We invest in you
We are passionate about our people, and we invest in the best learning and development opportunities for our teams.
Our unique learning environment Pavers Academy Online is where we have designed pathways for continual professional development and career progression. Our network of apprentices are vital to our talent pool and the vast majority of them secure permanent positions with us after finishing their study.
Academy
Pavers Academy is an exciting and essential part of our Learning & Development function at Jones Bootmaker, designed to help our colleagues thrive and build fulfilling careers. With a focus on job-specific learning and leadership development, the Academy provides clear and supportive pathways to guide colleagues every step of the way of their career journey.
We are always reviewing and adding new opportunities to ensure that our people have the right skills, knowledge, and mindset to deliver excellent service and top-quality products to our customers. The Academy offers access to over 7,000 courses, covering both professional and personal development, ensuring colleagues are supported both in and out of work. These courses are available to our colleagues online and can be accessed via PC, smartphone, or tablet. We also provide personalised training and career pathways tailored to our colleague goals helping them to grow at their own pace.
In addition, the Academy includes a range of mental and physical wellbeing courses, as well as extra support that can be accessed outside of work to ensure colleagues thrive both personally and professionally. The success of the Academy has been truly rewarding, as it aligns individual goals with the company’s broader vision, creating a shared sense of purpose.
To make development as accessible and impactful as possible, we offer a variety of learning methods, including Pavers Academy Online, face-to-face courses, apprenticeships, professional qualifications, and mentoring programmes.
Meet Marie
Marie became a part of our family in 2003 as a Store Manager. Over the years, she advanced through various roles, first being appointed Area Manager in the South Region. As the company expanded, Marie’s responsibilities grew, culminating in her recent appointment as the South Regional Manager, whilst overseeing the West Midlands area as well. Throughout her career, Marie has shown a strong passion for people and development. She played an instrumental role in the creation of our DNA, the Retail Induction Programme, and Pathways in Retail—all key components found within the Pavers Academy.
"Developing our team is absolutely essential to ensure everyone is empowered to do their best. It’s equally important that those who are eager to grow and expand their knowledge have the opportunities to do so. The Academy plays a vital role in this by providing valuable programs like the Retail Induction Programme and Pathways in Retail, which help colleagues at every level develop their skills and advance in their careers. We’re always on the lookout for the next talented individual, and with the ongoing expansion of the business, promoting from within will be a key part of our success. At the same time, we’re excited to welcome new talent and fresh perspectives, bringing in new colleagues with innovative ideas to help shape the future of the company."
Apprenticeships
At Jones, we are proud to offer a wide range of apprenticeships, from Level 2 upwards, designed for both new and existing colleagues who are eager to develop their skills and further their careers within our business. We’ve seen tremendous success with apprentices in a variety of areas including Logistics and Supply Chain, Marketing, Accounting, Administration, and People. As we continue to grow, we are always looking for passionate individuals to join our family and take advantage of these fantastic opportunities.
All apprentices are given the advice and support they need to succeed and are paired with a mentor as well as their apprentice tutor. They are guided through both their new roles and off-the-job training, ensuring they have the skills and confidence to excel. We partner with leading course providers to offer the best possible learning experience and at the end of the apprenticeship, we strive to provide opportunities for full-time employment or progression into other areas of the business, offering long-term career growth within the business.
Meet Ellie
Ellie completed her Business Administration Level 3 with us in Supply Chain and was then appointed as a permanent, full time Supply Chain Administrator.
"I completed my Supply Chain apprenticeship last year, and it was the best decision I made for my education and future career after leaving school. Apprenticeships provide an incredible opportunity to become deeply involved within a business, learning the intricacies of its processes while maintaining close contact with key stakeholders. Throughout my apprenticeship, the business supported me tremendously, ensuring that I had everything I needed while learning, and they were always there to lend a helping hand."
Here’s what some our other apprentices think about studying with us:
“I have found studying and working together to be a very pleasant experience as it allows me to gain the qualifications I need to be an Accountant whilst gaining the experience. I’m really enjoying my courses as they are both interesting and very engaging which allows me to practice all of the new skills I’ve learned. It’s a wonderful workplace and all of my colleagues are very welcoming, understanding, and always happy to help.”
- Magda, Accounts Apprentice
“I am almost a year into my Business Admin Level 3 apprenticeship now and I am still enjoying it and finding it very helpful alongside working. I think both working and learning at the same time is so beneficial as not only are you getting the education and qualification you want, but you are also working within a business, gaining experience, and witnessing everything that you are reading in the textbooks first hand“
- Emily, Admin Apprentice in the Buying Department
Placement Year
Our placement year programme offers an incredible opportunity to become immersed in a professional work environment, develop key skills, and build a professional network. As part of a university course, a placement year allows students to apply the knowledge they've gained in the classroom to real-world situations while learning from industry experts.
A placement year with us provides the perfect way to explore different career paths, gain valuable work experience, and make an impact within our organisation. It can also be a stepping stone to full-time opportunities after graduation. We have offered placement year positions across a wide range of sectors, including IT, Finance and Marketing roles, ensuring diverse opportunities and valuable hands-on experience.
Meet Emi
Emi studied at Keele University and joined us at our Head Office for a one year placement in our IT Development Team.
He loved it so much that he continued to work for us part time while studying in his final year and joined us as a full-time permanent Junior Developer after his graduation.
"My placement year as a developer was an amazing experience. I had the chance to work on real projects, expand my technical skills, and collaborate with a talented team. I learned a lot about the full development process, from design to deployment, and gained valuable hands-on experience with different technologies.
The mentorship I received helped me grow both technically and professionally, improving my coding, problem-solving, and teamwork skills. This placement has not only boosted my confidence but also sharpened my career focus, leaving me better prepared for my future as a developer."
