Wates.A Century of Community.
One of the UK’s most respected family-owned construction groups and a proud partner of Knife Crime Matters – investing in community safety and sponsoring free knife crime prevention resources for schools.
Family Values.Community Action.
Wates Group’s partnership with Knife Crime Matters is rooted in something that has defined the company since its founding in 1897 – a deep, genuine commitment to the communities where they live and work. As a family-owned business now in its fourth generation of ownership, Wates has never lost sight of the responsibility that comes with operating at scale in communities across England and Wales.
Wates has been twice awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for sustainable development, and named Organisation of the Year by the Social Mobility Awards. Their social value programme is one of the most developed in the construction industry – covering employment, skills, community investment and environmental sustainability. But for Wates, social value is not a strategy document. It is a way of doing business that has been passed down through four generations of the Wates family.
Partnering with KCM allows Wates to make a direct, documented, visible investment in community safety – funding free knife crime prevention resources for schools in the communities where their projects are delivered, and demonstrating to clients, local authorities and communities that Wates takes its responsibilities seriously.
Genuine Investment.Documented Impact.
Wates’ sponsorship of KCM delivers practical, evidenced outcomes in schools and communities where knife crime is a real and present concern.
Free School Resource Packages
KS3 and KS4 workshop books, awareness materials, safeguarding guidance and lesson resources delivered free to schools – co-branded with Wates and funded entirely by their sponsorship.
Emergency Bleed Kits
Life-saving bleed control kits delivered to schools and community spaces in Wates’ operating areas – practical, visible evidence of their commitment to community safety.
Knife Detection Wands
Handheld detection wands that support age-appropriate conversations about knife awareness and prevention in an educational setting – delivered alongside the full resource package.
Social Value Documentation
Formal evidence letters issued by KCM CIC providing named, place-based, procurement-ready social value documentation – directly supporting Wates’ public sector tender submissions.
WhoThey Are.
Wates Group is one of the UK’s largest and most respected family-owned construction, development and property maintenance companies. Founded in 1897 and now in its fourth generation of family ownership, Wates operates across England and Wales delivering construction projects for schools, hospitals, civic buildings, housing and community infrastructure.
In 2025, Wates achieved its best-ever turnover of £2.56 billion – extending an unbroken record of profitability to 26 consecutive years. With a pipeline of £10 billion secured, they are one of the most significant construction businesses operating in the UK today. Their work spans new build construction, residential development, property maintenance and specialist fit-out.
Wates’ commitment to social value is genuinely exceptional. As founding members of the Buy Social Corporate Challenge, they have spent over £45 million with the social enterprise sector over ten years. Their education and engagement programmes have reached tens of thousands of young people. Their partnership with KCM is a natural extension of a social value ethos that runs through the entire organisation.
Partner With KCMLike Wates.
Wates’ partnership with KCM reflects over 125 years of commitment to the communities where they build. If your organisation shares that commitment to community safety and social value, we would love to hear from you.
Become a Partner