Creating your tomorrow.
We’re a great place to work. Brilliant benefits, clear career progression, flexible working, competitive salaries and the best culture in the business.
Why wait? Join Wates.
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There’s a huge variety of career opportunities with us, working on a wide range of challenging and exciting projects.
We hire talented people from all backgrounds, reflecting society and the communities in which we work.
From employee discount schemes to flexible working, we offer a range of benefits aimed to boost productivity and promote mental wellbeing. Combined with generous salaries, stimulating work, and unrivalled opportunities to generate value in our communities, it’s what makes Wates such an attractive place to be.
Reward and benefits
We value our people and the work they do, and we reward them for it. We recognise that great pay and benefits are key to retaining and attracting the best people in our industry.
Career development
We provide clear routes for career progression – and a great selection of opportunities for training, development and upskilling to help people get to the next level.
An inclusive culture
As a family business that has stood the test of time for more than 125 years, we are proud of the culture that we have built, of the work that we do, and of the teams that deliver it.
CREATING TOMORROW TOGETHER
Your future with us
At Wates we focus on the key things that matter to our people: an inclusive culture, commitment to social value, great reward and benefits, flexibility and hybrid working and career progression. We know these things make a real difference to people’s lives.
We are proud of what we offer, and Wates is an incredible place to work regardless of what stage you are at in your career journey, from new entrant to long serving colleague.
And once you’ve joined us, we’ll make sure you’ll want to stay.
Our culture
Our culture – outlined in our Guiding Framework – influences everything we do and how we do it, from our core purpose of creating tomorrow together, to the atmosphere we create across our sites and offices. As a family-owned business, we’re passionate about our people and creating a culture where everyone can be themselves, enjoy their working lives and thrive in the career they choose.
We are a fair place to work. To ensure everyone has opportunity to thrive, our culture is founded on the following principles:
- TREAT FAIRLY: Everyone is treated with fairness and respect. When someone finds themselves not being treated fairly, they feel able to speak up, are listened to and any appropriate action is taken
- PAY AND PROGRESS FAIRLY: Everyone has fair access to development and progression opportunities to build a meaningful career of choice. There is equity in pay.
- HIRE FAIRLY: We hire the best person for the job from a diverse pool of candidates. We actively challenge and ultimately eliminate perceptions that prevent anyone from joining the sector.
Our family-first culture has been recognised at the Working Families Awards, where we won in the ‘Best for Fathers’ and ‘Best for All Families’ categories. We are among the Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality, have been awarded gold accreditation from Investors in People. We won the Diversity and Inclusion Excellence Award at the Construction News Awards where the judges found us “head and shoulders above our contemporaries.”
We are a Disability Confident employer, committed to ensuring that our recruitment processes are inclusive and accessible and that existing colleagues who have or acquire a disability are supported in their career at Wates.
We have some of the best family leave policies in our industry. This includes a 52 week paid maternity leave and eight weeks of fully paid paternity/partner leave. Our shared parental leave and adoption leave are enhanced and matched with maternity leave. We offer four weeks of unpaid carers leave. This includes our site-based employees.
We believe that business done well can be a force for good and so we take our role in society very seriously. We believe in helping to shape communities through our projects and social value commitments. As a Wates employee you could also be involved in a range of activities from community engagement with schools through to social enterprise mentoring and volunteering in the communities we work in.
We also help to challenge inequality by championing the real Living Wage, working closely with the Living Wage Foundation to achieve this.
We’re committed to making our industry more sustainable through the way we build, the materials we use and the way we engage with suppliers, and have committed to Science Based Targets that will see us becoming a net zero company by 2045. Our zero carbon sites programme, our transition towards electric plant and equipment and our use of lower carbon alternative materials will help us get there.
We are also committed to having a positive impact on nature from our operations. This will be achieved through supporting local community projects and making biodiversity improvements to our projects.
Your career
We focus on helping our people to thrive and on offering great career development opportunities, so you never stand still. And if you want a change – even a completely different role – we encourage internal mobility throughout our businesses, giving you a range of different environments in which to gain experience.
