About us

REPORTS AND RESEARCH

In one of the most challenging years in our 124-year history, we’re pleased to have secured £2.4bn of new work in 2020, enabling us to end the year with a record forward order book of £6.6bn, up 13.5% from 2019.

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This year for International Women’s Day, the aim is to encourage all of us businesses, governments and individuals to ‘choose to challenge’.

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Wates launches its new Wates Innovation Network (WIN) portal and Dr Zainab Dangana explains how this will help towards net zero buildings.

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Kate Ives, Director of Strategic Growth for Wates Residential – Three big trends for public and private sector partnerships.

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Su Pickerill, Group Community Investment Manager – Creating a Social Value showcase on each and every project.

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Many companies have clearly sought to grasp the spirit of the Principles and have provided good explanations of how their governance arrangements work.

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Steve Yates, Business Development Manager for Wates Construction, talks about the Next Generation during National Apprenticeship Week.

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Andrew Barraclough, Group Design Director – Supporting the public sector on its digital journey. Find out more.

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During National Apprenticeship Week (8- 14 February), we want to highlight the wide range of job opportunities available as part of a career in construction. Hear from some of our apprentices and trainees below who are helping to break down the common myths about apprenticeships in construction.

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Steve Beechey, Public Sector Director, The Construction Playbook – the consistent approach our industry needs.

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The construction industry has been on its own digital journey for some time now and significant progress has been made but if it is going to achieve some of its key aspirations in the years ahead around quality, efficiency and sustainability then much more needs to be done.

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Has social value lost its force amidst the global pandemic? Wates Group’s Community Investment Manager, Su Pickerill, explains why creating opportunities has never been more important…

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While last week’s UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow has been postponed to 2021, it’s important that positive climate action does not wait. Clare Masters, Head of Environment at Wates Group, explains why changing our habits to save the planet is more important than ever…

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As we show our support for Armistice Day, we remember our role in supporting the military through World War II and our construction of the Mulberry Harbours.

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We are committed to raising awareness about the built environment sector and to encouraging young people, career changers and those who face barriers to employment to take a closer look at the roles required to create the places of tomorrow.

These virtual tours provide an insight to some of our projects and the people that make them happen.

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We held our first Virtual Insight Day on the 5 November for people to find out more about careers in the construction industry.

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Steve Spilsbury, Framework Director for Wates Construction discusses the future of procurement in the wake of Covid-19. “Having a strong employment and skills plan for the project remained a key driver in successful tendering and the public sector wanted to work with companies that were tackling this issue…”

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Carl Wales is a health and safety manager at Wates Smartspace. Four years ago, Carl lost his 17-year-old son, Rowan, to suicide. In his blog, Carl discusses the importance of talking about suicide and how companies like Wates are supporting  organisations such as the suicide prevention charity Papyrus, which aims to prevent suicide among young people.

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At Wates, we are continuing to invest in our young talent, to make sure they continue to develop the best skills possible, both on site and off. With many of our trainees going on to secure senior positions and with accolades like Peter Glasgow and Lewis Hough’s wins at the G4C Awards, it is clear that we are successfully doing this.

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Lisa Cunningham, Pre-Construction Director for Wates Construction Midlands, explains that reopening our sites was about more than just business. “…We are ready to help the economy get back on its feet supporting as many individuals, businesses and communities along the way.”

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“With the government’s new focus on ‘build, build, build’ this is the perfect time to consider a career in the built environment.” Debbie Crew – Head of Talent and Resourcing, Wates Group.

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We asked two of our promising young apprentices, Beth Turner – Production Management Trainee and Liv Nicholls – Commercial Trainee, for their thoughts on how we can encourage more people to consider construction from an early age.

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There are a huge variety of different roles available in the built environment. Hear from some of our apprentices and trainees below who are helping to debunk the common myths about apprenticeships in construction.

08 JULY 2020

Paul Chandler, Group MD, Wates Construction Group, reflects on some of the key announcements from Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s announcements in the Government’s Summer Financial Statement

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“No matter your role in the Armed Forces, whether you were a medic, a chef or a Lieutenant Colonel, you honed very specialist expertise in a high-pressure environment. You have skills that set you apart and those skills are more than welcome in the construction industry.”

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As we show our support for Armed Forces Week, we remember our role in supporting the military through World War II and our construction of the Mulberry Harbours.

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Paul Chandler, Group Managing Director of Wates Construction, shares a personal story why the Royal London Hospital project means more to him than any other project.

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Paul Dodsworth, Managing Director of Wates Construction North, calls for a cultural change in our traditionally considered ‘macho’ industry.

17 JUNE 2020

Wates Construction is marking Men’s Health Week (15-21st June) with a programme of employee events aimed at encouraging industry workers to talk more and share their health experiences.

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Using a simple five-step plan, our Wates FM specialists explain the changes introduced at our Leatherhead HQ office in preparation for colleagues’ safe return to the office.

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Although social distancing is likely to be a part of life for the foreseeable future, there are steps businesses should consider ahead of employees returning to the workplace.

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As we commemorate the 75^th anniversary of VE Day, we remember our role in supporting the military through World War II and our construction of the Mulberry Harbours.

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“We believe in ‘giving something back’ to those brave and exceptional military personnel who have the potential to be future industry staff. People of this calibre can only benefit our industry.”

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Operations Director Matt Towner explores how the Group’s collaborative effort enabled the Royal London Hospital project to be delivered in record time.

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Our work has seen us fit out two floors of ICU bed stations spread over six wards within three wings, to provide essential extra capacity for the hospital to save lives during the Covid-19 pandemic.

