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Established in 1897, and celebrating our 125th anniversary in 2022, the Wates Group is one of the leading privately-owned construction, residential development and property services businesses in the UK. We employ over 3,800 people and work with a wide range of public and private sector customers and partners. We’re committed to the long-term sustainability of the built environment, and aim to eliminate carbon from our operations by 2025. We’re honoured to have recently received a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the Sustainable Development category, which is a record third win for the company. We’re also committed to increasing the proportion of women at all levels of our business, and broadening the ethnic diversity of our workforce.
Working for Wates Living Space
Living Space is one of the UK’s leading housing maintenance providers, delivering planned, responsive maintenance solutions across the UK for local authority and housing association partners. Our work makes a significant and lasting impact in the communities we work with as it supports regeneration, helps to improve living standards for tenants, breathes new life into properties and creates places that people are proud to call their home.
About the role
When you join the Business Management Trainee programme, you’ll be working alongside our Living Space team and gain hands-on experience through functional rotations. You’ll learn about commercial aspects of the industry and assist with administrative processes, and when you complete the scheme, you’ll be able to develop your career in either Site Management or Commercial with Living Space, and start to work towards your Chartership.
You’ll support key functions as you develop your understanding and skills in preparing tenders, interact with potential clients, and gain an appreciation of their needs and concerns. You’ll learn about the key project deliverables that are commercially competitive, and discover how to compile accurate and up to date business reports. When it comes to site management you’ll gain experience by working on site with the project delivery team, engage with clients and residents to address any issues, and learn about sound Health and Safety practices. The programme also incorporates three other two month rotations in either Finance, IT, Bid or Customer Service.
About you
To be a success on the programme you’ll enjoy learning new things, have a curious nature, be a superb communicator and you won’t be afraid to ask questions. Organised, reliable and professional, and a problem solver with the ability to think logically, you’ll have the initiative to start and complete tasks. It’s important that you possess good time management skills, and are able to prioritise your work to meet agreed deadlines and have obtained or be working towards be working towards a 2:2 degree in any subject.
Please be aware that you should be willing to commute for up to an hour a day around the location you apply for. This location can change if you’re assigned to a new site, and as Wates don’t support relocation, you should be comfortable that you can meet this requirement.
Locations and driving licence requirements
- London: Driving - No
- Haringey: Driving - No, desirable
- Tamworth: Driving - Yes
- Walsall: Driving - Yes
- Oldham: Driving - Yes
- Sheffield: Driving - Yes
- Enfield: Driving - No
- Redditch: Driving - No, desirable
What’s in it for you?
Our Early Careers programmes offer rotational development, technical and behavioural training, and a host of additional benefits. We provide the foundation skills, knowledge and experience you’ll need to build a long-term, successful career as you’re mentored by some of the best professionals in the industry. We have over 150 talented trainees on our programmes, providing amazing opportunities to build a network, collaborate and share learning with your peers.
In addition to learning from the best, you’ll enjoy a competitive industry salary and benefits package, be supported all the way through to Chartership, and as we’ll rotate you around our business unit, you’ll get a full breadth of experience. You’ll also receive structured development, a combination of technical and behavioural training, professional mentorship and guidance, and great exposure to our senior leaders. In addition to all this, if your degree is in a non-construction related subject, you’ll also complete a higher apprenticeship in Construction Management as part of your trainee scheme.
