Location
London, Guildford, Hindley, Sunderland or Warrington. On site; initial placement, which may change during the programme.

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

Salary
Competitive salary, plus car allowance

About the Role
Wates is recruiting a Site Management Graduate Trainee to join its 2026 trainee programme on construction sites. Working on site alongside experienced site managers and project teams, you’ll help make sure projects are delivered safely, on time, on budget and to a high standard. You’ll support the day-to-day coordination of site activities, work closely with subcontractors and supply chain partners, and help plan and monitor project programmes. You’ll also support quality inspections, join site meetings and progress reporting, and work with commercial teams to understand how costs are controlled. Along the way you’ll learn construction methods and sequencing, use digital construction tools, and build the leadership, communication and problem-solving skills needed to run teams on site. The programme includes a technical manual, behavioural workshops and short placements. Graduates without a construction-related degree will also be enrolled on a relevant Level 4 apprenticeship.

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 committed to your own development. You build good relationships with clients, designers, consultants and colleagues, take ownership of your work, and act with integrity. You’ll bring a positive, solution-focused attitude, strong organisation, and a real commitment to health, safety and high standards. 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 with a predicted or achieved 2:2 or above. Requirements vary by location:
London: relevant degree subject required; full UK driving licence not required.
Hindley: relevant degree subject not required; full UK driving licence required.
Guildford and Warrington: relevant degree subject required; full UK driving licence required.
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].