CREATING YOUR TOMORROW.

We’re a great place to work. Brilliant benefits, clear career progression, flexible working, competitive salaries and the best culture in the business.

Why wait? Join Wates.

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There’s a huge variety of career opportunities with us, working on a wide range of challenging and exciting projects.

We hire talented people from all backgrounds, reflecting society and the communities in which we work.

From employee discount schemes to flexible working, we offer a range of benefits aimed to boost productivity and promote mental wellbeing. Combined with generous salaries, stimulating work, and unrivalled opportunities to generate value in our communities, it’s what makes Wates such an attractive place to be.

Reward and benefits

We value our people and the work they do, and we reward them for it. We recognise that great pay and benefits are key to retaining and attracting the best people in our industry.

Career development

We provide clear routes for career progression – and a great selection of opportunities for training, development and upskilling to help people get to the next level.

An inclusive culture

As a family business that has stood the test of time for more than 125 years, we are proud of the culture that we have built, of the work that we do, and of the teams that deliver it.

CREATING TOMORROW TOGETHER

Your future with us

At Wates we focus on the key things that matter to our people:  an inclusive culture, commitment to social value, great reward and benefits, flexibility and hybrid working and career progression. We know these things make a real difference to people’s lives.

We are proud of what we offer, and Wates is an incredible place to work regardless of what stage you are at in your career journey, from new entrant to long serving colleague.

And once you’ve joined us, we’ll make sure you’ll want to stay.

Our culture

Our culture – outlined in our Guiding Framework – influences everything we do and how we do it, from our core purpose of creating tomorrow together, to the atmosphere we create across our sites and offices. As a family-owned business, we’re passionate about our people and creating a culture where everyone can be themselves, enjoy their working lives and thrive in the career they choose.

We are a fair place to work. To ensure everyone has opportunity to thrive, our culture is founded on the following principles:

  • TREAT FAIRLY: Everyone is treated with fairness and respect. When someone finds themselves not being treated fairly, they feel able to speak up, are listened to and any appropriate action is taken
  • PAY AND PROGRESS FAIRLY: Everyone has fair access to development and progression opportunities to build a meaningful career of choice. There is equity in pay.
  • HIRE FAIRLY: We hire the best person for the job from a diverse pool of candidates. We actively challenge and ultimately eliminate perceptions that prevent anyone from joining the sector.

Our family-first culture has been recognised at the Working Families Awards, where we won in the ‘Best for Fathers’ and ‘Best for All Families’ categories. We are among the Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality, have been awarded gold accreditation from Investors in People. We won the Diversity and Inclusion Excellence Award at the Construction News Awards where the judges found us “head and shoulders above our contemporaries.”

We are a Disability Confident employer, committed to ensuring that our recruitment processes are inclusive and accessible and that existing colleagues who have or acquire a disability are supported in their career at Wates.

We have some of the best family leave policies in our industry. This includes a 52 week paid maternity leave and eight weeks of fully paid paternity/partner leave. Our shared parental leave and adoption leave are enhanced and matched with maternity leave. We offer four weeks of unpaid carers leave. This includes our site-based employees.

We believe that business done well can be a force for good and so we take our role in society very seriously. We believe in helping to shape communities through our projects and social value commitments. As a Wates employee you could also be involved in a range of activities from community engagement with schools through to social enterprise mentoring and volunteering in the communities we work in.

We also help to challenge inequality by championing the real Living Wage, working closely with the Living Wage Foundation to achieve this.

We’re committed to making our industry more sustainable through the way we build, the materials we use and the way we engage with suppliers, and have committed to Science Based Targets that will see us becoming a net zero company by 2045. Our zero carbon sites programme, our transition towards electric plant and equipment and our use of lower carbon alternative materials will help us get there.

We are also committed to having a positive impact on nature from our operations. This will be achieved through supporting local community projects and making biodiversity improvements to our projects.

Your career

We focus on helping our people to thrive and on offering great career development opportunities, so you never stand still. And if you want a change – even a completely different role – we encourage internal mobility throughout our businesses, giving you a range of different environments in which to gain experience.

Our wide range of learning and development activities builds the knowledge, skills and behaviours you’ll need to perform at your best and progress your career.

Our focus on diversity encourages those who are furthest from the workforce to come back into the workplace if they have been away for a while.

