Under Sir James’ stewardship the Wates Group are setting new standards for what can be achieved in terms of health and safety. Their Zero Harm Strategy is a success story in its own right, with the ambition to make their construction sites as safe as their offices. While placing an equal focus on occupational health and work-related illnesses, like mental health.

We are seeing more construction business open up to the challenge of diversity and inclusion. Sir James’ bold leadership has committed Wates to reflect society more fully by 2025. Making fairness and openness not just phrases but corporate objectives that are reported upon.

It is perhaps unsurprising that when UK government looked for a chairperson to develop corporate governance principles for large privately-owned companies, they asked Sir James to lead the work. The resulting Wates Principles encourage high standards of corporate governance, and crucially reflect the impact that large privately-owned companies have on society and the economy.

Professor Charles Egbu FCIOB
CIOB Past President 2019/20

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