CONTACT US ABOUT US SERVICES NEWS INSIGHTS CAREERS SOCIAL VALUE: OUR APPROACH EMPLOYABILITY & EDUCATION A RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION MORE THE IMPACT OF OUR WORK ON SOCIETY Social value Over 2,000 PEOPLE SUPPORTED BY PRE-EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMMES £6m SPENT WITH SOCIAL ENTERPRISES IN 2020 9K YOUNG PEOPLE ENGAGED WITH IN 2020 At Wates we are driven by our purpose of working together to inspire better ways of creating the places, communities and businesses of tomorrow. CREATING OPPORTUNITIES: Wates launches five-year social value strategy with Group-wide commitment to real Living Wage OUR SOCIAL VALUE STRATEGY The impact of our work on society Delivering social value is intrinsic to our purpose and our goals of being a progressive and responsible employer. By considering social value in our business decisions, including the way we employ staff, engage with communities and buy products and services, we can cultivate a more sustainable and inclusive society, and demonstrate that business done well can be a force for good. Our approach to social value is rooted in our belief that how we do business, is as important as what we do. Our programmes and activities are focused on creating work and training opportunities; building sustainable communities through employment, skills and awareness , and advocacy of trade with the social enterprise sector. FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR SOCIAL VALUE STRATEGY Our social media strategy | creating opportunties Social value activities Employability and education Equipping people to explore the world of work and upskill to secure employment builds confidence and improves life opportunities OUR EMPLOYABILITY PROGRAMMES A responsible organisation By procuring with purpose we deliver wider impact, utilising the power of our procurement spend and supply chain influence to reinforce our values OUR WORK WITH SUPPLIERS AND SOCIAL ENTERPRISES Engaging with the community Working in partnership we can achieve more and ensure that community’s needs remain at the heart of what we do ENGAGING WITH THE COMMUNITY DOWNLOAD OUR 2020 SOCIAL VALUE STRATEGY - CREATING OPPORTUNITIES Wates has identified the following three strategic themes in its social value strategy to 2025, Creating Opportunities: Challenging inequality Inspiring and educating young people about careers in the built environment Supporting and scaling the social enterprise sector DOWNLOAD The Social Partnership Portal The Social Partnership Portal is an online portal to bring social suppliers and buyers together and maximise social value within construction projects across the industry. We believe construction should have a social conscience not just by creating greener spaces but by making sure the things we buy, and the way we build creates opportunities and strengthens communities. By sourcing and engaging social suppliers on The Social Partnership Portal, buyers can evidence their social and sustainability outcomes, boosting social value across communities. FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE SOCIAL PARTNERSHIP PORTAL "Wates Group is a longstanding champion of the Social Enterprise sector and has had an internal directory for many years. SPP presents an opportunity to share this more widely, continuing to partner with our sector in raising awareness about the valuable impact of embedding social value into procurement decisions. We are pleased to have supported SPP’s development and encourage the sector to make full use of this valuable resource." SU PICKERILL GROUP COMMUNITY INVESTMENT MANAGER Latest updates Wates Virtual Insight Day 2021 EVENT Join us for our second Virtual Insight Day on 16 November 2021 to find out more about careers in the construction industry. Wates tackles book inequality for children 14 OCTOBER 2021 What began as a pilot project in a building site in Borough Yards, is about to become a national initiative to provide books for children and bridge the development gap between rich and poor. Wates launches new online learning hub for residents across the UK 13 JULY 2021 The Wates Community Learning portal is a digital platform providing access to over 50 nationally accredited courses. Wates Community Learning Hub CAMPAIGN To help further enhance the wellbeing of residents, we are proud to launch Wates Community Learning, a digital platform providing access to over 50 nationally accredited courses. Barking pupils give a ‘thumbs up’ to new road safety video 23 JUNE 2021 A new road safety video is being shown in Barking schools as part of a campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of crossing the road near heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and the importance of not playing near building sites. Grass roots park opens in east London 01 JUNE 2021 The new pocket park is a result of a grass roots project involving Gascoigne Residents’ Forum, Be First, engagement specialist Urban Symbiotics, landscape architects Fabrik, and construction firm Wates Residential. Community hub revamp complete in time for new opening in June 03 JUNE 2021 Havering’s first community hub, in Harold Hill, will be opening for residents on 8 June. This is thanks to a team of volunteers from Wates Residential who have turned the site around at the old Housing Office in Chippenham Road. Wates Residential shows Barking students how construction is ‘Top Trumps’ for a future career 21 MAY 2021 Wates Residential has launched a set of ‘Top Trumps’ style playing cards to help explain the wide variety of roles available in construction and to encourage more young people into the industry. BLOG: Improving communities by buying local BLOG Wates Residential hosted its first online ‘meet the buyer’ event, organised through the social procurement organisation, ‘Supply Change’. © Copyright Wates 2021 To find out more about the cookies we use, see our Website Privacy Policy. Settings Yes, I agree