26 days

holiday a year

2 days

off for volunteering

Benefits

health, leisure, financial

Reward and benefits

As well as competitive salaries, we have some brilliant benefits – it’s our way of recognising the hard work you do.

We understand that this is about more than money.  We also run a flexible benefits scheme where you select the benefits that are important to you, from pension top-ups to health care and restaurant discount cards.

We offer 26 days of holiday a year that includes additional volunteering days for a good cause of your choice.

Our award winning, industry-leading family leave policy offers full paid maternity leave as well as eight weeks paid partner / paternity leave. We also offer enhanced shared parental and adoption leave including matched maternity pay as well as two weeks bereavement leave and flexible carers’ leave.

Learning and development at Wates

Learning and Development

We empower our colleagues to excel and thrive through comprehensive learning and development opportunities aligned with our values and performance priorities.

We offer diverse development programmes covering areas like safety, technical skills, behaviour and leadership. We empower our employees to take charge of their growth with self-driven learning options, including e-learning, and we provide support when they need it.

We foster a culture of continuous learning and empowerment, equipping our colleagues with the tools so they can progress their career and contribute to the success of our organisation.

BEGIN YOUR CAREER WITH US

Early careers programmes

Our early careers programmes are targeted at undergraduates, graduates, school and college leavers and trade professionals. The programmes are designed to be accessible and flexible to suit you.

Whatever your interests, we’ll help you find the right career path. One where you can explore, grow and thrive.

JUST STARTING OUT?

Work experience

Join us on a work experience position and discover how great working in the built environment can be.

Our opportunities are open to everyone and will help you gain experience that can kick-start your career as well as contributing to our exciting client projects. You could even go on to secure a place on one of our apprenticeships or graduate programmes.

JOB VACANCIES

Why wait? Join Wates.

Search our latest vacancies to find the perfect role for you.

Assistant Site Manager (Section Manager)

Location: Woolwich

Job Type: Operational

Application Deadline: 10-05-2024

We are looking for a Section Manager to join Wates with our Wates Living Space Planned Maintenance team to oversee one of our contracts in South East London. You will be working on scattered works and liaising with residents.Key Accountabilities will include: Manage Operatives, Sub-Contractors and Suppliers to ensure quality control is maintained along with Health and safety at all times. Attend pre and post-inspection works and advise on appropriate action and job requirements resulting in the successful delivery and handover of schemes. Carry out Weekly Site Progress reports. Ensure that once works are completed, the full and completed job packs are sent to the Project Manager at the office along with completion details to guarantee a swift invoicing procedure to eliminate WIP (Work In Progress) & certify cash flow.You must have a full UK driving licence with access to a vehicle.To be successful in the role you will be an effective communicator with a positive and engaging approach to providing site leadership. You will have strong IT skills (including: Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook) with the ability to prioritise a wide range of tasks to set deadlines.

FRA Supervisor

Location: Enfield

Job Type: Trades and Labour

Application Deadline: 10-05-2024

We have an opportunity for a FRA Supervisor to join our Wates team within our Responsive Maintenance division. You will be working out of our Enfield office on one of our social housing contracts, delivering reactive maintenance to our residents.Key Accountabilities will include: Ensure high quality service is provided with the management of the work scheduling in accordance with company procedures, standards and SLAs Represent Wates at client and resident performance meetings as requested by the Operations Manager Manage the responsive repairs function to ensure consistent performance against targets Effective and efficient management of material costs and ensure that all are following correct processes and procedures Monitor quality of work through inspection, inspection reports, analysis of key performance indicators and analysis of customer satisfaction surveys. Lead, manage and contribute to the development of your team and determine optimum employment levels to comply with the provision of the serviceYou must have a full UK driving licence.To be successful in the role you must also be an excellent communicator with the ability to problem solve, multi task and work to tight deadlines. Prior responsive maintenance experience is crucial to the role. You must also have your SSSTS qualification as a minimum.