Our wide range of learning and development activities builds the knowledge, skills and behaviours you’ll need to perform at your best and progress your career.
Our focus on diversity encourages those who are furthest from the workforce to come back into the workplace if they have been away for a while.
26 days
holiday a year
2 days
off for volunteering
Benefits
health, leisure, financial
Reward and benefits
As well as competitive salaries, we have some brilliant benefits – it’s our way of recognising the hard work you do.
We understand that this is about more than money. We also run a flexible benefits scheme where you select the benefits that are important to you, from pension top-ups to health care and restaurant discount cards.
We offer 26 days of holiday a year that includes additional volunteering days for a good cause of your choice.
Our award winning, industry-leading family leave policy offers full paid maternity leave as well as eight weeks paid partner / paternity leave. We also offer enhanced shared parental and adoption leave including matched maternity pay as well as two weeks bereavement leave and flexible carers’ leave.
Learning and Development
We empower our colleagues to excel and thrive through comprehensive learning and development opportunities aligned with our values and performance priorities.
We offer diverse development programmes covering areas like safety, technical skills, behaviour and leadership. We empower our employees to take charge of their growth with self-driven learning options, including e-learning, and we provide support when they need it.
We foster a culture of continuous learning and empowerment, equipping our colleagues with the tools so they can progress their career and contribute to the success of our organisation.
BEGIN YOUR CAREER WITH US
Early careers programmes
Our early careers programmes are targeted at undergraduates, graduates, school and college leavers and trade professionals. The programmes are designed to be accessible and flexible to suit you.
Whatever your interests, we’ll help you find the right career path. One where you can explore, grow and thrive.
JUST STARTING OUT?
Work experience
Join us on a work experience position and discover how great working in the built environment can be.
Our opportunities are open to everyone and will help you gain experience that can kick-start your career as well as contributing to our exciting client projects. You could even go on to secure a place on one of our apprenticeships or graduate programmes.
JOB VACANCIES
Why wait? Join Wates.
Search our latest vacancies to find the perfect role for you.
Carpenter
Location: Walton-On-Thames
Job Type: Trades and Labour
Application Deadline: 22-10-2025
🛠️ Carpenter – Walton-on-Thames (Responsive Maintenance)Join the WPS Team – Make a Difference in Social HousingWPS has an exciting opportunity for a Carpenter to join our Responsive Maintenance division, working from our Walton-on-Thames office. You’ll be delivering reactive maintenance services to our valued residents as part of a social housing contract.🔧 What You’ll Be Doing Carrying out carpentry repair and renewal works across various properties. Advising your Supervisor when additional support or materials are needed. Working independently or collaboratively with other operatives. Completing daily work sheets detailing tasks and materials used. Ensuring timely and productive completion of assigned tasks.🚗 Requirements Full UK driving licence is essential. Proven experience in carpentry. Ability to work to high standards of workmanship and productivity. Excellent communication and problem-solving skills. Strong customer service mindset and ability to meet tight deadlines.💬 Why Join WPS? At WPS, we’re committed to building communities and improving lives. You’ll be part of a supportive team that values your skills and helps you grow.Ready to make an impact? Apply now and help us deliver quality maintenance services that truly matter.Given the nature of this position, you will need to undergo a Standard 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
Electrician
Location: Milton Keynes
Job Type: Trades and Labour
Application Deadline: 22-10-2025
We have an opportunity for an Electrician to join our WPS team within our Reactive Housing Maintenance Division. You will be working from our Milton Keynes office and covering the surrounding areas, working on our social housing contract. 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: Undertaking repair/ renewal works within your Electricians remit and work with associated trades Ensure maintenance work is undertaken safely and in accordance with all technical standards Communicate effectively with residents, scheduler and line manager Work safely and in compliance with Health & Safety and safeguarding requirements Remain up-to-date with technical and legal requirements of skill area Working in partnership with other operatives to complete repairs, if required Completing time sheets work sheets detailing work undertaken and materials used after each job undertaken, via a PDAYou must have: A full UK driving licence Level 3 Qualification 18th EditionWe are looking for a qualified and experienced Electrician who can utilise their skills to deliver small projects and repair works. You will hold a full UK diving licence, be confident in managing your own workload and will ideally already have experience of the housing maintenance sector.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
