WATES CONSTRUCTION LIMITED
Operating as a subsidiary of the family-owned Wates Group, the company provides commercial building and contracting services across the United Kingdom.
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Cash
£128M
+22% vs 2023
Net assets
£43M
-18.1% vs 2023
Employees
4,732
+21.1% vs 2023
Profit before tax
£1.3M
-92.5% vs 2023
Watchouts
Facts from the Companies House register and the latest accounts — not a rating
-
Confirmation statement overdue
Due 2026-06-23.
Net assets
2-year trend · vs Industrials median
Accounts
2-year trend · Δ = latest vs prior filed period · latest reflected 2024-12-31
| Metric | Trend | 2023-12-31 | 2024-12-31 | Δ vs prior |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turnover | £2,027,962,000 | £2,244,447,000 | +10.7% | |
| Operating profit | £6,037,000 | -£10,099,000 | -267.3% | |
| Profit before tax | £17,183,000 | £1,293,000 | -92.5% | |
| Net profit | £10,208,000 | -£2,508,000 | -124.6% | |
| Cash | £104,671,000 | £127,746,000 | +22% | |
| Total assets less current liabilities | £143,871,000 | £131,111,000 | -8.9% | |
| Net assets | £52,015,000 | £42,585,000 | -18.1% | |
| Equity | £52,015,000 | £42,585,000 | -18.1% | |
| Average employees | 3,907 | 4,732 | +21.1% | |
| Wages | £244,552,000 | £284,110,000 | +16.2% | |
| Directors' remuneration | £4,489,000 | £5,129,000 | +14.3% |
Values shown as filed in the company's annual accounts. — indicates the figure wasn't present under that line item in that period. The Δ column is the change from the prior filed period as a percentage of |prior|; lines a company doesn't report show —. About these numbers
Ratios
Computed from the line items above — sparklines read oldest → newest
| Ratio | Trend | 2023-12-31 | 2024-12-31 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating margin | 0.3% | -0.4% | |
| Net margin | 0.5% | -0.1% | |
| Return on capital employed | 4.2% | -7.7% | |
| Gearing (liabilities / total assets) | 93.1% | 95.4% | |
| Current ratio | 1.12x | 1.03x | |
| Interest cover | 4.99x | -6.38x |
Margins divide P&L lines by turnover. Gearing is liabilities over total assets. Current ratio is current assets over creditors falling due within one year. Interest cover is operating profit over absolute finance costs. Sector-distribution context coming next.
Name history
Renamed 1 time since incorporation
- WATES CONSTRUCTION LIMITED 1986-02-28 → present
- ZOOMVIEW LIMITED 1986-01-15 → 1986-02-28
Audit & accounting basis
- Accounting basis
- FRS 102
- Reporting scope
- Consolidated group
- Auditor
- BDO LLP
- Audit opinion
- Unqualified (clean)
- Going concern
- Affirmed
“As at 31 December 2024, the company had cash, access to £84m of undrawn bank facilities through the Wates Group's Revolving Credit Facility (RCF) which expires in September 2026 (extended by six months during 2024) and a strong forward order book which underpins the forecast for 2025. The RCF was adjusted by £6m in January 2025, from £84m to £78m, following the disposal of a property within the Wates Group's investment property portfolio. The directors regularly review the working capital requirements and financial resilience of the company and the Wates Group as part of reviewing scenarios that test a range of sensitivities to future performance.”
Group structure
- WATES CONSTRUCTION LIMITED · parent
- Wates Construction International LLC 49%
- Booth Mechanical Services Limited 100%
- Booth Securities Limited 100%
- City West Works Limited 100%
- Liberate Training and Apprenticeships Academy Limited 100%
- Liberty Energy Limited 100%
- Liberty Gas Group Limited 100%
- Liberty R and M Limited 100%
- Netzero Collective Limited 100%
- Wates Construction Services Limited 100%
- Wates Financial Services Limited 100%
- Wates Group Properties Limited 100%
- Wates Homes (Cambridge) Limited 100%
- Wates Homes Limited 100%
- Wates Interiors Limited 100%
- Wates Property Services Limited 100%
- Wates Maintenance Services Limited 100%
- Wates PFI Investments (Projects) Limited 100%
- Wates PFI Investments (QED) Limited 100%
- Wates PFI Investments Limited 100%
- Wates Regeneration (Coventry) Limited 100%
- Wates Regeneration (South Acton) Limited 100%
- Wates Regeneration (Tavy Bridge) Limited 100%
- Wates Surrey One Ltd 100%
- G Purchase Construction Limited 100%
- GW 217 Limited 100%
- Purchase Group Limited 100%
- Purchase Home Improvements Limited 100%
- Purchase Homes Limited 100%
- Purchase Support Limited 100%
- Relocation and Inventory Services Limited 100%
- SES (Engineering Services) Limited 100%
- Third Wates Investments Limited 100%
- Woodside Lands Limited 100%
Significant events
- “Agreement to transfer Wates Pension Fund members to Clara-Pensions, with transfer taking place on 14 January 2025.”
