Collaborate with colleagues across Commercial, Pre-Construction, Operations and Supply Chain teams to develop a broad understanding of the project lifecycle.
Assist in researching market trends, material costs and labour rates to help inform estimating decisions.
Develop an understanding of how different materials, designs and construction methods can affect project costs, helping to identify practical and cost-effective solutions for clients.
Build strong relationships with colleagues, customers and supply chain partners while developing your professional network across the business.
Gain the relevant technical and behavioural knowledge for your role, through the completion of a technical manual, behavioural workshops, short-term placements and relevant qualifications.
About you
To be successful, you'll
Be passionate about building a career in the built environment.
Be curious, eager to learn and committed to your personal development.
Build positive relationships and work collaboratively with others.
Take ownership of your work and act with integrity and professionalism.
Approach challenges with a positive, solution-focused mindset.
Be organised, adaptable and able to prioritise effectively.
Be committed to delivering high standards and making a positive impact.
What's in it for you?
At Wates, we're committed to helping you build a successful career in construction. Alongside hands-on experience in your chosen career pathway, graduates who do not hold a degree in a construction-related subject will be enrolled onto a relevant Level 4 apprenticeship, providing additional learning and development to help accelerate your career in the built environment.
You'll also benefit from mentoring, structured training, behavioural workshops and support from experienced professionals throughout your programme. We encourage and support our trainees to continue their professional development through industry-recognised qualifications and, where applicable, work towards chartership.
In addition, we offer
Competitive salary
Private medical insurance
Car allowance
Health & wellness programme
26 days holiday + bank holidays
Birthday Day off
Entry Requirements
To be eligible for this programme, you must
By September 2027, you must have obtained a bachelor's degree with a predicted or achieved classification of 2:2 or above.
For cognate roles add: For this role, your degree subject must be relevant to the position. Examples include, but are not limited to: [insert subjects].
A full UK driving licence is required.
Location: Sunderland
Please note that the location listed in this advert reflects your initial placement and may change throughout the programme depending on project and business requirements.
Important: Travel Requirements
As a project-based business, our teams work across a variety of locations. Depending on the role, you may be required to work from different project sites within the region or nationally throughout the programme.
Please carefully consider this requirement before applying, as travel and mobility are essential parts of the role. Successful candidates must be willing to travel in line with project and business need.
Ready to apply?
If this sounds like the opportunity for you, we'd love to hear from you!
Applications close on 10 November 2026.
A few things to consider before you apply
Some vacancies might close earlier if we receive a high volume of applications, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible
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.
Only one application will be accepted per recruitment year. Any additional applications will be automatically withdrawn.
About Wates
Established in 1897, we are one of the UK's leading family-owned development, building and property maintenance companies. With 6,000 employees and now in our fourth generation of family ownership, we're committed to the long-term sustainability of the built environment and to making our industry more inclusive and representative of the communities we work in.
With multiple businesses working across the built environment, we can offer a wide range of career opportunities.
As part of our trainee programme, you'll join a network of around 200 peers, learning and working together as you build connections and develop your career at Wates.
Our comittments
Wates is proud to be an employer where everyone can thrive, and we welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds.
If you require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, we will be happy to support you. To discuss your requirements, please contact us at watesrecruitment@peoplescout.co.uk.
Please note that some roles may require additional pre-employment checks due to the nature of the work.