Mobile Engineer (AC)
Location: London
Job Type: Engineering
Application Deadline: 22-10-2025
Mobile Engineer – Air ConditioningLocation: London/SouthJob Type: Full TimeContract Type: PermanentHere at Wates, we have a fantastic opportunity for a Mobile Engineer to join our Facilities Management team supporting our client based in the London/South area. The main objective is for you to carry out Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) to HVAC plant, including Reactive Maintenance and extra works/emergencies in accordance with the contract requirements on Mechanical Services. Due to the nature of the works, we are exceptionally keen to speak to candidates with a strong background in air conditioning.ABOUT YOUTo be successful in this role, you will ideally have the following: Knowledge of Heating & Air Conditioning Systems Strong Electrical & HVAC Experience Have previously worked as a mobile engineer 18th Edition C&G 2367 or 2357 (Electrical Installation) and NVQ level 3 in Electrical Installations or equivalent qualifications C&G 2391 (Test & Inspection cert preferred)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.ABOUT THE ROLE Key Accountabilities will include: Ensure all works are delivered in guidance of the legislation and contractual obligations Utilise CAFM/PDA technology for real time job updates, and provide detailed/comprehensive reports on works delivered To respond in a prompt and effective manner to all reactive maintenance issues and help desk requests associated with the heating and ventilation systems, pumps, water tanks, valves, pipe work and associated mechanical systems or items To respond to call outs and cover breakdowns and emergencies associated with the mechanical services aspects of the contract as required. The main objective is for you to carry out Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) to HVAC plant, including Reactive Maintenance and extra works/emergencies in accordance with the contract requirements on Mechanical Services.In return, we offer a competitive salary, additional pay when on call, along with 22 days holiday, Pension benefits, life Insurance, and a flexible benefits scheme that you can tailor to suit your lifestyle.*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
Shift Engineer
Location: Saffron Walden
Job Type: Engineering
Application Deadline: 22-10-2025
Shift Electrical Engineer – Wellcome Genome CampusAre you a qualified Electrical Engineer looking for a dynamic role in a world-class scientific environment? Join the Wellcome Genome Campus as a Shift Electrical Engineer and play a key part in maintaining the electrical systems that support cutting-edge research, 24/7.Location: Wellcome Genome Campus, Saffron WaldenContract Type: PermanentHours: Full-time, Shift RotaAbout the RoleAs a Shift Electrical Engineer, you’ll be part of a dedicated team providing round-the-clock support for the campus’s electrical infrastructure. You’ll respond to faults, carry out preventative maintenance, and ensure systems are operating safely and efficiently during your shift.Key Responsibilities Perform electrical maintenance and fault diagnosis across campus facilities Respond to reactive issues during shift hours, ensuring minimal disruption Conduct routine inspections and testing in line with compliance standards Support planned preventative maintenance (PPM) schedules Maintain accurate records of work completed and system performance Liaise with other FM teams and contractors to ensure seamless service deliveryAbout YouWe’re looking for someone with: Recognised electrical qualifications (e.g., City & Guilds 2365, 18th Edition) Experience in electrical maintenance within a facilities or building services environment Ability to work independently during shifts and make sound decisions under pressure Strong understanding of health & safety and compliance regulations Flexibility to work a rotating shift pattern including nights and weekendsWhy Join Us?At the Wellcome Genome Campus, you’ll be part of a collaborative and forward-thinking community supporting world-class research. We offer: Competitive salary with shift allowance Opportunities for training and career development Access to campus amenities including cafés, gym, and green spaces A supportive and inclusive work cultureGiven 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
Fraudulent recruitment offers
It has come to our attention that various individuals and organisations are contacting people offering false employment opportunities. Very often these offers carry a company logo and the details of a company employee. These are very easily found online and should not be accepted as proof of authenticity. Please be advised, Wates will never make unsolicited offers of employment, ask for money from job applicants or require bank details from candidates before a formal offer of employment has been agreed.
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