Location
London or Warrington (hybrid; office-based with project and site work)

Hours
Full time (exact hours not stated in the advert)

Salary
Competitive salary, plus car allowance

About the Role
Wates is recruiting a Design Graduate Management Trainee to join its 2026 trainee programme in London or Warrington. Working alongside experienced design managers, architects, engineers and consultants, you’ll learn how good design management keeps construction projects safe, buildable, cost-effective and true to what the client wants. You’ll follow projects from concept and tender stages through to construction and completion. Along the way, you’ll help coordinate design activity and review drawings, specifications and technical information so they’re complete and ready to build from. You’ll also help spot design risks, clashes and buildability problems early and work with the team on solutions. You’ll monitor design programmes and key deliverables, prepare design reports and meeting minutes, and learn how contractual design responsibilities affect delivery. You’ll work closely with commercial, pre-construction and operational teams so design decisions support the programme and budget. The programme includes a technical manual, behavioural workshops and short placements.

Experience
No previous experience is required. This is an entry-level graduate programme for people starting a career in the built environment.

About you
You’ll be passionate about building a career in construction, curious, and keen to keep developing your technical knowledge. You build strong working relationships with clients, designers, subcontractors, suppliers and internal teams, take ownership of your work, and act with integrity. You’ll bring a positive, solution-focused attitude, strong organisation, and the ability to adapt and prioritise. You must be willing to travel to different project sites across the region or nationally as needed.

Qualifications
By September 2027, you must have a bachelor’s degree in a subject relevant to the role, with a predicted or achieved 2:2 or above. A full UK driving licence is required for both locations. A Basic DBS check is required.

Benefits
Private medical insurance, pension scheme, life assurance, flexible benefits, car allowance, car salary sacrifice scheme, health and wellness programme, enhanced family leave, 26 days’ holiday plus bank holidays, and your birthday off. You’ll also get mentoring, structured training and support towards professional qualifications and chartership.

Good to know
Applications may close early if there’s high demand, and only one application per recruitment year is accepted. Wates asks candidates to complete their application without AI tools. Reasonable adjustments are available on request via [email protected].