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.

4,321

Employees (2023)

£2.18bn

Turnover (2023)

£225m

Social value generated (2023)

45%

Reduction in Scope 1 & 2 emissions against a 2019 baseline

Wates family 2022

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’.

London business school atrium

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. 

Zero harm, we're safer together safety campaign

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. 

we are committed to quality and sustainability

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.

Our industry leading women in construction recruitment programme

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. 

University of Portsmouth sustainability

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. 

Using offsite manufacturing we can improve productivity, efficiency and safety in construction

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

Plumber

Location: Milton Keynes

Job Type: Trades and Labour

Application Deadline: 05-08-2024

Here at Wates, we have an opportunity for a Plumber Multi Trader to join our Living Space team on our responsive maintenance contract in the Milton Keynes area. Working with one of our existing social housing providers you will be the face of the company so providing a good service is key. The primary focus of this role will be to undertake all tasks to achieve first time fix and deliver a high standard of workmanship in a timely and productive manner always affording excellent customer service to the client.     Key Accountabilities will include: Understanding, and the ability to work to, industry-accepted Health and Safety standards. Undertaking repair/renewal works to plumbing installations and associated or minor maintenance tasks utilising your multi-trade experience. Working alongside colleagues or contractors to complete complex orders. Using PDA to receive instructions, and to feedback electronically details of works undertaken, or works to be undertaken. Liaising with Supervisors/schedulers in a timely manner when works are unable to be completed on a first visit, providing detailed information to allow works to be programmed in. Affording excellent customer service to residents, client and colleagues. We are looking for a professional Plumber who has multi-trade experience gained from working in a similar industry and environment. To be successful in the role you also be an excellent communicator with the ability to problem solve, multi task and work to tight deadlines.

Site Adminstrator

Location: Wembley

Job Type: Clerical & Administration

Application Deadline: 05-08-2024

Wates Group have a new opportunity for a Site Administrator to join our Residential team in Wembley, London. Wates Residential is a developer contractor; we invest, develop, build and sell quality affordable housing, either contracting or in a form of partnership with Local Authorities, Registered Providers and public bodies, such as Homes England.We are looking for a dedicated and efficient Site Administrator to manage our site operations and ensure smooth day-to-day activities. The ideal candidate will have excellent communication skills, a keen eye for detail, and exceptional organisational abilities.As our Site Administrator, you will: Act as the first point of contact for all levels of internal staff, external contractors, suppliers and visitors either face to face or by telephone. Assist the team in maintaining and updating records and files. Opening and reading mail and taking relevant actions where appropriate and answering the telephone and dealing with routine enquiries. Co-ordinating and managing the diary of the team if required.WHAT WE OFFER Competitive salary & profit share scheme 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.

Site Manager

Location: Barking

Job Type: Operational

Application Deadline: 05-08-2024

Wates Residential are looking for a Site Manager to join our London region in Barking. Wates Residential is a developer contractor; we invest, develop, build and sell quality affordable housing, either contracting or in a form of partnership with Local Authorities, Registered Providers and public bodies, such as Homes England.If you are Site Manager with proven technical skills looking for an opportunity to challenge the norm, bring fresh new ideas and elevate yourself within the industry then join us and help to create tomorrow together.This is a great opportunity to progress your career as part of a talented, diverse, and supportive team.ABOUT THE ROLEOur Site Managers are a valuable part of our business, driving quality outcomes and achieving the highest standards of safety, health, and environmental controls. Site Manager work collaboratively with our Project Managers to ensure the completion of the project to the highest standard.As our Site Manager you will: Maintain accurate site record, daily diaries and weekly progress reports. Review design drawings for build-ability and co-ordination. Manage the flow of sub-contractors design information as delegated by the Project Manager to suit the programme of works on site. Assist the Project Manager and or Design Manager to produce and monitor the MIRS. Agree sub-contractors long term and short term programme and monitor performance against these programmes. Monitor and understand position against contract programme, discuss and agree recovery programmes with the Project ManagerWHAT WE OFFER Competitive salary & profit share scheme Flexible working Car Allowance / Company Car (subject to Role/Grade) Travel covered to any of our sites (subject to HMRC advisory rates) 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.To find out more about LIFE AT WATES please click on the following link https://www.wates.co.uk/careers/

Site manager

Location: Coventry

Job Type: Operational

Application Deadline: 05-08-2024

Due to ongoing success here at Wates we have an opportunity for a Site Manager to join our planned maintenance team in the Leamington Spa area. As the Site Manager you will be working on this very exciting Decarbonisation project working with one of our social housing partners so ideally, we are looking for an experienced site manager in this field. The primary focus of this role will be to ensure a project is built safely, economically to the agreed timescales and quality standards. Key Accountabilities will include: Responsible for input into and programming the works/short-term programming of works. Manage Operatives, Sub-Contractors and Suppliers to ensure quality control is always maintained along with Health and safety. Attend pre- and post-inspection works and advise on appropriate action and job requirements and assist with design solutions. This resulting in the successful delivery and handover of schemes. Carry out Weekly Site Progress reports per scheme that will be file electronically as well as submitting to Project Manager. Ensure that once works are completed, the full and completed job packs are sent to the Project Manager at the office along with completion details to guarantee a swift invoicing procedure to eliminate WIP (work In Progress) & certify cash flow. We are looking for an experienced Site Manager with a successful track record of managing Decarbonisation projects within the social housing arena ideally within planned works. To be successful in the role you will be an effective communicator with a positive and engaging approach to providing site leadership. You will have strong IT skills (including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook) with the ability to prioritise a wide range of tasks to set deadlines.

Get in touch

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