Established in 1897, and having celebrated 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 4,000 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 honored to have recently received a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the Sustainable Development category, which is a record third win for the company.
In addition to being a Gold “Investors in People” business, in acknowledgement of our commitment to increasing the proportion of women within our business, Wates Group has been listed as one of The Times Top 50 Employers for Women 2022, as it takes action to decrease gender inequality and make Wates a fairer place to work at all levels of our business and broadening the ethnic diversity of our workforce.
Working for Construction
Wates Construction is a UK-wide contractor working with partners in both public and private sectors to create a more sustainable built environment and deliver lasting legacies for the communities in which we work. We have significant experience of using innovation to deliver complex projects in a range of sectors including, education, residential, commercial, healthcare and historical restoration. Our projects are delivered through four regional businesses – Central, London, North and South.
About the role
When you join the Site Management Trainee Programme, you’ll play a vital role in ensuring that projects are delivered safely, on time and within budget. You’ll be at the heart of the action and oversee various sub-contractors and operative activities, working across a number of workstreams within the business. Promoting and upholding Wates’ reputation for providing the highest standards of site safety, health, welfare and protection of the environment, you’ll work with our supply chain and surveyors to protect our commercial position and the potential for profit and repeat business.
But your work won’t stop there – you’ll focus on developing good working relationships with the client, design team and supply chain by promoting best practice throughout the whole construction process and cultivate an understanding of technical practices and sequences on projects. We’ll expect you to contribute your knowledge and skills to the delivery of the project on time, on budget and to the required quality, and ensure our sub-contractors are delivering at the highest standards. You’ll also work to understand the critical interfaces between design, procurement and construction, and gain knowledge of the latest developments in construction software and technology.
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. You’ll be in your penultimate year of University and be on track towards achieving a 2:2 degree in a Built Environment related degree such as:
- Construction management
- Civils
- Architectural Engineering
- Architecture
- Construction project management
- Architecture and building science/tech
- Applied Science / Construction PM
Please be aware that you should be willing to commute for up to an hour a day around the location for which you apply, and sometimes further. 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.
What’s in it for you?
Our Early Careers Programmes offer rotational development, technical and behavioral 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.
Benefits include
- Competitive salary
- Company pension scheme
- Private medical insurance
- Car allowance/company car
- Health & wellness programme
- 26 days holiday + bank holidays
- Industry leading family leave policies
- Volunteering days
In addition to learning from the best, you’ll be supported all the way whilst you are with us and 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 behavioral training, professional mentorship and guidance, and great exposure to our senior leaders.
Applications for this role close at midday on Tuesday 21st November 2023. This date may be brought forward or extended in line with the number of applications we receive. We are only able to accept the first application we receive. Any additional applications will be automatically withdrawn.