Meeting tomorrow’s needs by shaping buildings and places that are fit for the future today.
At Wates, we take a holistic approach to sustainability in the built environment. We understand that lasting success involves designing, building and maintaining buildings and places for longevity, and continuously monitoring their performance.

Your collaboration partner for the full life cycle of your building
Our approach to decarbonisation supports the full life cycle of domestic and non-domestic buildings, encompassing design, construction, retrofitting and facilities management.
With our expertise, dedication to innovation, and commitment to long-term sustainability, we are your trusted partner on your journey to net zero carbon.
SUSTAINABLE PLACEMAKING
Shaping spaces for thriving communities
Sustainable placemaking is at the heart of our development philosophy to create vibrant and enduring spaces that enrich the lives of residents and businesses alike.
- Strategic land location: We are experts in identifying prime locations for sustainable developments, considering environmental impact and community integration.
- Engagement and planning: With effective local stakeholder engagement and exceptional knowledge of the planning process, we deliver sustainable and low-carbon places.
MAXIMISING BUILDING EFFICIENCY
Building for a net zero future
Whether it’s a home, a commercial office, or a public facility, we design and construct buildings that stand the test of time.
- Built right, first time: With our in-house experts and specialist engineering services, we can provide a fully optimised design to reduce full life carbon, enhance biodiversity net gain and maximise resources.
- Data driven decision making: We utilise data to conduct post occupancy evaluation to learn and continually improve the efficiency of the building and future designs.
- Ongoing performance monitoring: We help you leverage data and technology to adapt your spaces to evolving usage patterns such as flexible workspaces.
TRANSFORMING EXISTING SPACES
Retrofitting for lower emissions
We understand the challenge of improving the energy efficiency of existing structures, and our approach covers every aspect:
- Initial planning: We work with you to create a retrofit plan that aligns with your sustainability goals.
- Efficiency measures: Our experts implement energy-saving solutions to upgrade existing buildings.
- Smart space management: Adapting spaces to evolving needs, ensuring optimal energy and water usage and occupant comfort.
Our comprehensive approach
Our approach to decarbonisation is built around the three core tenets of building for the future; maintaining buildings for the long term; and continuously monitoring their performance.
In-house experts: With our in-house experts, specialist engineering services and post occupancy services, we understand how buildings perform. We bring this intelligence into our designs to ensure the best outcomes for your building.
Bespoke designs: Working closely with you and our strategic supply chain, we will provide bespoke designs that maximises opportunities for a net zero future. We believe in thoughtful, efficient, and aesthetically pleasing designs that integrate seamlessly with your vision.
Serving communities first: We put our communities at the heart of what we do. From initial consultation through to build and maintenance, we aim to create sustainable spaces for people to live and work.
- Leveraging early engagement: We aim to increase biodiversity net gain (BNG) outcomes for our customers through early engagement with designers, ecologists and our strategic supply chain partners.
- Enhancing local BNG outcomes: Our focus is to improve the local biodiversity where we can. Where this is not possible, we can advise customers on appropriate biodiversity net gain offset solutions.
Technology: We stay at the forefront of innovation to recommend market-leading, tested solutions and products that keep to the highest sustainability standards. Our solutions are tailored to meet your unique needs and budget.
Implementation: Once we’ve identified the right technology and solutions for you, our skilled team ensures a flawless implementation process.
Transformation: Our solutions enable you to monitor and manage your building efficiently, ensuring you can identify and implement future changes seamlessly.
Sustainability in action: Our smart building solutions not only make your facility more efficient but also contribute to your sustainability goals. With real-time data and automation, you’ll be empowered to make informed decisions that reduce your carbon footprint.
- Sustainability champions: Our award-wining services demonstrate our commitment to the environment. We leverage our expertise to help clients envision and achieve their sustainability goals, guiding them to meet and exceed industry standards.
- Exceeding standards: Our dedication to sustainability means we don’t just aim for compliance; we aspire for leadership in the sector. We work closely with our customers to align your vision with our expertise, helping you become pioneers in sustainability in your fields.
- Innovation for impact: With our in-house experts, cutting-edge technologies and a wealth of experience, we empower customers to not only meet the strictest standards, but to inspire change. Together, we pave the way for a sustainable future, setting new benchmarks and making a lasting impact.
Accreditations and Memberships









The WIN Portal – your gateway to innovation
The path to net zero carbon emissions demands innovation.
That’s why we produced the WIN Portal — a unique marketplace of innovative solutions – free to access and designed to help you reach your own net zero goals.


