Wates

If you want to make a real impact in your career, there’s no better place to start your journey. Whether you’re a school or college leaver, graduate, undergraduate or fancy a career change, there is an early career pathway for you.

Wates is the UK’s leading family-owned development, building and property maintenance company. Founded in 1897, we’re experts when it comes to the built environment.

Today, we deliver complex projects in several sectors. For example, education, healthcare, residential. commercial, and emergency services. We employ over 4,500 employees who work with a range of clients and partners from across the public and private sectors.

Our divisions include Wates Construction, Wates Developments, Wates Property Services and Wates Residential. We also have specialist engineering and offsite manufacturing, and flexible workspaces businesses.

As one Wates, we work together to build a better tomorrow. We want to create a future where people, places, and our planet can thrive.

A career In the built environment

It’s not just about building structures. It’s about shaping communities, spurring innovation, and making a lasting impact.

The built environment covers all aspects of developing, designing, constructing, and maintaining the places and spaces in which we live, work, and interact. This includes engineering, construction, land and planning, and sustainable development.

Why choose a career in the built environment?

1. Meaningful impact: You can contribute directly to the infrastructure and spaces that shape communities. Your work has visible, lasting effects on both the skyline and society at large.
2. Diverse opportunities: Whether you’re interested in design, engineering, sustainability, or project management, there are a wide range of career paths.
3. Innovation and technology: Work with cutting-edge tools like Building Information Modelling (BIM) and sustainable materials. Stay ahead in an exciting field that’s constantly evolving.
4. Career stability and growth: This sector offers a solid foundation for your career, with clear development paths as the need for infrastructure and sustainable solutions increase.
5. Collaborative environment: Engage in multidisciplinary teamwork, working alongside architects, consultants, engineers, contractors, and planners to bring projects to life.

Sustainability

We aim to do all we can to create a cleaner, greener, and safer world for future generations. Our aim is to be net zero and zero waste by 2045, and to use biodiversity net gain to protect the natural world.  We will achieve this by:

1. Optimising the use of materials and avoiding waste through resource efficiency.
2. Reducing our Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions in all products and processes.
3. Driving positive outcomes for the natural environment.

These three targets are in line with UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Office Locations

Leatherhead (Head Office), Birmingham, Cambridge, Cardiff, Castle Donington, Coventry, Glasgow, Leeds, London, London (Finsbury Park) Manchester, Milton Keynes, Newbury, North Shields, Warrington.

Roles

We have opportunities across the country in a wide range of job roles/areas including Commercial and Business Management as well as Bid Management, Estimating, Planning, Pre-Construction, Site Management, Surveying, Social Value, Design and Building Services Engineering.

What we are looking for

To join our Trainee Management Programme via the Graduate route, you will have a motivation to learn and develop within the industry and you’ll have obtained or be working towards a 2:2 degree in any subject area for most roles, however some do require a cognate degree.

What’s in it for you?

Our Trainee Management Programme offers placement opportunities across various departments, technical and behavioural development, including support through relevant qualifications and a host of additional benefits. We provide the foundation skills, knowledge and experience you’ll need to build a long-term, successful career.

We have nearly two hundred talented Trainees currently completing our Trainee Management Programme, providing amazing opportunities to build a network, collaborate and share learning with your peers.

Kickstart your journey and apply now!