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

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

Apprentice Planner

Location: Manchester

Job Type: Trades and Labour

Application Deadline: 04-03-2025

Whether you're just starting out or looking for a fresh challenge, this is your chance to gain valuable experience, learn new skills, and make an impact from day one. Apply today! We have an exciting opportunity for you to join our team as an Apprentice Planner. This role will give you the experience of working on a busy construction site as well as studying on a day release basis to achieve a level 3 apprenticeship qualification. Capturing the knowledge and experience of a qualified electrician to understand the trade, your daily tasks will include, but not limited to installation, maintenance and repair of electrical servicesMain Accountabilities:As an Apprentice Planner you will support the planning, design, and installation of building systems, including electrical, mechanical, and HVAC systems.Responsibilities include but are not limited to the below Assist in the design and installation of building services systems, including HVAC, lighting, plumbing, and electrical systems. Provide technical support to senior engineers and project managers. Carry out site surveys and assessments to determine client requirements. Prepare technical drawings and documentation using AutoCAD or other relevant software. Ensure all work complies with relevant regulations and standards. Perform system testing and commissioning activities. Provide ongoing maintenance and support for building systems. Work collaboratively with other team members and external contractors.You will attend college one day a week and work towards a Level 3 apprenticeship in Building Services EngineeringDriving license desirable but not essential.Desired skills & Qualities: You will need to be able to cope with the physical demands of the role Health and safety conscious Capable of working in a team Be passionate about a career in the built environment. Be excited to learn and develop new skills. Have a curious nature. Be reliable and professional. A problem solver with the ability to think logically. Possess good time management skills. Prioritise your work to meet agreed deadlines. Strong motivation to work hard and to a high standard to succeed in this roleQualifications:4 GCSEs at grade 4 and above including Maths and English.You must not hold an existing qualification at the same or higher level than this apprenticeship in a similar subject.

Assistant Accountant Apprentice

Location: Finsbury Park

Job Type: Financial

Application Deadline: 04-03-2025

We believe in empowering young talent to grow and thrive. If you're passionate, eager to learn, and excited about the future, we want to hear from you!What you will doAs a Level 3 Assistant Accountant Apprentice, you will receive hands-on experience in a wide range of accounting functions, supporting the finance team with key tasks such as bookkeeping, accounts preparation, and financial reporting.Your Responsibilities Responsibilities include but are not limited to the below Assist in the preparation of financial statements, including balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements. Perform bookkeeping tasks such as maintaining ledgers, processing invoices, and reconciling accounts. Assist with accounts payable and accounts receivable processes. Support in the preparation and submission of VAT returns and other regulatory filings. Maintain and update financial records and reports. Prepare month-end and year-end accounting reports. Assist with payroll processing and related administrative tasks. Help with budgeting and forecasting activities. Liaise with clients and suppliers to resolve accounting queries. Undertake learning and development activities to achieve your Level 3 qualification in accounting.About you To be successful on the programme you’ll: Be passionate about a career in the built environment. Be excited to learn and develop new skills. Have a curious nature. Be reliable and professional. A problem solver with the ability to think logically. Possess good time management skills. Prioritise your work to meet agreed deadlines.Qualifications:To be considered for this apprenticeship you will need to have achieved a Grade 4 or C and above in Maths and EnglishYou must not hold an existing qualification at the same or higher level than this apprenticeship in a similar subject.

Business Administrator Apprentice

Location: Milton Keynes

Job Type: Clerical & Administration

Application Deadline: 04-03-2025

We're looking for motivated, and ambitious individuals to join our Wates family!Join us and immerse yourself in a dynamic environment that values creativity, collaboration, and growth.What you will doOur level 3 Business Administrator Apprenticeship will provide you with a full understanding of Wates Property Services.As a Business Administration Apprentice, you will have the opportunity to work both independently and as part of our energetic team.Your Responsibilities Responsibilities include but are not limited to the below. Managing emails and phone calls Ordering materials and equipment Logging jobs, uploading documents, and updating our systems Responding to questions, and booking in contractors Raising purchase orders Writing reports Booking in our contractors Completing administrative tasks within deadlinesAbout you To be successful on the programme you’ll: Be passionate about a career in the built environment. Be excited to learn and develop new skills. Have a curious nature. Be reliable and professional. A problem solver with the ability to think logically. Possess good time management skills. Prioritise your work to meet agreed deadlines.Qualifications: To be considered for this apprenticeship you will need to have achieved a Grade 4 or C and above in Maths and EnglishYou must not hold an existing qualification at the same or higher level than this apprenticeship in a similar subject.

Business Administrator Apprentice

Location: Redditch

Job Type: Clerical & Administration

Application Deadline: 04-03-2025

We're looking for motivated, and ambitious individuals to join our Wates family!You'll have the chance to work on exciting projects, develop new skills, and make a real impact from day oneWhat you will doOur level 3 Business Administrator Apprenticeship will provide you with a full understanding of Wates Property Services.As a Business Administration Apprentice, you will have the opportunity to work both independently and as part of our energetic team.Your Responsibilities Responsibilities include but are not limited to the below. Managing emails and phone calls Ordering materials and equipment Logging jobs, uploading documents, and updating our systems Responding to questions, and booking in contractors Raising purchase orders Writing reports Booking in our contractors Completing administrative tasks within deadlinesAbout you To be successful on the programme you’ll: Be passionate about a career in the built environment. Be excited to learn and develop new skills. Have a curious nature. Be reliable and professional. A problem solver with the ability to think logically. Possess good time management skills. Prioritise your work to meet agreed deadlines.Qualifications: To be considered for this apprenticeship you will need to have achieved a Grade 4 or C and above in Maths and EnglishYou must not hold an existing qualification at the same or higher level than this apprenticeship in a similar subject.

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