Convert your career

We’re proud to be a sponsor of the Premiership Women’s Rugby. Are you looking for your next career move? Find out what it’s like to work for Wates.

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exciting PWR final with Wates pitch paint

We’re proud to be a sponsor of the Premiership Women’s Rugby.


Women are heavily under-represented in construction and for more than a century that was the case in rugby union. But in recent years with the explosion in the number of women playing the game and the establishment of PWR that balance is changing.

Together, both Wates and PWR are driving a powerful change, with the shared goal of redefining what inclusion and equal opportunity looks like in both industries.

exciting PWR final with Wates pitch paint
Emily Robinson Premiership Rugby Player in Construction

Emily Robinson’s journey into the built environment

Discover Emily Robinson’s incredible journey into the industry, and how she’s breaking barriers in rugby and construction to inspire people to follow in her footsteps.

WHY WAIT? JOIN WATES

Are you ready to take the next step in your career journey?

Our industry can help people achieve their potential, improve health and wellbeing, and shape a better future. It can change lives and strengthen communities in ways few other sectors can.

At Wates, we’re dedicated to providing opportunities for professionals like you to thrive and grow. Join our talent community today to receive the latest job openings, company news, and industry insights directly to your inbox.

Stay ahead of the curve and never miss out on exciting opportunities.

EXPLORE OUR JOB VACANCIES

We are a fair place to work.

To ensure everyone has the opportunity to thrive our culture is founded on the following principles:  

Fair hiring: We aim to hire the best person for the job from a diverse pool of candidates. We are actively challenging perceptions that might discourage people from joining this rewarding, challenging and interesting sector. 

REVIEW STORIES FROM OUR EMPLOYEES

From project sites to support functions and everything in between, hear from some of our talented people

Kelly Osborne

Head of Health and Wellbeing

"I joined Wates in 2003 with no industry experience and have since worked with supportive colleagues and managers who helped me reach my potential. The opportunities for growth, change, and promotion have been immense, allowing me to utilise my skills and build invaluable connections. Reflecting on my varied and dynamic career, I would choose Wates all over again without hesitation."

Golden Iwuorie

Planning Management Trainee

"During my two years as a Planner Trainee at Wates, I've gained invaluable insights across departments like Production, Commercial, Design, SHE, M&E, and Bid Management. Learning directly from seasoned professionals on-site was crucial in transforming me from a novice to a proficient planner. This experience equipped me with technical skills and a deep appreciation for the collaborative effort in construction. Wates provided a solid foundation for my career, and I'm grateful for the opportunity."

Riya Rathod

Strategy & Integration Lead

"I joined Wates over 10 years ago, starting my transformative career journey. Collaborating with diverse talent, I've enhanced my skills and driven business performance. With a growth mindset, I advanced to Strategy & Integration Lead for SES. I'm also involved in initiatives like the Wates Women’s & Allies Network and mentoring SMEs, showcasing the Group's supportive environment."

Benoit Firmin

Social Value Manager

"Since joining Wates as a Social Value Manager in June 2023, I've been part of an inspiring team of social value professionals. My role involves developing programs that enable individuals facing barriers to employment to join us and our supply chain network. This work is vital at Wates, reflecting our commitment to sustainable opportunities, talent development, and collaboration. I'm privileged and thrilled to work with such brilliant colleagues every day."

Stuart Dixon

Principal Technical Manager

"2024 marks my 20-year milestone in the industry, with 10 of those years spent at Wates/SES. I'm proud of this journey, which reflects a great working environment, company loyalty, and job satisfaction. Wates/SES has entrusted me with opportunities and responsibilities, supported by formal accreditations and chartership, accelerating my growth and professional standing. A ‘typical day’ is never typical—there's always something challenging happening!"

Ben Jowett

Head of Digital Construction & Engineering

"Since joining Wates Group, I've worked with diverse and collaborative teams that consistently deliver high performance. Wates has supported my career progression through on-the-job development and learning opportunities, nurturing my leadership skills for a successful and meaningful career."