Decarbonisation of public and commercial buildings
In 2022, in response to the release of PAS 2038 for non-domestic buildings, we developed a compliant service to support the decarbonisation of public and commercial buildings.
As a delivery partner on 80% of the UK’s leading central and local government frameworks, including for the Ministry of Justice, Department for Education, and NHS healthcare estates, we continuously innovate to meet the evolving decarbonisation needs of our customers to drive forward your sustainability journey.

Sustainable new homes and developments
We’re proud to be building award-winning zero carbon homes across the UK. Our commitment to the environment and net zero means we are always exploring new sustainable ways of building and modern methods of construction.
Our partnership with the City of Cardiff Council, for example, will see 42 new homes built to the Passivhaus low energy building standard, which will keep energy consumption low and slash bills for residents.

Helping landlords cut fuel poverty
The UK has some of the least energy-efficient homes in Europe. Our PAS 2035 compliant service is designed to guide customers through every step of your retrofit journey.
To date, we have helped housing customers unlock over £100 million of government funding through the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund. Currently, we are delivering over 30 PAS 2035 compliance projects and improving the energy efficiency of over 5,000 homes.
HOW WE CAN HELP
Our sustainability services

Land Promotion
We partner with our landowners and bring sustainable placemaking and planning expertise to unlock valuable commercial and residential development.


Construction
We are passionate about building a better tomorrow for everybody, through the work we do and the social value we bring to projects.


Engineering
We provide high quality engineering services for the built environment sector including mechanical, electrical and plumbing.


Facilities Management Services
We are a growing provider of planned and reactive maintenance and facilities management services in the UK.


Fit out and refurbishment
We provide high-quality fit-out and refurbishment services to private and public sector customers across the UK.

SHEQ CAREERS AT WATES
Want to be part of our team?

