About
Wates Group is a UK construction contractor with its registered office in Leatherhead. Its main company at Companies House is WATES GROUP LIMITED (company number 01824828, incorporated in 1984). In its latest published results it reported revenue of £2,489m for the year to December 2025. It files payment practices reports with the government, so its payment record is shown below.
Key figures
- Average employees, year to Dec 2025
- 6,223
- Up 20% from 5,192 the year before
- Accounts of WATES GROUP LIMITED at Companies House
- Average days to pay suppliers, Jan 2026 to Jun 2026
- 34 days
- 64% paid within 30 days, 11% not paid to agreed terms
- Government payment practices report
Ranking
Wates Group is the 7th largest UK contractor we list by revenue: £2.5bn in the year to December 2025.
Payment record
Wates Group pays suppliers in an average of 34 days: joint 80th fastest of 122 companies on our payment league table.
Wates Group's average time to pay its suppliers in each six-month report, the first ending Dec 2018.
| Period ending | Average days | Paid within 30 days | Not paid to agreed terms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 18 | 41 | 46% | 53% |
| Jun 19 | 34 | 77% | 23% |
| Dec 19 | 32 | 86% | 15% |
| Jun 20 | 32 | 84% | 17% |
| Dec 20 | 32 | 84% | 16% |
| Jun 21 | 35 | 81% | 21% |
| Dec 21 | 25 | 84% | 25% |
| Jun 22 | 33 | 86% | 16% |
| Dec 22 | 32 | 85% | 18% |
| Jun 23 | 30 | 90% | 20% |
| Dec 23 | 29 | 92% | 18% |
| Jun 24 | 33 | 76% | 11% |
| Dec 24 | 31 | 82% | 21% |
| Jun 25 | 35 | 69% | 13% |
| Dec 25 | 35 | 61% | 11% |
| Jun 26 | 34 | 64% | 11% |
Payment practices reports, Check Payment Practices (GOV.UK). Each point is one six-month report covering all suppliers.
Paid within 30 days, and not paid within the agreed terms, in each report. A rising late share is the warning sign to watch.
Payment practices reports, Check Payment Practices (GOV.UK). Each point is one six-month report covering all suppliers.
- 64%35%
Latest payment practices report.
Average days to pay
Wates Group: 34 days
Latest report for each company on the payment league table.
Financial history
Turnover, profit, margin, net assets, cash and staff over 5 years, read from the company's own accounts at Companies House.
CR Signals
Construction Rating's checks on payment and financial health, built from public data. Not a credit score or a credit report. How CR Signals work
Company record4 green, 3 info
- Green
Active company.
Companies House · Last checked 19 Oct 2026
- Green
No insolvency cases on record.
Companies House · Last checked 19 Oct 2026
- Green
Accounts up to date (next due 30 Sept 2027).
Companies House · Last checked 19 Oct 2026
- Green
Confirmation statement up to date.
Companies House · Last checked 19 Oct 2026
- Info
Latest accounts: group, made up to 31 Dec 2025.
Companies House · Source date: 31 Dec 2025 · Last checked 19 Oct 2026
- Info
No outstanding charges (4 satisfied).
Companies House · Last checked 19 Oct 2026
- Info
Incorporated 14 Jun 1984.
Companies House · Source date: 14 Jun 1984 · Last checked 19 Oct 2026
Payment behaviour1 amber, 1 green, 3 info
- Amber
Average 34 days to pay (Jan 2026 to Jun 2026). Reported by Wates Construction Limited.
Payment practices report (GOV.UK) · Source date: 30 Jun 2026 · Last checked 19 Oct 2026
- Green
64% of invoices paid within 30 days, 35% in 31 to 60 days, 1% after 60 days. 11% not paid within agreed terms.
Payment practices report (GOV.UK) · Source date: 30 Jun 2026 · Last checked 19 Oct 2026
- Info
Average time to pay down from 35 to 34 days since the previous report (Jul 2025 to Dec 2025).
Payment practices report (GOV.UK) · Source date: 30 Jun 2026 · Last checked 19 Oct 2026
- Info
Uses retention clauses in construction contracts, standard rate 5%, not on the same terms as its own client retentions, retentions held equal 4% of payments (Jan 2026 to Jun 2026).
Payment practices report (GOV.UK) · Source date: 30 Jun 2026 · Last checked 19 Oct 2026
- Info
Not listed on the Fair Payment Code.
Office of the Small Business Commissioner · Last checked 19 Oct 2026
Latest accounts1 green
- Green
The auditor reported no material uncertainty about going concern in the accounts to 31 December 2025.
Companies House accounts · Source date: 31 Dec 2025 · Last checked 14 Oct 2026
Insolvency notices1 green
- Green
No Gazette insolvency notices in the last 24 months.
The Gazette · Last checked 19 Oct 2026
Projects (66)
HMPS New Hall - Fire Safety Improvements (FSI) BPRN: 3228
HMPPS Eastwood Park Video Conferencing Centre (VCC) BPRN532121/7726 (Retender)
HMP Moorland Temporary Accommodation Units BPRN 647/23/10045
HMPPS Albany-Rapid Deployment Cells (RDC)-BPRN No.502/23/8175
HMPPS Various (North) Retrospective Planning
PS Trent House Approved Premises - Extension & Refurbishment 128/19/4888
HMP Low Newton - New Generator - BPRN 570/22/7684
Harrow Housing Responsive Repairs + Maintenance
In the news
Headlines about Wates Group from the construction press in the last 6 months. Links go to the original articles.
- NHS England, Wates offer prescription for community health
The Construction Index · 14 Oct 2026
- Wates pitches £100m-plus regional batches for NHS health centres
Construction News · 13 Oct 2026
- Wates and NHS publish blueprint for delivering 250 health centres by 2035
Construction Manager · 13 Oct 2026
- Wates wins Penrhys regeneration work
The Construction Index · 12 Oct 2026
- Wates set for £209m Welsh housing regeneration deal
Construction News · 9 Oct 2026
- Wates Residential appointed as development partner for Penrhys regeneration in South Wales
Show House · 9 Oct 2026
- Wates acquires £27m Calibre Building Services
Construction Wave · 7 Oct 2026
- CN100 interview: ‘Undercutting stores up trouble’ says Wates boss
Construction News · 22 Sept 2026
- Wates M&E subsidiary reveals record £590m turnover
Construction News · 22 Sept 2026
- Former Wates director joins Willmott Dixon
Construction Wave · 18 Sept 2026
Reviews (0)
Write a ReviewCompany Details
- Address
- Wates House, Station Approach, Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 7SW
- Website
- Visit website
- Companies House
- 01824828