Production Management Trainee Review
at Wates
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Construction, Project Management, Supply Chain Management
Newmarket, Suffolk
Review Submitted: October 2025
Overall Rating
4.4 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
4/5
-
Overview of Role
5/5
-
Skills Development
4.4/5
-
Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
4/5
At Wates, the production management trainee is the trainee position for site management. This means overseeing day-to-day operations on site, and managing contractors on site.
Daily this involves, planning and coordination, ensuring health and safety compliance, monitoring quality of works, tracking progress and communicating with stakeholders.
Daily this involves, planning and coordination, ensuring health and safety compliance, monitoring quality of works, tracking progress and communicating with stakeholders.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
The programme itself has lots of opportunities to learn and prove competence, including an internal Technical Manual and behavioural programme alongside our Level 4 qualification.
I feel I have lots of opportunity to develop, and I enjoy spending time with other trainees and team members to develop.
I feel I have lots of opportunity to develop, and I enjoy spending time with other trainees and team members to develop.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
The programme itself has lots of opportunities to learn and prove competence, including an internal Technical Manual and behavioural programme alongside our Level 4 qualification.
In the last year, I have learnt lots of industry knowledge as well as developing my existing soft skills in communication and problem solving.
In the last year, I have learnt lots of industry knowledge as well as developing my existing soft skills in communication and problem solving.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
3/5
The structure of the programme is very clear and made available to us at the beginning, however the organisation from early careers has been patchy at times.
There has been miscommunications over course dates, and the length of the programme from early careers, and this has been frustrating at times with different information coming from different advisors.
There has been miscommunications over course dates, and the length of the programme from early careers, and this has been frustrating at times with different information coming from different advisors.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
There is structured support from Wates, in the form of a mentoring programme (buddies) and a Business Trainee lead.
Our line managers are also given briefings on how best to support trainees and are very happy to attend apprenticeship progress meetings.
Our line managers are also given briefings on how best to support trainees and are very happy to attend apprenticeship progress meetings.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
Our training provider has been excellent in providing any support we may need, and being in contact with early careers to advocate for our OTJ hours where needed. We attend in block release weeks, and the team are available when we are not at college to answer questions and review work!
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
5/5
My qualification helps me gain theory based construction knowledge, that I can apply to my day-to-day role. This helps me to actively engage in conversations on site and have a broader understanding on areas of the industry I do not currently see in my role (such as residential works!)
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
5/5
The team culture on my site is great, with social gatherings organised after work as well as 5 a side football, and bi-annually events such as dinners to celebrate the projects achievements.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Wates to a friend?
Yes
Why?
The programme is well structured, catering for both school leavers and graduates. With the options for school leavers to go on and complete a Bsc (hons) degree after the level 4 apprenticeship.
The support on the programme is good, with a large cohort of similarly minded individuals across different disciplines within the Wates Group.
The support on the programme is good, with a large cohort of similarly minded individuals across different disciplines within the Wates Group.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Wates?
The application process may seem long, but try to enjoy it as much as you can! The assessment centre is a wonderful opportunity to talk about what you're passionate about and meet other like minded people!
