025
Wates Group have an opportunity for a Project Director to join Smartspace, our fit out and refurbishment business, to lead a project team on a high value project in Haverigg.As the Project Director, you will play a pivotal role in driving project success by effectively leading teams, prioritizing safety and quality, promoting environmental sustainability, managing customer relationships, and ensuring contractual compliance.As our Project Director you will: Lead and support our zero-harm initiative through implementation of exemplar standards and behaviours and the creation of a positive safety culture through observational praise and challenge. Proactively manage the customer relationship during pre-construction, delivery, and post construction, including change management, risk management and decision making to effectively manage expectations, and maintain long-term relationships. You will understand the contract terms and conditions for each project you are accountable for and ensure your teams understand these and have the knowledge needed to correctly administer the contract. WHAT WE OFFER Competitive salary & profit share scheme Flexible working Car Allowance / Company Car Travel covered to any of our sites (In line with HMRC guidelines) Extensive corporate benefits including, Private Medical, Pension 8% employers contribution, Health and Wellness programme, 26 days holidays + bank holidays and much more… One of the best learning and development programmes which is customizable to support your career progression goals. (c.7000 training sessions delivered year to date across the WATES Group) Industry leading family leave benefits to included 26 weeks fully paid maternity, 12 weeks fully paid paternity.
Repairs Manager
Location: Barnsley
Job Type: Operational
Application Deadline: 03-02-2025
We have an opportunity for a Repairs Manager to join our Wates Property Services team on our Responsive Maintenance contract in Barnsley.The key responsibility of this role will be to ensure the Repairs Contract delivers a high quality customer and health and safety focussed service taking responsibility for the day to day management of the operation including 24-hour emergency service, 365 days a year.Wates Living Space is one of the UK’s leading providers of planned and responsive maintenance services in the social housing sector, maintaining over 500,000 homes nationwide every year. Our leading position within the maintenance sector has enabled the business to realise ambitious strategic growth. Key Accountabilities will include: Ensure high quality service is provided with the management of the work scheduling in accordance with company procedures, standards and SLAs Represent Wates at client and resident performance meetings as requested by the Contracts Manager Manage the responsive repairs function to ensure consistent performance against targets Effective and efficient management of material costs and ensure that all are following correct processes and procedures Monitor quality of work through inspection, inspection reports, analysis of key performance indicators and analysis of customer satisfaction surveys. Lead, manage and contribute to the development of your team and determine optimum employment levels to comply with the provision of the service Undertake regular auditing and testing of the services provided Evaluate operational practices with due regard to risk, statutory requirements and best practice to help improve delivery and development of the annual business plan to help drive continuous improvementWe are looking for you to already have the relevant experience to fulfil the above role requirements and have worked at a management level previously as you will be in charge of up to 30 Operatives.To be successful in the role, you will also be an excellent communicator and leader with the ability to problem solve, multi task and work to tight deadlines. You will have experience of leading and managing a team of multi-disciplinary staff with conflicting priorities within a performance management framework. In addition you will have proven experience in the Repairs & Responsive Maintenance, ideally within the social housing sector; managing the development and performance of all aspects of contract operations including KPI’s & financial reportWhat we offer: Competitive salary, plus performance related reviews, opportunities for growth and advancement within the team Extensive corporate benefits including, Pension, Health and Wellness programme, Excellent range of learning and development activity to support your career progression. Industry leading family leave benefits to include 26 weeks fully paid maternity and up to 12 weeks fully paid paternity
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