Social Value

We want to create a better future where all can thrive, and support people who face barriers to work. Join our team and help us create genuine change.  

DEVELOP A THRIVING CAREER

Join our family…

Social value runs through everything that we do at Wates. It’s a way to make sure that we have a positive impact. As such, it affects all our decisions as a business. You’ll be joining a growing team, in a thriving family firm, where the emphasis on social value is increasing every day.

Social value and environmental teams both support sustainability and work closely together,. Social value professionals focus on how we can support people to gain skills and work experience and engage with schools and community groups.

There are lots of jobs within our Social Value team, from trainee through to Head of Social Value, and Director of Sustainability. Key roles include Social Value Advisor, Social Value Manager, and Regional Social Value Manager. We also offer a level 4 apprenticeship in corporate responsibility and sustainability.

When you join our family, you’ll also have access to a range of opportunities across the Wates Group. We believe in promoting internally and will give you the training and CPD you need to succeed. You won’t find anywhere better to build your career in social value.

OUR PEOPLE THRIVE

About you…

Whether you have sector experience, want a career change, or are returning to work after a break, we’d love to hear from you.

Above all, we want people with the right qualities for our team. You’ll be working with all sorts of different people in society, so you need to be outgoing and open. You’re also a good multitasker. Someone who can manage a blend of upfront delivery and writing, reporting, and project management. A person with a real passion for making a difference.

If you’re coming from outside the sector, useful skills would be project management, organisational skills, teamwork, influencing, and creativity.

TESTIMONIALS

Hear from our people

Benoit Firmin

Social Value Manager

"Since I joined the Wates Group as a Social Value Manager in June 2023, I have been fortunate enough to be part of a passionate, inspiring and forever evolving team of social value professionals. Working in social value provides you with ample opportunity to undertake a range of work that is overwhelmingly rewarding, and this is most definitely a reflection of my experience during my role here at Wates!"

CAREERS IN SOCIAL VALUE

Want to be a part of our team?

Senior SHE Advisor

Location: Newmarket

Job Type: SHEQ

Application Deadline: 25-09-2025

Shape the future. Drive change. Build safer.Are you passionate about safety, health, and environmental excellence?At Wates Construction, we’re on the lookout for a forward-thinking Senior SHE Advisor to join our dynamic team. We work across multiple sectors, pushing boundaries in design, delivery, and sustainability — and we’re looking for someone just as passionate about excellence and innovation in health, safety, and environmental leadership.ABOUT THE ROLEAs a key member of our SHE (Safety, Health & Environment) function, you’ll provide expert support, advice, and coaching at a regional business level. You’ll work closely with Business Unit Directors, Operations Directors, and supply chain peers to ensure our SHE policy is not only understood—but actively embedded in everything we do.As our Senior SHE Advisor you will: Championing SHE standards across multiple projects and regions. Coaching project leads and regional leadership on risk identification and mitigation. Leading investigations into incidents and guiding teams on best-practice techniques. Reviewing project RAMS and plans to ensure they’re robust and fit for purpose. Promoting the use of Airsweb for incident reporting and action tracking. Supporting bids and pre-construction planning with a strong focus on risk awareness. Building a network within the regional supply chain to influence SHE deployment. Presenting SHE dashboards and incident analysis at regional board meetings. WHAT WE OFFER Competitive salary & profit share scheme Flexible working Car Allowance / Company Car (subject to Role/Grade) 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… Excellent range of learning and development activity to support your career progression. Industry leading family leave benefits to included 26 weeks fully paid maternity, 12 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 of 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.

Head of Sustainability

Location: Finsbury Park

Job Type: SHEQ

Application Deadline: 21-09-2025

🌍 Head of Sustainability – WPS 📍 Location: National ¦ 🕒 Full-timeAre you ready to lead the charge toward a greener, more sustainable future? WPS is looking for a visionary Head of Sustainability to drive our environmental strategy and embed sustainability at the heart of everything we do. 🌱🔎 About the RoleAs Head of Sustainability, you’ll shape and deliver an industry-leading strategy that positions WPS as the most environmentally sustainable business in our sector. Reporting directly to the WPS Board Member accountable for sustainability, you’ll influence decisions at the highest level, collaborate across the business and supply chain, and lead a passionate team to deliver real, measurable impact.🌟 Key Responsibilities Refine and lead the delivery of WPS’s environmental strategy in line with our Environmental Sustainability Plan. Embed environmental performance into customer offerings and financial decision-making. Collaborate with Group leaders, clients, and suppliers to drive systemic change and deliver net zero, nature-positive outcomes. Analyse and forecast environmental impact to prioritise high-impact initiatives. Build and lead a high-performing sustainability team and foster a culture of innovation and accountability. Represent WPS on the Wates Group sustainability leadership team and contribute to group-wide progress.📈 What You’ll Be Doing Win work by aligning sustainability with client ambitions and strategic goals. Ensure compliance with environmental legislation and drive continuous improvement. Engage and influence senior leaders to embed sustainability into culture, performance, and decision-making. Set and track ambitious environmental targets, reporting progress to the board and wider business.🎓 What We’re Looking For Graduate calibre with 5+ years’ experience in sustainability, ideally in the built environment. Proven technical expertise in environmental management and low-carbon strategy. Strong commercial acumen and analytical skills. Excellent communicator and relationship builder, able to influence at all levels. Passionate, self-motivated, and committed to making a difference.💼 Why Join WPS?This is your opportunity to lead transformational change in a business that’s serious about sustainability. You’ll have the platform, support, and autonomy to shape the future of WPS—and the built environment. 🌟Given the nature of this position, you will need to undergo a Basic Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) at offer stage. Applicants with criminal convictions will be assessed individually, and we assure you that we do not discriminate based on an applicant's criminal record or the details of any disclosed offenses. Additionally, certain roles may be subject to additional pre-employment checks. To learn more about the checks included in this process, please click on the following link: National Security Vetting One of the Recruitment Team will be in contact to discuss the role in more detail and advise of the next step.