Careers at Wates

Join our team

Administrator (Health and Safety)

Location: Newmarket

Job Type: Clerical & Administration

Application Deadline: 08-05-2025

Join Us as a site based Administrator on a High-Profile, Groundbreaking ProjectAre you ready to make an impact and elevate your career in the construction industry? Wates are on the hunt for a proactive and passionate Administrator to join our renowned Major Projects Team. Based on site within Northern Home Counties, you’ll be part of a team that delivers some of the region’s most technically complex and innovative projects, shaping the world of tomorrow.Why Choose Wates?At Wates, we’re not just building projects; we’re building futures. Our teams thrive on challenging the status quo, pushing boundaries, and driving excellence. If you’re excited by the prospect of supporting cutting-edge construction projects, bringing fresh ideas to the table, and growing with one of the most forward-thinking companies in the industry, this is the role for you.Your Role as an Administrator:As a pivotal member of our team, you’ll play a key role in ensuring the smooth running of our project sites. Your work will empower our engineers and construction teams to deliver at their best. From coordinating day-to-day site activities to maintaining top-tier compliance, you’ll be at the heart of the action.In this role, you will:✅ Be the Backbone of the Team: Provide essential support to project and site-based teams, keeping everything running like clockwork.✅ Drive Operational Excellence: Oversee all administrative activities to ensure the seamless execution of project works.✅ Ensure Quality & Compliance: Take charge of auditing, maintaining, and training to uphold company standards across all sites.✅ Champion Health & Safety: Support the team in achieving or surpassing Health and Safety benchmarks.What Makes This Role Unique?This isn’t just another admin role—it’s your chance to be part of a high-performing team that’s redefining what’s possible in construction. Your work will directly contribute to the success of landmark projects, giving you a front-row seat to see your efforts transform communities.What's in it for you? Competitive salary & profit share scheme Flexible working Car Allowance / Company Car * Travel covered to any of our sites* 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. (*Subject to role…….) Ready to Build Your Future?If you’re ambitious, adaptable, and eager to leave your mark in the construction industry, Wates is the place for you. Let’s create tomorrow togetherTo find out more about LIFE AT WATES please click on the following link https://www.wates.co.uk/careers/ We are always looking for a variety of new talent to join our teams, to help us grow and innovate as a business. Although you may not have all of the skills listed, many of them may be transferable to other roles within the WATES Group. If you would like clarity on any of our vacancies or to discuss career opportunities in strict confidence, please contact our In-House Recruitment Team directly via recruitment@wates.co.uk and one of us will get in touch as soon as possible. As a responsible and inclusive employer, we are committed to equality and are proud to have been recognised for this through a range of accolades including gold accreditation with Investors in People, we are also a Disability Confident employer. Being a family owned, business means we understand and value long term relationships Given the nature of this position, you will need to undergo a Baseline Personnel Security Standard Check (BPSS) as well as Enhanced Level 1 for entry to a live prison which will be done 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 

Assistant Quantity Surveyor

Location: Newmarket

Job Type: Commercial

Application Deadline: 08-05-2025

Welcome to Wates Construction—a company built on excellence, innovation, and a commitment to delivering high-quality projects. We specialise in constructing and transforming spaces that shape communities, from state-of-the-art commercial developments to essential public sector projects.Right now, we’re looking for talented individuals to join our team as an Assistant Surveyor, supporting our dynamic projects across the Northern Home Counties. If you’re ready to be part of a business that builds for the future, we’d love to hear from you.ABOUT THE ROLEAs our Assistant Quantity Surveyor, you’ll be diving into the heart of our projects, supporting our wider Commercial Team to keep everything on track— both in budget and quality. If you’re all about the details, love numbers, and are curious about how the built world works, this is the role for you.You will be responsible for Cost Estimation: Assist in preparing detailed cost estimates, budgets, and tender documents to ensure projects are financially viable. Subcontractor Management: Support the management of subcontractor accounts, including valuations, payments, and negotiations. Cost Monitoring: Track project costs, identifying any financial risks or opportunities to keep projects on budget. Reporting: Contribute to the preparation and analysis of cost reports and forecasts, ensuring accurate financial tracking. Site Visits: Participate in site visits to monitor progress and ensure compliance with contract requirements. Final Accounts: Assist in preparing final accounts, including cost reconciliation and settlement of any contractual claims. Collaboration: Work closely with project teams to ensure smooth project delivery, sharing insights and solutions as needed.WHAT WE OFFER Competitive salary & profit share scheme Flexible working Car Allowance / Company Car * Travel covered to any of our sites* 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.(*Subject to role…….)To find out more about LIFE AT WATES please click on the following link https://www.wates.co.uk/careers/We are always looking for a variety of new talent to join our teams, to help us grow and innovate as a business. Although you may not have all of the skills listed, many of them may be transferable to other roles within the WATES Group.If you would like clarity on any of our vacancies or to discuss career opportunities in strict confidence, please contact our In-House Recruitment Team directly via recruitment@wates.co.uk and one of us will get in touch as soon as possible.As a responsible and inclusive employer, we are committed to equality and are proud to have been recognised for this through a range of accolades including gold accreditation with Investors in People, we are also a Disability Confident employer. Being a family owned, business means we understand and value long term relationships.Given the nature of this position, you will need to undergo a Baseline Personnel Security Standard Check (BPSS) 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