Head of Communications & Marketing

Location: Leatherhead

Job Type: Marketing & Communications

Application Deadline: 10-05-2024

Wates Group is looking for a Head of Communications & Marketing to join our Residential team. As a developer contractor, Wates Residential business invests in, develops, builds and sells quality affordable housing, either contracting or in a form of partnership with local authorities, housing associations, or public bodies like Homes England. As our Head of Communications & Marketing this role will oversee all communications and marketing for the Wates Residential business unit, covering internal and external communications, media relations, crisis management, digital and social media, employee communication, event management, and marketing to support business growth.The role involves developing and executing strategies, aligning with the Group's overall communications and marketing goals, and using data-driven insights to improve customer and employee experiences.ABOUT THE ROLEAs our Head of Communications & Marketing, you will: Lead on our media relations, social media and public relations activities for the Residential business, as well as developing communications that build and maintain a strong reputation within local and central Government. Work closely with business development, to craft marketing strategies, multi-touch campaigns, events and awards to boost brand awareness and support business growth. Manage third-party agencies and track performance to ensure return on investment . Lead internal communications for Residential, including leadership briefing and people related communications. Provide communications support to the Executive Managing Director and Residential Board, including drafting of speeches and presentations. Build relationships with Residential's senior leaders, advise on strategic communications, and contributes to business goals. Establish relationships with key customers and stakeholders. Serve on both the Group's Communications and Marketing Leadership Team and the Residential Board. Collaborate on setting the Group's communication and marketing strategy, ensuring quality and brand compliance.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 customisable to support your career progression goals. (c.7000 training sessions delivered year to date across the Wates Group) Industry leading family leave benefits to included 26 weeks fully paid maternity, 8 weeks fully paid paternity.To find out more about LIFE AT WATES please click on the following link https://www.wates.co.uk/careers/

Mobile Engineer

Location: East Midlands

Job Type: Engineering

Application Deadline: 10-05-2024

Wates have excellent opportunity for an experienced Multi Skilled Mobile Engineer to join the team based on-site at our client's offices round the East Midlands for a new client.ABOUT THE ROLEThe primary focus of this role will be to conduct planned preventative maintenance and reactive works to the buildings plant, equipment, and systems, as well as respond to site engineering emergencies on behalf of our clients. We would like to hear from you if you have the following skills; Electrical, commercial plumbing and Multi trade/Building Services.What is important to us is your natural communication skills to deliver high levels of customer service at all times, your ability to effectively multi-task, work to tight deadlines and problem solve on the job; whilst always promoting health & safety excellence.Having the relevant up to date qualifications and experience for your discipline is essential for your success in this role however, what is most important to us is your effective communication skills which always enable delivery of prominent levels of customer service. You will also be confident is your proven ability to effectively multi-task, work to tight deadlines and problem solve on the job; whilst always promoting health & safety excellence.This is a terrific opportunity to progress your career as part of a talented, diverse, and supportive team.Some of the other Key Accountabilities as Mobile Engineer include:• Record all reactive and PPM tasks accurately and in detail using report sheets and ensure signed by the client weekly.• Ensure that Method Statements and Risk Assessments are prepared for all tasks conducted to provide safe working practices.• Supervise subcontractors effectively.• Ensure compliance with all Company policies and procedures.WHAT WE OFFERCompetitive salaryTravel covered to any of our sites (subject to HMRC advisory rates)Extensive corporate benefits including, Private Medical, Pension 5% employers’ contribution, Health and Wellness programme, 22 days holidays + bank holidays and much more…Excellent range of learning and development activity to support your career progression.Industry leading family leave benefits to included 26 weeks fully paid maternity, 8 weeks fully paid paternity.To find out more about LIFE AT WATES please click on the following link https://www.wates.co.uk/careers/We are always looking for a variety of new talent to join our teams, to help us grow and innovate as a business. Although you may not have all the skills listed, many of them may be transferable to other roles within the WATES Group.If you would like clarity on any of our vacancies, discuss career opportunities in strict confidence or need anything to make our recruitment process easier, please contact our In-House Recruitment Team directly or via recruitment@wates.co.uk and one of us will get in touch as soon as possible.As a responsible and inclusive employer, we are committed to equality and are proud to have been recognised for this through a range of accolades including gold accreditation with Investors in People, we are also a Disability Confident employer. Being a family owned, business means we understand and value long term relationships.


Fraudulent recruitment offers

It has come to our attention that various individuals and organisations are contacting people offering false employment opportunities.  Very often these offers carry a company logo and the details of a company employee. These are very easily found online and should not be accepted as proof of authenticity. Please be advised, Wates will never make unsolicited offers of employment, ask for money from job applicants or require bank details from candidates before a formal offer of employment has been agreed.

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