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

Creating tomorrow together

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.

Everything we do is guided by our purpose of working together to inspire better ways of creating the places, communities, and businesses of tomorrow.

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

Commercial Administrator

Location: Walton-On-Thames

Job Type: Clerical & Administration

Application Deadline: 22-05-2024

Wates have an opportunity for a Commercial Administrator to join our team in our Walton-On-Thames office to engage in full administrative duties and provide ongoing support for the team in a number of key contract areas. Key Accountabilities will include: Amend and improve various Excel trackers to ensure the data can be utilised effectively for data reporting. Create and maintain information on systems and databases and manage efficient filing systems. Close down jobs on the system to ensure reports reflect current work levels. Coordinate meetings when required and greet guests and visitors. Assist with the ordering of Personal Protective Equipment as and when required. Deal with a range of administrative queries that come through to the team. General administrative duties including filing, writing and answering emails, producing letters and answering/ making calls.We are looking for an experienced Administrator who is a confident communicator, highly computer literate (Microsoft suite – Word, Excel etc) and extremely organised. The successful individual will have ideally have worked in the construction and/or maintenance industry but this is not essential.

HR Business Partner

Location: Rotherhithe

Job Type: HR

Application Deadline: 22-05-2024

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced HR Business Partner / Professional with a proven track record in business partnering and building strong working relationships at a leadership level to work in our Construction business. 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.

Mobile Engineer

Location: North West

Job Type: Engineering

Application Deadline: 15-05-2024

Wates have excellent opportunity for an experienced multi skilled – electrical mobile engineer to join the team predominantly based in the Manchester area for our key client, JLL.ABOUT THE ROLEThe primary focus of this role will be to conduct planned preventative multi-disciplined maintenance and reactive works to the buildings plant, equipment, and systems, as well as respond to site engineering emergencies on behalf of our clients. There will be some installation works with the requirement to complete electrical installation and minor works certification.What is important to us is your natural communication skills to deliver high levels of customer service at all times, your ability to effectively multi-task, work to tight deadlines and problem solve on the job; whilst always promoting health & safety excellence.Having the relevant up to date qualifications and experience for your discipline is essential for your success in this role, 18th Edition wiring regulations combined with inspection and testing are essential.This is a terrific opportunity to progress your career as part of a talented, diverse, and supportive team.Some of the other Key Accountabilities as Mobile Engineer include:• Record all reactive and PPM tasks accurately and in detail using report sheets and ensure signed by the client weekly.• Ensure that Method Statements and Risk Assessments are prepared for all tasks conducted to provide safe working practices.• Supervise subcontractors effectively.• Ensure compliance with all Company policies and procedures.WHAT WE OFFER Competitive salary, plus performance related reviews, opportunities for growth and advancement within the team Van, Extensive corporate benefits including, Pension, Health and Wellness programme, 22 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, 8 weeks fully paid paternity.To find out more about LIFE AT WATES please click on the following link https://www.wates.co.uk/careers/

Operations Manager

Location: Streatham

Job Type: Operational

Application Deadline: 22-05-2024

We have an opportunity for an Operations Manager to join our Wates team within our Planned Maintenance division. You will be covering the South East of London and around the M25, managing a team of Project Managers and Site Managers to provide a first class service to our Clients.The role is to act as the interface between the various clients at monthly review meetings and deliver all contracts to an extremely high standard. You are required to ensure KPI’s and Health & Safety is maintained to the our expectations.Key Accountabilities will include: Responsible for all regional delivery; building and maintaining an effective and motivated team. Lead the division with a operational and commercial mindset making sure the team are aware of contract obligations and how they can influence profitability at all times Ensure that all projects are set-up with company governance maximised, production control in place and productivity regularly monitored. To work and develop relationships with all key clients to allow each contract to run in accordance with the brief and the clients high expectations. Attend all client progress meetings giving feedback, progress and all KPI data as requested. Procure work by maintaining and developing contacts in the industry, as well as have direct involvement in the strategic thinking applied to the Unit's tenders. To work with all key supply chain partners making sure all Operating Framework compliance details are in place before commencement of any projects. Monitor and approve the financial forecasts; ensuring that the best cost planning information is provided. To drive compliance and operating excellence throughout the division at all levels.To be successful in the role you will already be in an operational leadership role and have experience in successfully managing maintenance teams and projects and been accountable for all disciplines from the bidding stage; from design and planning through to handover, all within time and budget.We are looking for someone with ability to lead and influence at all levels to deliver outstanding results, successfully develop relationships to create future opportunities and have a proactive approach to risk management and value-add.

Get in touch

To get in touch with us, simply fill in the form below and we’ll get right back to you.