Graduate Residential Developments (Cognate Degree)

The Vacancy

As a Residential Developments Management Trainee at Wates, you’ll support the Development function of the business and gain hands-on experience collaborating with a wide range of professionals, including architects, engineers, quantity surveyors, solicitors and subcontractors. You’ll be involved in a wide range of activities including development appraisals, cash flow reporting, master planning, preparing planning applications, consultation with local planning authorities, sustainability, land purchase/drawdown, estate management and sales and marketing strategy. 

What you will do

Over the course of the programme, you will:

• Produce regular reports and appraisals of development schemes.
• Prepare, submit and review planning applications working with local authorities and other key partners.
• Manage key stakeholders both internally and externally that could be at board level and senior stakeholders within partner businesses, and the local communities in which we operate.
• Drawdown land and development leases pursuant to legal agreements. This could include land valuation, preparation of legal notices, and dispute resolution as examples.
• To budget for and monitor planning obligations. This could include commuted sums and works obligations, such as new habitats for ecological mitigation or highways upgrades.
• Set up and agree, manage and monitor an estate management strategy and implementation.

About you

To be successful on the programme you’ll:

• Be passionate about a career in the built environment.
• Be excited to learn and develop new skills.
• Have a curious nature.
• Be reliable and professional.
• Be a problem solver with the ability to think logically.
• Possess good time management skills.
• Prioritise your work to meet agreed deadlines.

Eligibility criteria

 To be considered for this opportunity, you must:

• Be on track to graduate in 2026 or earlier with a cognate* degree.
• Be working towards or have achieved a minimum 2:2 classification.

* Cognate degree is one that relates directly to the role you’re applying for. 

Locations 

• North West London – Harrow

Programme duration

This is a 2-year graduate programme offering hands-on experience, structured development, and placements across different teams. 

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.

In addition, we offer:

• Mentoring, support, and training by industry experts.
• Structured learning plan (a combination of technical and behavioural development).
• Competitive salary.
• Private medical insurance.
• Car allowance / company car scheme.
• Health & wellness programme.
• 26 days holiday + bank holidays.
• For cognate degree trainees: Opportunity to work towards chartered status with a recognised professional body.

We have nearly 200 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!

We value authenticity and encourage you to complete your application without the use of AI tools. This helps us gain a genuine understanding of your individual strengths, experiences, and potential.

Applications for this role close at midday on Tuesday 25 November 2025.

This date may be brought forward or extended in line with the number of applications we receive. We’re only able to accept the first application we receive. Any additional applications will be automatically withdrawn.

Work for Wates

Wates is one of the UK’s leading family-owned development, building and property maintenance companies.  Founded over 125 years ago, we have a proud legacy in the built environment.

We are driven by our purpose, ‘reimagining places for people to thrive’ and our three promises:

• Thriving places – working with customers, partners and communities to create places that are more sustainable, inclusive, and full of opportunity.
• Thriving planet – protecting nature and taking action on climate change by collaborating and innovating with our partners.
• Thriving people – creating opportunities and relationships so that everyone who works for and with us feels included, invested in and treated with care.

We are proud to be recognised as Gold Investors in People and as a Disability Confident employer.  We also ensure that our recruitment processes do not treat anyone less favourably due to an offending background.