Innovation
We look for a better way in everything we do.
Through new technology and innovation, we create better, safer, and more sustainable buildings to enhance people’s lives. We’re always seeking innovative solutions to address customer needs and adapt to a changing world.
For us, innovation is about more than the application of new technology. It’s about exploring better systems, processes, and business models.
BUILDING BETTER
Modular offsite manufacturing helps us create more sustainable buildings.
We aim to advance construction by always innovating. This ensures future buildings are more efficient, cost-effective, and safer.
This commitment includes expanding our offsite construction solutions. Most notably our Coventry-based Prism facility, which produced around 3,000 modules in 2022, saving 200,000 on-site work hours.
Our dedicated Technical Excellence Centre unites 75 experts from various departments to boost building performance for our customers.
Embedding innovation
We aim to embed innovation across all areas of our business. To support this, we’re developing an optimised construction strategy to promote modern methods of construction across Wates and our supply chain.
Our bespoke design solution for schools, Adapt 3.0 allows us to offer standardised offsite manufacturing to build schools quicker and more safely. This helps to provide best value for money in a sector where efficiency is all important.
Our ‘Adapt-Zero’ approach is designed to deliver net zero operational carbon in schools, and is being used in the north west, to build the first net zero schools in England as part of the Government’s £10bn Schools Rebuilding Programme.
A NET ZERO FUTURE
Where will green tech go next as we aim for net zero operations?
We’re innovating to help our customers cut carbon emissions, as we move towards a net zero carbon future.
Our Wates Innovation Network (WIN) portal connects our customers with innovative start-ups that are working on specific sustainability challenges. These collaborations can help them to meet their net zero goals.
For example, Lloyds Banking Group has discovered 20 emission-reduction solutions through WIN, with nine now being tested across their building network.
DRIVEN BY DATA
Working closely with the NHS to decarbonise the UKs ageing hospitals and clinics.
We’ve expanded our in-house data team wo we can harness the power of better data to improve our decision-making. By using advanced data platform technology, we can address business challenges more effectively, to the benefit of our customers.
Data plays a vital role in boosting energy efficiency, especially for our public sector clients. We’re currently tracking energy consumption and carbon emissions in one of our school building projects. These valuable insights are helping the Department for Education identify retrofitting opportunities across 24,000 buildings.
We’re part of the Decarbonising Healthcare Estates Partnership, employing data to see which NHS primary care facilities can be retrofitted for boost energy efficiency.
