Diversity and Inclusion

As a family-owned business we know our people are at the core of our continuing success. It’s our people who make Wates successful. We will only achieve our strategic objectives if we retain and recruit the best people, and provide them with an environment characterised by inclusivity, diversity and opportunity.

Wates has identified key objectives and milestones in its new Diversity and Inclusion plan, to create a business where everyone is welcomed, included and connected.

“The entire built environment sector needs to change to become more representative of wider society. At Wates we want to lead that change. The plan we have issued today sets out our approach, our goals and our targets which will help us to be a business where everyone is welcomed, included and connected. ”

David Allen

Chief Executive, Wates

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Diversity and inclusion infographic
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Our goals:

Drive industry to be more inclusive by playing a leading role in peer and stakeholder collaboration
Have a workforce that more accurately reflects society (we will be 60% men, 40% women, 20% BAME, 3% disability and 5% LGBTQ+ across all levels in our business)
Positively encourage flexible working through appropriate working arrangements and benefits
Ensure fairness in all our people systems, processes and reward mechanisms
Be a place where everyone loves to work

We will achieve this by concentrating on 4 key objectives:

Encourage bold leadership – our leaders at all levels are committed to embracing and implementing our #WatesTogether inclusion strategy
Increase awareness through education – we provide the right tools and training to support inclusive mindsets and forums to foster debate
Involve everyone – we empower everyone to create inclusive working environments and encourage them to engage in activities and partnerships internally and externally
Embed inclusion into all we do – we will attract and develop a diverse workforce with an inclusive mindset and ensure all of our processes and procedures support this

“For me, an inclusive workplace is where we feel our individuality is cherished and we can be confident to bring our whole self to work.”

Nikunj Upadhyay – Group Head of Diversity and Inclusion

“It’s great to see companies like Wates embracing diversity and inclusion and broadening opportunities for everyone.”

Will Bayley MBE, world number one Paralympic table tennis champion and Rio Gold medallist – sponsored by Wates.

“Talent exists everywhere, but opportunities sadly too often still do not.

That’s why we welcome the Wates Group’s commitment to dramatically improve the gender balance of its workforce at all levels, including through overhauling its parental leave and flexible working policies and addressing the gender pay gap.”

Joe Levenson – Director of Communications and Campaigns at Young Women’s Trust

“We can do so much more to create inclusive work environments which get the best out of everyone.

It is great to see Wates, a Build UK Member, setting out a clear plan of action to recruit, train and retain people with the ambition and skills we need to deliver projects both now, and in the future.”

Suzannah Nichol MBE – Chief Executive, Build UK

BLOG: My Apprenticeship at Wates is giving me a head start to a career in construction

Going to university is often seen as the only path to career success but with the prospect of a five-figure debt and no guaranteed job at the end of it, Julia Cox has chosen an alternative route to a future in construction.

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BLOG: Building confidence while forging my career in construction

An apprenticeship has given me the qualifications for further study at university and opened the door to a hugely rewarding and exciting career path.

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100for100 campaign

The Centenary may be over, but the journey to gender equality continues. We will continue to champion the talented women in our business to continue to promote a better gender balance across our industry.

Advice and insight from women working at Wates.

INSIGHT: Response to consultation on the recruitment and retention of women into construction

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

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BLOG: Rebuilding the college where my construction career began

I have always wanted to work within the property and construction industry and my apprenticeship was the first step towards doing that.

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