- “Certain Directors were issued growth shares in Wates Property Services (Holdings) Limited in February 2025.”
Auditor, going-concern and subsidiary information is drawn from the narrative of the latest annual accounts. About these numbers
People
8 active · 51 resigned
| Name | Role | Appointed | Born | Nationality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WAINWRIGHT, Philip Michael | Secretary | 2018-12-03 | — | — |
| BATTLE, Steffan | Director | 2024-05-01 | Jun 1972 | British |
| FITZGERALD, Patrick Joseph | Director | 2025-09-01 | Nov 1976 | British |
| GRIFFIN, Paul | Director | 2023-05-24 | Feb 1985 | Irish |
| JONES, Nicholas Thomas Drucquer | Director | 2025-08-27 | Aug 1972 | British |
| SYMEONIDES, Christopher John | Director | 2025-02-03 | Jul 1964 | British |
| TATE, Emily Margaret Alice | Director | 2023-05-24 | Aug 1985 | British |
| WAINWRIGHT, Philip Michael | Director | 2018-12-03 | Apr 1965 | British |
Show 51 resigned officers
| Name | Role | Appointed | Resigned |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALLEN, David Owen | Secretary | 2016-01-04 | 2018-12-03 |
| DAVIES, David Huw | Secretary | 2007-12-31 | 2016-01-04 |
| DAVIES, David Huw | Secretary | 2005-02-01 | 2006-05-30 |
| GAME, Ashley | Secretary | 2000-10-02 | 2002-04-30 |
| HOULTON, Jonathan Charles Bennett | Secretary | 2002-04-30 | 2005-02-01 |
| HOULTON, Jonathan Charles Bennett | Secretary | 2000-06-30 | 2000-10-02 |
| MACKIE, William Graham | Secretary | 1994-04-29 | 2000-06-30 |
| SAREEN, Narinder Singh | Secretary | — | 1994-04-29 |
| STYANT, Terry Ann | Secretary | 2006-05-30 | 2007-12-31 |
| ALLEN, David Owen | Director | 2016-01-04 | 2022-08-16 |
| BAKER, Kenneth George | Director | 1999-07-05 | 2006-12-12 |
| BEECHEY, Stephen James | Director | 2016-10-17 | 2026-03-31 |
| BENNION, Rodney John | Director | — | 2003-06-30 |
| BUNCH, Helen Patricia | Director | 2010-04-01 | 2025-04-30 |
| BURNETT, Ian George | Director | 2008-01-31 | 2012-12-31 |
| CHANDLER, Paul | Director | 2017-08-24 | 2024-12-31 |
| DAVIES, Andrew Oswell Bede | Director | 2014-01-06 | 2017-11-10 |
| DAVIES, David Huw | Director | 2005-02-01 | 2016-01-04 |
| DRECHSLER, Paul Joseph | Director | 2004-09-06 | 2014-01-06 |
| EDWARDS, John | Director | 1992-12-31 | 1999-09-30 |
| GIRDLESTONE, Richard John | Director | 2000-01-01 | 2010-03-31 |
| HOBART, Andrew Hampden | Director | 2013-01-01 | 2015-12-31 |
| HOULTON, Jonathan Charles Bennett | Director | 1998-06-01 | 2005-02-01 |
| HOWELL, John Peter | Director | 2013-09-30 | 2016-06-30 |
| LAIRD, Andrew | Director | 2006-06-01 | 2012-06-14 |
| LEAROYD, Brian | Director | — | 1994-10-12 |
| LEITCH, Robert Michael | Director | 1992-12-31 | 1997-05-30 |
| LORD, Philip Smith | Director | — | 1995-06-30 |
| LOVELL, Robin | Director | — | 1992-12-31 |
| MACKIE, William Graham | Director | 1993-11-01 | 2000-06-30 |
| MORGAN, David Keir Ewart | Director | 2017-11-10 | 2025-02-03 |
| PEAT, Martin John | Director | 1992-12-31 | 1996-06-19 |
| PETERS, Anthony Geoffrey | Director | — | 1997-12-31 |
| PHIPPS, Paul David | Director | 2003-06-30 | 2005-12-31 |
| POTTER, Simon James | Director | 2018-07-26 | 2025-03-31 |
| PRICE, Stephen Robert | Director | 2008-01-24 | 2010-12-31 |
| ROBERTSON, Dave Duncan Struan | Director | 2000-10-02 | 2004-01-16 |
