CONTACT US ABOUT US SERVICES NEWS INSIGHTS CAREERS Wates Construction restructures for future growth Wates Construction has today announced it is preparing for sustained growth, creating four new regional businesses to expand its national footprint and support customers in their local markets Four regional businesses created, led by newly appointed Regional MDs Helen Martin joins from Skanska to head up Central region Increases Wates’ focus on serving customers in the geographies and sectors that matter to them Supports Wates Construction’s ambition to grow by 30% over five years The company is the largest arm of the Wates Group, one of the UK’s leading family-owned construction, residential development, and property services companies. The new structure will allow it to grow in all the geographies it operates in, serving customers in a wide range of sectors including healthcare, education, science, and technology. It comes after Wates Group posted a record forward order book at the end of 2020 a year in which Wates Construction worked across the country on schools and universities, police and fire stations, offices and homes, as well as a 176-bed intensive care unit for The Royal London Hospital, creating vital extra capacity to help the country respond to COVID-19. The reorganisation will see four dedicated regional businesses created – North, South, Central and London – with each led by a Managing Director (MD). The new MDs will report to Mark Tant, MD, Wates Construction. As part of these changes, Wates Construction has appointed Helen Martin as the new MD for the Central business. Helen joins Wates after an 11-year career with Skanska, where she was most recently MD of the development business in the UK, responsible for real estate investments. In her new role, Helen will lead efforts to expand Wates’ work in science and technology, strengthen Wates Construction’s links to the business arc from Oxford to Cambridge, and drive growth across the Midlands and East Anglia. Key projects underway in the region include Sandwell Aquatics Centre in Birmingham, and work for Oxford University. Phil Shortman becomes MD for London, which now encompasses both Wates’ construction and private residential business in the capital. He will be maintaining the focus on commercial and residential projects whilst building on Wates’ track record in heritage and commercial regeneration projects. Key projects include the Royal College of Surgeons, the refurbishment of listed buildings within the northern Parliamentary estate, the redevelopment of Borough Yards and the 33-storey residential development for Anthology at Tottenham Hale. Paul Dodsworth retains responsibility for the North of England, where he will focus on commercial and residential projects, and on ensuring that Wates’ growth in the region supports the Government’s levelling up agenda. Key projects underway include Sands Leisure Centre in Carlisle; six schools being built using modern methods of construction in the North West for the Department for Education (DfE); and the new government hub at Wellington Place in Leeds for MEPC. Richard Shroll moves from his current role leading Wates Construction’s Residential London business, to become MD of an expanded South construction business, which will have a more active focus on the South East. Wates is closing its Basingstoke office, relocating staff to its Leatherhead headquarters and to new premises in Newbury. Key projects include Braywick Leisure Centre in Maidenhead and St John Fisher School in Chatham. The reorganisation will support Wates’ plans to expand in existing sectors, such as education, where it is among the market leaders and one of the DfE’s strategic suppliers. Wates is now helping to decarbonise the country’s existing education estate, building a number of zero carbon schools within the first phase of the DfE’s new Schools Rebuilding Programme. As part of the push to accelerate the construction group’s greater involvement in sectors such as industrial, science and technology, and healthcare, a new healthcare team has been established, the structure of which will be announced later this month. Paul Chandler, Executive Managing Director, Wates Construction Group, said: This reorganisation of Wates Construction underlines our ongoing commitment to trusting local leaders to keep looking for better ways to serve our customers. The innovation, adaptability, and collaboration we have always used to meet their needs are helping us take on the challenge of making our sector more sustainable and diverse. Strengthening our leadership in each of the regions in which we operate, and our expansion into new industries shows our commitment to meeting our customers’ needs wherever they arise, with experts based across the country enabling us to provide specialist support locally, backed up by the scale and capability of a national business. Our vision will be driven by our new senior team, who will help us realise our ambitions. While I’m delighted to congratulate those who we have appointed from within our own ranks, I’m particularly pleased to welcome Helen, who joins us with a fantastic pedigree from Skanska.” Related news Wates land £67m office job in Bristol 15 NOVEMBER 2021 Wates Construction has secured a contract to build another major office block in Bristol’s Temple Quarter worth £67m British Library Boston Spa CASE STUDY The British Library redevelopment at Boston Spa, West Yorkshire, involves the construction of a new 28m high, 5274m2 ground-breaking, fully automated net zero carbon archive building. Wates Construction secures key pre-construction role on ground-breaking British Library project 03 NOVEMBER 2021 Wates Construction secures key pre-construction role on ground-breaking British Library project. St. John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School Ground Breaking Ceremony 26 OCTOBER 2021 Work has begun to create a brand-new school which will unite pupils at St John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School. St John Fisher Catholic High School, Wigan CASE STUDY St John Fisher Catholic High School is a 1,050-place mixed comprehensive faith school for 11-16 year olds serving the town of Wigan. Wates, Arup and HKS launch partnership to decarbonise NHS estate 19 OCTOBER 2021 Decarbonising Health Estates Partnership (DHEP) launched at industry roundtable to discuss NHS’ net zero challenge. Wates Smartspace completes pharmacy fit-out at Royal Hampshire County hospital 28 SEPTEMBER 2021 National property service provider Wates Smartspace has completed a new robotic pharmacy fit-out of the Burrell Wing at Winchester’s Royal Hampshire County Hospital. Wates Group and the Department For Education begin work on first net-zero schools 24 SEPTEMBER 2021 Wates Group will use pioneering modern methods of construction to build some of the UK’s first net-zero schools, supporting the country’s ambitious climate goals. Wates Construction appoints new north west operations director 21 SEPTEMBER 2021 Wates Construction has appointed John Currie as Operations Director for the North West in a strategic move that will help build on their success of delivering major projects across the region. © Copyright Wates 2021 To find out more about the cookies we use, see our Website Privacy Policy. Settings Yes, I agree