Launch your career with one of the UK's leading residential developers and investors.
At Watkin Jones, our two-year Graduate Programme offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience across the entire residential development and investment lifecycle. Working alongside experienced industry professionals, you'll develop a broad commercial understanding while building the skills and knowledge needed for a successful career in real estate.
What You'll Experience:
Throughout the programme, you'll rotate across four key areas of the business:
Investment:
- Support the identification, appraisal and acquisition of development opportunities across our core Living sectors, including Build to Rent (BTR), Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) and Co-Living.
- Gain exposure to single-family housing opportunities and strategic development partnerships.
Divestment:
- Assist in the marketing and disposal of development assets.
- Learn about a range of funding structures, including forward funding agreements and joint venture partnerships.
Asset Management:
- Support the ongoing management, performance monitoring and reporting of assets where Watkin Jones retains full or partial ownership.
- Develop an understanding of long-term value creation and investment performance.
Development & Planning:
- Work alongside planning and development teams to help shape high-quality residential schemes.
- Gain experience in the planning process, scheme design, project viability, risk management and cost control.
Why Join Watkin Jones?
This is more than a graduate programme. It's an opportunity to accelerate your professional and personal development through real responsibility, meaningful project work and direct exposure to senior leaders.
You'll benefit from:
- Rotational experience across investment, development, asset management and divestment.
- Mentoring and coaching from experienced Investment Team leaders.
- On-the-job learning with real commercial impact.
- Structured training and development opportunities.
- Support to achieve both your short-term ambitions and long-term career goals.
- A clear pathway to building a successful career within the residential property and investment sector.
What We’re Looking For:
We’re looking for you to have a qualification at a degree and diploma/ masters’ level in a property related qualification (acceptable to the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) or the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) to enable membership) If you have work experience to support your application, great but if not don’t worry, passion and drive are just as important.
During this two-year programme, you’ll be offered the chance to rapidly develop professionally and personally, working side-by-side with IDP leaders and wider team learning on the job. In addition, you will have access to the guidance, support, and training to enable you to achieve your short-term and long-term career goals.
Our intention is to offer our graduates a permanent role at the end of the programme, subject to performance and requirements at the time. We'll work with you to identify suitable opportunities in our business which match your talent and fit with your longer-term goals, developing you professionally and personally.
Why Choose Watkin Jones Group?
Watkin Jones Group is the UK’s leading developer, builder, and manager of residential-for-rent homes, with a rich history dating back to 1791. With 54,000+ homes developed and in-build across over 254 schemes, we have a proven track record of success. Our operating arm, Fresh, manages over 18,500 units across 58 schemes, representing approximately £1.7bn of assets under management.
Joining us means becoming part of a company that’s not only deeply rooted in history but also firmly focused on the future. We’re committed to creating high-quality rental homes, fostering vibrant communities, and driving sustainable development.
At Watkin Jones, we believe in investing in our people. Here’s what we can offer you:
- Work-Life Balance: 25 days of annual leave (increasing with tenure), hybrid working arrangements, and discounted gym memberships.
- Wellbeing: Access to ‘Your Wellbeing’ programme & OpenUp – a confidential wellbeing platform.
- Rewards: Health cash plan, life insurance, and more.
- Benefits: Exclusive shopping discounts, and a contributory pension scheme.
This is an opportunity to take on a high-impact role within a forward-thinking company. In return, we offer a competitive salary, excellent benefits, and the chance to work on major projects that shape the built environment.
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