| ROWAN, Paul Campbell | Director | 2015-12-31 | 2025-07-31 |
| ROWSELL, John Frederick | Director | 2005-01-24 | 2006-06-01 |
| ROWSELL, John Frederick | Director | 1994-02-28 | 2001-10-24 |
| SHEPHERD, Martyn Alan | Director | 2001-10-25 | 2004-11-08 |
| SMITH, David Gordon, Mr. | Director | 2001-10-25 | 2016-10-17 |
| STEWART, Roderick Alistair | Director | 2011-01-01 | 2012-10-26 |
| TIDD, Martin John Edward | Director | 2001-10-25 | 2004-11-08 |
| TOGWELL, Stuart John | Director | 2011-09-22 | 2018-07-25 |
| TYSON, Julia Kathryn | Director | 2006-12-12 | 2013-09-30 |
| WATES, Andrew Trace Allan | Director | 2004-01-16 | 2004-09-06 |
| WATES, Andrew Trace Allan | Director | 1995-02-09 | 2000-10-02 |
| WATES, Christopher Stephen, Sir | Director | — | 2000-10-02 |
| WATES, James Garwood Michael | Director | 1994-10-20 | 2001-09-30 |
| WHITTLE, Peter Edward | Director | 2012-06-14 | 2013-12-31 |
Ownership
Persons with significant control
| Name | Kind | Nature of control | Notified | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wates Group Limited | Corporate entity | Shares 75–100%, Voting 75–100%, Appoints directors | 2016-04-06 | Active |
Filing timeline
Last 20 of 270 total filings
| Date | Type | Category | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-10 | TM01 | officers | Termination director company with name termination date | |
| 2025-09-01 | AP01 | officers | Appoint person director company with name date | |
| 2025-08-27 | AP01 | officers | Appoint person director company with name date | |
| 2025-07-31 | TM01 | officers | Termination director company with name termination date | |
| 2025-06-09 | CS01 | confirmation-statement | Confirmation statement with no updates | |
| 2025-04-30 | TM01 | officers | Termination director company with name termination date | |
| 2025-04-17 | AA | accounts | Accounts with accounts type group | |
| 2025-03-31 | TM01 | officers | Termination director company with name termination date | |
| 2025-02-06 | TM01 | officers | Termination director company with name termination date | |
| 2025-02-05 | AP01 | officers | Appoint person director company with name date | |
| 2024-12-31 | TM01 | officers | Termination director company with name termination date | |
| 2024-11-28 | CH01 | officers | Change person director company with change date | |
| 2024-06-10 | CS01 | confirmation-statement | Confirmation statement with no updates | |
| 2024-05-03 | AP01 | officers | Appoint person director company with name date | |
| 2024-04-13 | AA | accounts | Accounts with accounts type group | |
| 2023-06-16 | CS01 | confirmation-statement | Confirmation statement with no updates | |
| 2023-06-15 | AP01 | officers | Appoint person director company with name date | |
| 2023-06-05 | AP01 | officers | Appoint person director company with name date | |
| 2023-04-06 | AA | accounts | Accounts with accounts type group | |
| 2022-08-19 | TM01 | officers | Termination director company with name termination date |
Public-record activity
Raw counts from Companies House — last 12–24 months
- Filings
- 4
- Capital events
- 0
- Officers appointed
- 2
- Officers resigned
- 2
last 12 months
last 24 months
last 12 months
last 12 months
Direct counts from the register. No score, no rating — see the Filing timeline for the underlying events.