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Wates restructures to create four regional businesses

Wates Group staff (Image courtesy of Wates Group)

Wates Construction has created four new regional businesses as part of a restructure aimed at expanding its national footprint.

The move comes after Wates Group posted a record forward order book at the end of 2020. Wates said that the reorganisation of Wates Construction, its largest arm, into four regional businesses would help it to prepare for further growth.

The four dedicated businesses created are: North, South, Central and London. Each will be led by a managing director (MD), all of whom will report to Mark Tant, MD, Wates Construction. The new managing directors are:

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Helen Martin, who has been appointed as the new MD for the Central business. Martin joins Wates after an 11-year career with Skanska, where she was most recently MD of the development business in the UK.

Phil Shortman becomes MD for London, which now encompasses both Wates’ construction and private residential business in the capital.

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.

Richard Shroll, moves from his current role leading Wates Construction’s residential London business, to become MD of an expanded South construction business.

Wates said the reorganisation would support its plans to expand in existing sectors, such as education. Meanwhile, it has also established a new healthcare team.

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.”