ANIMATION

Site and project teams across the Wates Group are working hard to ensure that site operating procedures are followed, so that we continue to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of our teams. We have created this simple animation, shared on our sites to help our teams comply with the new procedures.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has presented major challenges to both our industry and our business, but it has also brought to the fore some incredible positives.

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Site and project teams across the Wates Group are working hard to ensure that site operating procedures are followed, so that we continue to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of our teams.

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On Friday 27 March, Wates Construction’s site team in Wembley Park carried out a fire drill to ensure that in an emergency, site operating procedures are effectively followed.

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In light of the Coronavirus (COVID 19) pandemic Open Doors Week 2020 was changed from being an onsite experience to a virtual one.

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We have created a video animation profiling our 2019 achievements and performance.

PUBLICATION

Together with everyone involved in what we do, we aim to inspire better ways of creating the places, communities and businesses of tomorrow. Find out more in the 2019 Group credentials.

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2019 was a successful year for the Wates Group, with strong financial results, new clients won, major landmark projects completed and more to support the communities in which we work.

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2019 was a positive year for the Wates Group in a challenging market.  Find out more in our 2019 Annual Reports and Accounts.

During National Apprenticeship Week (3-9 February), we want to highlight the wide range of job opportunities available in the built environment.  Hear from some of our apprentices and trainees who are helping to break down the common myths about apprenticeships in construction.

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Open doors offers something for everyone and can give you a chance to meet our teams and learn about the diverse range of career paths on offer in our industry. Book your place at one of our sites today using an interactive map.

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We have launched a new campaign called ‘Changing Our Habits’ to help challenge ourselves and our industry to find a better way, to innovate and to make big, meaningful and lasting changes to protect and restore the natural environment.

WATES IN THE NEWS

Building.co.uk interviews industry leaders about what is ahead for Construction in 2020. Sir James Wates, Chairman of Wates Group, was among those featured and remarks that he is approaching 2020 with great optimism.

WATES IN THE NEWS

Nikunj Upadhyay, Head of Diversity and Inclusion, was interviewed about how company culture, flexible working and the right environment can be a catalyst for change.

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Our Guiding Framework defines the Purpose that motivates us, the Goals we are working to achieve and the Behaviours we expect of ourselves and each other. Watch our video below to find out what the Guiding Framework means to us.

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At Wates, we are proud of our association with the armed forces. From supporting the D-Day landings in Normandy during WWII to building a base for the next generation of fighter jets for the RAF.

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The Wates Group, established in 1897, is one of the leading privately-owned construction, development and property services businesses in the UK. We employ approximately 4,000 people and together, we inspire better ways of creating the places, communities and businesses of tomorrow.

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As an inclusivity champion for construction company Wates, Will Bayley discusses the real power of public leisure facilities in helping people and communities come together and break barriers through sport.

In this blog, John Dunne, Group Safety Health Environment and Quality Director at Wates, outlines why he believes the rise in reported absenteeism due to poor mental health is a positive thing.

A new film celebrating a feat of engineering which turned the tide of World War II has been released by Wates on the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

Read our response to Inquiry by All Party Parliamentary Group for Excellence in the Built Environment

The Wates Group Annual Review 2018: Creating tomorrow together

Our annual Chairman’s Awards celebrate the passion, drive and dedication of our employees.

An introduction to Wates, its companies and performance in 2018.

2018 marked 100 years since women in the UK were given the right to vote as part of the Representation of the Peoples Act. We used this centenary as an opportunity to profile many of our female colleagues.

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Community and Conservation Week is an annual event providing opportunities for our people to access paid volunteering leave of up to 16 hours per year to support local projects across the country.

Weve delivered another year of increased profits by continuing to concentrate on working in the sectors and geographies where we have proven expertise and for customers with whom we enjoy positive, effective relationships.

At Wates, the health, safety and wellbeing of our employees is central to our business ethos and success. This includes mental health as much as physical safety.

The Wates Principles report seeks to improve corporate governance standards among private companies

Each year Wates holds Reshaping Tomorrow Week (11-15 June), a unique volunteering event that sees the business 4,000 employees donate their time to support the communities in which they live and work.

The Wates Group Annual Review 2017: Safer, Better, Stronger

Learn more about the Wates Group in our latest company credentials brochure

Wates Group is proud to work in partnership with Recycling Lives – an initiative that pairs jobseekers with recycling initiatives.

Wates Group are proud partners of Streetwise, a social enterprise that handles grounds maintenance. Watch the video to hear how streetwise impacts local communities.

This 15 minute video covers all Health, Safety, Environment and Quality information, as well as the standards we expect on all our sites.

Report from NEF Consulting, commissioned by the Wates Group and Wates Family Enterprise Trust, examining the impact of our relationship with social enterprises.

Download the Wates Annual Review for 2016, outlining our financial performance and key achievements.

To coincide with the release of our Annual Results for 2016, we have published a credentials brochure giving a snapshot of our performance and achievements in 2016.

“The apprenticeship levy is coming, so we might as well make the best of it. And how we do that is by thinking smarter and working together to make the scheme succeed for us.”

2017 was another positive year for the Wates Group, not just in terms of strong financial performance but also for its continued investment in its people and its relationships.

“Our industry faces major skills challenges to deliver the pipeline of work that includes increased housebuilding and major infrastructure projects.”

Tomorrows Company, the independent think tank helping businesses to be a force for good, today announced that James Wates CBE, chairman of the Wates Group, has joined its board as deputy chairman.

We welcomed 1,208 new colleagues as a result of our acquisition of Shepherd Engineering Services Limited.

Policy Exchange looks at what it will take to improving higher level professional and technical education.

As part of our long-term business development strategy, we welcomed over 400 new colleagues, including 130 people as a result of our acquisition of Midlands-based Purchase Group.

It is this diversity across market sectors that underlines the strength and stability of the Group.