Change 100 Operations Intern

The Vacancy

🌟 Change 100 Operations Intern – WPS 🌟

Are you curious about how large-scale operations really work? Keen to learn by doing and get hands-on experience within a major social housing business? 🏠🔧
Our Change 100 Operations Internship at WPS is a fantastic opportunity to gain real insight into the operational heart of our South Repairs & Maintenance division.

💼 About the Internship

During this work placement, you’ll gain a complete overview of operational delivery, working across key functions that keep our services running smoothly.

You’ll be placed under the guidance of our Divisional Director, giving you rare exposure to senior leadership and a real understanding of how strategic and day-to-day operations come together. 👥📊

---

🔍 What You’ll Get Involved In

✅ Operations

• Learn how social housing repairs & maintenance are delivered end to end
• Get exposure to contract management, KPIs, reporting and performance management
• Understand health & safety compliance, quality control, customer care and complaints handling
• Explore risk management and the Wates Professional Standards

✅ Procurement & Commercial

• Gain insight into client and supplier contracts
• Support project business plans
• Learn the importance of accurate record-keeping and cost control, including subcontractor and non-recoverable costs 💷

✅ Work Scheduling & Customer Experience

• Understand system-led, customer-focused repairs scheduling
• Work with live daily and weekly performance dashboards 📈
• Learn how scheduling impacts operative productivity and resident satisfaction
• Gain direct experience speaking with customers via telephony where required ☎️

🎤 Final Presentation

At the end of your internship, you’ll present a summary of your experience and learning across each department to our senior leadership team – a great opportunity to showcase what you’ve achieved and built confidence along the way.

🧠 What We’re Looking For

• Strong communication skills – comfortable speaking in person, on the phone, via Teams and in writing
• Ability to research, understand and summarise complex information
• Confident using systems and tools such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Able to work independently, manage your time and juggle priorities
• A team player who enjoys working with others 🤝
• Naturally curious – you enjoy asking questions and learning more
• Willing to get stuck in and learn by doing 💪

Work for Wates

Wates is one of the UK’s leading family-owned development, building and property maintenance companies.  Founded over 125 years ago, we have a proud legacy in the built environment.

We are driven by our purpose, ‘reimagining places for people to thrive’ and our three promises:

• Thriving places – working with customers, partners and communities to create places that are more sustainable, inclusive, and full of opportunity.
• Thriving planet – protecting nature and taking action on climate change by collaborating and innovating with our partners.
• Thriving people – creating opportunities and relationships so that everyone who works for and with us feels included, invested in and treated with care.

We are proud to be recognised as Gold Investors in People and as a Disability Confident employer.  We also ensure that our recruitment processes do not treat anyone less favourably due to an offending background.