Quality Manager
Location: Basingstoke
Job Type: SHEQ
Application Deadline: 11-08-2025
Wates are looking for a Quality Manager in our Southern region to promote and encourage best practice and deliver quality homes for our customers.If you are passionate about Quality, enjoy working within a team environment, have proven technical 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 Quality Managers are a valuable part of our business, driving quality outcomes, enhancing buildability and fostering innovation. Quality Managers work collaboratively with our project teams, industry specialists and in-house technical experts to ensure projects are delivered ‘Right First Time’ in accordance with drawings and specification with a firm focus on added value, compliance, commercial viability, and best practice. As our Quality Manager you will: Support our project teams and supply chain partners to deliver work by helping them plan for the quality of all site activities prior to work starting on site. Ensure projects are working within and being compliant with our Operating Framework. Review the quality of installation and ensure accurate records are being maintained to comply with legislation. Work closely with the regional senior teams to drive the ‘Right First Time’ mindset across your region. Be able support site teams with the recording, tracking and monitoring to completion, areas of defective works.WHAT WE OFFER Competitive salary & profit share scheme Flexible working Car Allowance / Company Car 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… 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) 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.
Standards Advisor
Location: Finsbury Park
Job Type: SHEQ
Application Deadline: 05-08-2025
We currently have an opportunity for a Standards Advisor to join our Wates team within our Responsive Maintenance division. You will be working out of our Finsbury Park office on one of our social housing contracts. The primary focus of this role will be to provide professional SHEQ support. You will engage with various teams and supply chain peers to ensure that our SHE policy is promoted and effectively deployed, providing support to senior SHE advisors.Key Accountabilities will include: Support with the development of programmes for project visits that ensures the highest level of SHE standards as appropriate to project risks. Actively and effectively challenging noncompliance of SHE policies and standards. Support business leadership in the preparation of bids. Communicate learning and good practices from within and outside the business.We are looking for you to have experience of SHE policies in an industrial or construction environment and ideally have worked on a similar programme of works. To be successful in the role you will be an excellent communicator, with the ability to coach and influence individuals, along with being able to identify hazards.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
Risk and Assurance Manager
Location: Finsbury Park
Job Type: SHEQ
Application Deadline: 03-08-2025
Risk and Assurance Manager – WPSAre you ready to shape the future of risk management in a dynamic and evolving organisation?WPS Housing Maintenance is looking for a talented Risk and Assurance Manager to help lead our business toward a mature, robust, and forward-thinking risk management framework.At WPS, we’re building for the future—driving innovation and embracing challenges. As our operations grow in scale and complexity, and as legislative demands evolve, we recognise the need for a holistic view of risk. This role is essential and impactful, offering the opportunity to make a real difference.This is a fantastic opportunity to progress your career as part of a talented, diverse, and supportive team.ABOUT THE ROLEAs the Risk Manager for WPS, you’ll report directly to the Commercial Director and work closely with key stakeholders, including senior leadership and cross-functional partners, to: Develop and implement a comprehensive risk management framework in collaboration with the Finance Director and Group Senior Risk Manager. Establish governance procedures for effective risk reporting, board governance processes, and risk appetite assessment. Provide insight and analysis to the Group Head of Assurance and Risk Committee Chair through dashboards, reports, and presentations. Maintain and manage risk registers, mapping key project risks into a consolidated business unit view. Partner with the Finance Director to design and embed governance frameworks for board agendas and related forums. Lead proactive stakeholder engagement to develop a mature risk culture within the business. Promote best practices by integrating lessons learned into risk methodologies and tools.WHAT YOU WILL BRING Proven experience in risk management within a complex business environment. Strong analytical skills with the ability to assess risks, define mitigation strategies, and communicate effectively with senior stakeholders. A collaborative mindset and ability to foster relationships across cross-functional teams. Confidence in governance design and the ability to deliver robust documentation and reporting tools.OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU Be at the forefront of risk transformation for a growing and evolving business unit. Collaborate with senior leaders to shape and embed a world-class risk management culture. Enjoy a competitive salary, benefits, and career development opportunities.Location: While location is flexible, the role can be based in Finsbury Park.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 One of the Recruitment Team will then be in contact to discuss the role in more detail and advise of next steps.
Head of Sustainability
Location: Finsbury Park
Job Type: SHEQ
Application Deadline: 21-08-2025
🌍 Head of Sustainability – WPS 📍 Location: National ¦ 🕒 Full-timeAre you ready to lead the charge toward a greener, more sustainable future? WPS is looking for a visionary Head of Sustainability to drive our environmental strategy and embed sustainability at the heart of everything we do. 🌱🔎 About the RoleAs Head of Sustainability, you’ll shape and deliver an industry-leading strategy that positions WPS as the most environmentally sustainable business in our sector. Reporting directly to the WPS Board Member accountable for sustainability, you’ll influence decisions at the highest level, collaborate across the business and supply chain, and lead a passionate team to deliver real, measurable impact.🌟 Key Responsibilities Refine and lead the delivery of WPS’s environmental strategy in line with our Environmental Sustainability Plan. Embed environmental performance into customer offerings and financial decision-making. Collaborate with Group leaders, clients, and suppliers to drive systemic change and deliver net zero, nature-positive outcomes. Analyse and forecast environmental impact to prioritise high-impact initiatives. Build and lead a high-performing sustainability team and foster a culture of innovation and accountability. Represent WPS on the Wates Group sustainability leadership team and contribute to group-wide progress.📈 What You’ll Be Doing Win work by aligning sustainability with client ambitions and strategic goals. Ensure compliance with environmental legislation and drive continuous improvement. Engage and influence senior leaders to embed sustainability into culture, performance, and decision-making. Set and track ambitious environmental targets, reporting progress to the board and wider business.🎓 What We’re Looking For Graduate calibre with 5+ years’ experience in sustainability, ideally in the built environment. Proven technical expertise in environmental management and low-carbon strategy. Strong commercial acumen and analytical skills. Excellent communicator and relationship builder, able to influence at all levels. Passionate, self-motivated, and committed to making a difference.💼 Why Join WPS?This is your opportunity to lead transformational change in a business that’s serious about sustainability. You’ll have the platform, support, and autonomy to shape the future of WPS—and the built environment. 🌟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 One of the Recruitment Team will be in contact to discuss the role in more detail and advise of the next step.
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