Testimonials

Our people are important to us, but don't just take our word for it, see what they think. Below are a few words from people across the Group.

John Rivett
Group Design Director

John joined Wates from the consultancy White Young Green at the start of the Millennium. He is Group Director of Design and was appointed to revolutionise the way that the company delivers projects.
“I am responsible for the development of design management across the Group and I passionately believe that we can make a huge difference to the way that we win and deliver our projects. The changing world in which we now work provides the environment for good design management to flourish and play a proper part in the success of the business.”

John is a structural engineer by training and gained his experience working in consultancy for 30 years. Prior to joining Wates he was MD for the South East at White Young Green and had established structural, civil and environmental divisions numbering some 400 engineers. After six years at Wates he’s achieved tremendous progress; “From a standing start in 2000, we now have a Design Management Network comprising people from all backgrounds who are able to contribute to the business at every level.

“The measure of how much I enjoy working for Wates is the way that time passes – the last 6 and a half years have gone in the blink of an eye. The outstanding feature of Wates is our people. At every turn I encounter friendly people who are good at what they do and prepared to listen and help. The sense of belonging and working together makes hard work much easier and, without this culture, working for Wates would just be another job.”

Maureen Laing
Site Manager
Living Space, London
(Production trainee to Site Manager)

Maureen had already spent six years as an assistant estimator at a Scottish building firm before she took her degree; “I really enjoyed technical drawing at school,” she says, “and went on to do an ONC in Building.

“When I couldn’t progress any further with my employer I decided to go into full-time education.” Maureen graduated in Construction and Project Management from Edinburgh’s Napier University in 2001 and then joined Wates.

Maureen was quickly promoted to Section Manager before progressing to Site Manager in January 2006, a progression she had envisaged while working on a project for South Bank University.

Maureen adapted well to life in London and has no immediate plans to return to her native Scotland. “There’s a good social life with the firm,” she says, “and I love working with the people here.

Karen Rosvall
Assistant Design Manager
Retail, Leatherhead

Karen became interested in Design in her early twenties and decided to go back to university and take an Interior Design degree.
Having previously worked for a Retail Architect Karen had the opportunity to move over to construction, which was “a big change” – and hasn’t looked back!

When asked what Karen likes most about working for Wates the answer is clear. ”Job satisfaction; it’s the variety of work and the opportunities that being at Wates brings, the people I work with and the support of the internal team and management. Working for an increasingly successful company and in particular, the Retail business, gives me a real sense of pride.”
Karen’s aim now is to perfect her role, meeting the business’ and her own expectations, to develop and improve her Design Management skills with Wates Retail.
“PDR objectives have been set to help me improve and achieve goals that will help progress my career. I want to be successful at what I do and be recognised for delivering what I promise.”

Andy Wall
Regional Director
Construction, London and South 

Andy joined Wates in September 1988 as a Trainee Quantity Surveyor. He left in 1990 but rejoined as Site Surveyor in November 1994. Promotions to Project Surveyor, Surveying Manager, Commercial Manager, Commercial Director and more recently to Regional Director have ensued since his rejoining Wates.