Graduate Planning Manager - Office

Cooper & Hall Limited; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Private medical insurance

Car allowance

Health & wellness programme

26 days holiday + bank holidays

Birthday Day off

Job summary

Wates in London offers a Planning Management Trainee role to learn how construction programmes are planned, tracked and delivered from tender to completion. You will work with experienced planning professionals, developing skills in programme development, milestone tracking and risk analysis, and gain site exposure through visits and collaboration with design, commercial and delivery teams.

The program combines on-the-job learning, site visits and structured development, with mentoring and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree by Sept 2027 with 2:2 or above.
• Travel and mobility required across project sites within region or nationally.
• London placement with potential project/site variation during the programme.

Responsibilities

• Support development and maintenance of construction programmes and schedules.
• Monitor progress, milestones, and identify risks or delays.
• Understand planning principles and best practices in construction.
• Analyse performance data and contribute to progress reports.

Skills

Passion for built environment

Curious learner

Team collaboration

Ownership and professionalism

Positive, solution-focused mindset

Organised and adaptable

Commitment to high standards

Education

Bachelor’s degree (2:2 or higher)

Job description

About Wates

Established in 1897, we are one of the UK's leading family-owned development, building and property maintenance companies. With 6,000 employees and now in our fourth generation of family ownership, we're committed to the long-term sustainability of the built environment and to making our industry more inclusiveand representative of the communities we work in.

With multiple businesses working across the built environment, we can offer a wide range of career opportunities.

As part of our trainee programme, you'll join a network of around 200 peers, learning and working together as you build connections and develop your career at Wates.

About the opportunity

As a Planning Management Trainee at Wates, you'll play an important role in helping to plan and coordinate the successful delivery of a wide range of construction projects. Working alongside experienced planning professionals, you'll gain exposure to both pre-construction and construction activities, learning how projects are programmed, monitored and managed from initial tender through to completion.

You'll support the development of project programmes, track progress against key milestones, and help identify risks and opportunities that could impact delivery. Through a combination of on-the-job experience, site visits and structured development, you'll build the technical, analytical and stakeholder management skills needed for a successful career in construction planning.

What You Will Do

Over the course of the programme, you will:

• Support the development and maintenance of construction programmes and schedules using industry-leading planning software.

• Assist with monitoring project progress, tracking key milestones and identifying potential risks or delays to project delivery.

• Develop an understanding of planning principles, methodologies and best practice within the construction industry.

• Help analyse project performance data and contribute to reports that support decision-making and project controls.

• Work closely with project, design, commercial and delivery teams to ensure programmes reflect project requirements and objectives.

• Build strong working relationships with colleagues, clients, subcontractors and supply chain partners.

• Attend site visits to gain practical insight into construction activities, sequencing and delivery methods.

• Support planning meetings and contribute to discussions around project progress, resource requirements and programme improvements.

• Develop an understanding of how effective planning supports safe, efficient and successful project delivery.

About you:

To be successful, you'll:

• Be passionate about building a career in the built environment.

• Be curious, eager to learn and committed to your personal development.

• Build positive relationships and work collaboratively with others.

• Take ownership of your work and act with integrity and professionalism.

• Approach challenges with a positive, solution-focused mindset.

• Be organised, adaptable and able to prioritise effectively.

• Be committed to delivering high standards and making a positive impact.

What's in it for you?

At Wates, we're committed to helping you build a successful career in construction. Alongside hands‑on experience in your chosen career pathway, graduates who do not hold a degree in a construction-related subject will be enrolled onto a relevant Level 4 apprenticeship, providing additional learning and development to help accelerate your career in the built environment.

You'll also benefit from mentoring, structured training, behavioural workshops and support from experienced professionals throughout your programme. We encourage and support our trainees to continue their professional development through industry‑recognised qualifications and, where applicable, work towards chartership.

In addition, we offer:

• Competitive salary

• Private medical insurance

• Car allowance

• Health & wellness programme

• 26 days holiday + bank holidays

• Birthday Day off

Entry Requirements

To be eligible for this programme, you must:

• By September 2027, you must have obtained a bachelor's degree with a predicted or achieved classification of 2:2 or above.

Location: London

For site-based roles, the location listed in this advert reflects your initial placement and may change throughout the programme depending on project and business requirements.

Important: Travel Requirements

As a project-based business, our teams work across a variety of locations. Depending on the role, you may be required to work from different project sites within the region or nationally throughout the programme.

Please carefully consider this requirement before applying, as travel and mobility are essential parts of the role. Successful candidates must be willing to travel in line with project and business need.

Applications close on 17th November 2026.