HR Business Partner

Location: Birmingham

Job Type: HR

Application Deadline: 08-05-2025

SES are currently looking for a HR Partner to join our central region. As an HR Business Partner within our SES team, you will play a critical role in ensuring people strategies are effectively delivered within your designated business unit. Your primary focus will be on managing people risks, ensuring the consistent application of policies and processes, and contributing to projects that span across the entire Construction Group. Together we inspire better ways of creating the places, communities and businesses of tomorrow. This is our purpose, and we will only achieve our strategic objectives if we recruit and retain the best people, operating in an environment underpinned by inclusivity, diversity and opportunity. Being part of our team as a HR Business Partner, you will play a pivotal role in planning and leading the process and activities to ensure that the Talent objectives are delivered and the KPI of talent retention is met. This role requires the confidence and integrity to support business partners and where required hold them to account to ensure the consistent application of our company processes and that we are managing people the right way. There will be a requirement to develop an excellent understanding of the business needs through strong interaction with the business. We are looking for someone who has experience of working in a complex and demanding environment and can challenge the status quo and drive change in a constructive and pragmatic manner. Ideally you will bring your experience of creating an inclusive workplace and demonstrating how feedback from employee surveys has been used to drive action plans to increase engagement. Alongside this, you will be organised, an excellent communicator capable of building relationships across the business and operate fairly and consistently. If you require any reasonable adjustments during any part of the application process, please contact us at the following email address recruitment@wates.co.uk and one of the team will get in touch to discuss how we can support. WHAT WE OFFER Competitive salary & Profit Share Car Allowance / Car Scheme Flexible working Travel covered to any of our sites (subject to HMRC advisory rates) Extensive corporate benefits including, Private Medical, generous employers’ pension contribution, Health and Wellness programme, 26 days holidays + your Birthday off + bank holidays and much more… Excellent range of learning and development activity to support your career progression. Industry leading family leave benefits to included 26 weeks fully paid maternity, 12 weeks fully paid paternity. SES are committed to the fair treatment of people with criminal records, including employees and potential employees. We ensure that our recruitment, promotion, and retention activity does not treat people less favourably because of an offending background. Basic Check: 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 To find out more about LIFE AT SES Engineering Services please click on the following link https://www.ses-ltd.co.uk/careers/working-at-ses/

Planner

Location: Thetford

Job Type: Planning

Application Deadline: 08-05-2025

Wates are looking for a Project Planner to join our Construction Team in Northern Home Counties where we are focussing on high profile, technically complex projects across multiple sectors. If you are passionate about working within a team environment, have proven analytical and planning skills and are 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 ROLE Our Planners are a valuable part of our business, the focus of this role is to provide an effective and professional planning and programming services for pre-contract and project teams. As our Planner you will: Take ownership of weekly progress updates, collation of as-built data, trend analysis, performance metrics and provide relative reports, through site walk-arounds & weekly meetings with the site team and supply chain. Produce mid/short term programmes with the site team, looking forward to avoid surprises, fully resourced and in conjunction with advice from the site team and key supply chain partners Demonstrate a full understanding of the project, Wates and client needs and propose and assess viable alternatives that could improve and benefit the projects successful completion Must be able to use P6 planning software with knowledge of NEC contracts an advantage but not essential. **Wider business uses ASTA powerproject. WHAT 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… Excellent range of learning and development activity to support your career progression. 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/    We are always looking for a variety of new talent to join our teams, to help us grow and innovate as a business. Although you may not have all of the skills listed, many of them may be transferable to other roles within the WATES Group.    If you would like clarity on any of our vacancies, discuss career opportunities in strict confidence or need anything to make our recruitment process easier, please contact our In-House Recruitment Team directly or via recruitment@wates.co.uk and one of us will get in touch as soon as possible.      As a responsible and inclusive employer, we are committed to equality and are proud to have been recognised for this through a range of accolades including gold accreditation with Investors in People, we are also a Disability Confident employer. Being a family owned, business means we understand and value long term relationships.    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 #PLN