About this role

About the role

HR Pathway Programme – Permanent (including approx. 36-month Apprenticeship Scheme)

Salary

£29k + Pension + PMI + ShareSave Scheme + 6.6 weeks holiday + Hybrid Working

Location

Eastleigh, Southampton, Head Office (Store Support Office)

Before you apply, you must complete a role discovery on our pre-apply platform. The role will be broken down in detail and you can hear from real colleagues, get an honest look and find out if it's right for you. Finish this journey to get your Application Code. You'll need this code to make your application.

We believe anyone can improve their home to make life better. From our Southampton Store Support Office (SSO), we equip our stores, our people, and our business with everything it takes to help millions of customers create a home they’ll love. Join us in HR and you’ll play a big part in this.

At B&Q, we have a hybrid approach to working to increase flexibility in when and where we work. This is a full-time opportunity, Monday to Friday, based from our Southampton Store Support Office. Working patterns may vary depending on the rotation and business area you are supporting.

Key responsibilities

Our HR Pathway Programme is designed to bring diverse talent into the HR function and support them to build broad experience, professional capability and future leadership potential. You’ll benefit from structured on-the-job apprenticeship experience, comprehensive training and support, and will work towards industry-recognised HR qualifications, including CIPD Level 3 and Level 5.

The programme spans approximately 36 months and is structured across three phases, during which you will complete a minimum of three rotational roles across different areas of the HR function. This will give you broad, hands-on experience and exposure to a variety of specialisms.

In year one, you’ll get settled in, learn about the business and build self-awareness. In year two, you’ll deepen your HR and business understanding while developing your impact and influence. In year three, you’ll prepare for your next career step and continue building the skills and behaviours needed for future progression.

During this time, you’ll build strong communication, prioritisation, presentation, stakeholder management and partnering skills, while gaining a deeper understanding of B&Q’s business and the breadth of our HR function.

We’d love you to help us improve the way we work, simplify processes, and contribute to building an environment where everyone feels they belong.

You’ll be supported throughout by your line manager, buddy, HR mentor, apprenticeship coach and Pathway cohort. You’ll also need to commit time each week to your apprenticeship learning, including regular coaching sessions and progress reviews with your coach and line manager.

Rotational roles may include

Talent Acquisition
People Operations
People Partnering
Employment Relations
Talent, Leadership and Learning
A rotation to another company within the Kingfisher Group

After completing the programme, you’ll remain in an HR role and be supported to progress towards grade and beyond. The long-term ambition of the programme is to strengthen our future HR leadership succession pipeline, so we’re looking for people who can demonstrate strong judgement, drive and influence.

Who is this for?

This programme is for anyone who

Is ambitious about building a long-term career in HR
Shows early evidence of potential to grow into a broader leadership role
Is excited by the opportunity to experience different areas of HR
Has a growth mindset and is willing to take ownership of their development
Is curious, confident and motivated to make a positive difference

Please note

Our assessment day will be on Friday 31st July 2026. Please only apply if you can attend in person on this day.

Required skills & experience

Commitment to professional study alongside the role, including managing apprenticeship learning time effectively
The ability to role model B&Q Behaviours and Judgement, Drive and Influence in day-to-day work
Strong organisation and prioritisation skills, with the ability to balance role, study and rotation commitments
Clear communication and presentation skills, with confidence to share learning and ideas
A collaborative approach, with the ability to build effective relationships across HR and the wider business
A proactive approach to seeking feedback, bringing fresh ideas and identifying improvement opportunities

What's in it for me?

As well as a competitive salary, our benefits package includes

Award-winning pension scheme
ShareSave options
6.6 weeks holiday
Buying and selling holiday scheme
Payroll giving
Employee Assistance Programme
Shopping discounts
Colleague wellbeing benefits

…and much more.

By the end of your development, you’ll have gained professional HR qualifications, a breadth of experience across the HR function, and the business and behavioural skills needed to support your future success.

We want to ensure that all employees, future employees, and applicants to all Kingfisher companies are treated equally regardless of age, gender, marital or civil partnership status, colour, ethnic or national origin, culture, religious belief, philosophical belief, political opinion, disability, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation.

Find out more about us, including the benefits we offer and our community, sustainability, and inclusion projects at bandqcareers.com.

If you require any additional support or adjustments to help you make an application, please contact us at

ssorecruitment@b-and-q.co.uk

We want to ensure that all employees, future employees and applicants to all Kingfisher companies are treated equally regardless of age, gender, marital or civil partnership status, colour, ethnic or national origin, culture, religious belief, philosophical belief, political opinion, disability, gender identity, gender expression or sexual orientation.

If you require any additional support or adjustments to help you make an application, please contact us at recruitment@b-and-q.co.uk.

Training & development

Learn & Develop at B&Q

When you join B&Q, we want you to be all you can be. From the minute you walk through our doors to the exciting moment you make that next career move, we're here to help you make the most of every opportunity. Thanks to our friendly learning system, LEO, we make sure you always have the support you need to take on every challenge and fit your learning around your life. Here, we know that the best way to grow is together.

Flexible learning with LEO

LEO is your every day, on the go learning and development partner. Helping you build the knowledge you need now and in the future. With LEO, you can access training and content, anywhere, anytime and on any device. You can even influence the type of training on offer by rating and recommending content, and letting us know what we can do to improve. Award-winning and featuring over 500 different learning activities - like short videos, articles, workshops and webinars - think of LEO as your 24/7 training pal, designed to help you make the most of your B&Q career journey.

Developing in role

Learning never stops at B&Q. Whether you've been in your role for one day or five years, there's always something to be curious about. It's why we're always creating learning opportunities and experiences that'll give you the chance to develop your skills. Like our

First Line Manager programme

a course that helps our newest line managers build their confidence and management skills. Or our Leadership Development programme that challenges our more experienced leaders to reflect on and adapt their approach for our ever-evolving ways of working.

Building expertise and know-how

We believe anyone can learn the technical skills to do their job with excellence. It's all about attitude and behaviour here. So, if you're passionate about customer service and design, we'll teach you how to create beautiful kitchens. If you're someone who loves being outdoors, we'll help you learn about our garden ranges. And, if you're someone who just loves what we do but doesn't know where to start, we'll help you find the perfect role for you to grow into.

Accelerated Development Talent Programmes

Whatever goal you're working to at B&Q, we want to help you get there. We do this by designing a number of programmes which help you to practice your skills and learn new ones, gain valuable experiences, learn from others and jump on opportunities that are right for you. From leaders taking their first steps into management to those simply looking for a new challenge, we're there to make sure you achieve your ambitions.

Induction

At B&Q, we want every new colleague to understand our values, our customers, and how we work together to achieve our purpose. That’s why we’ve designed an induction programme that’ll give you real insight into our business, our culture and help you feel included from day one. For your first few weeks on the job you’ll work with your team and line manager, mixing online learning with practical tasks, to grow your knowledge a little every day.

Take a tour around our office

Our Store Support Office sits within B&Q House and supports our colleagues and stores right across the UK and Ireland. In our bespoke, modern and eco-friendly building just north of Southampton, you’ll find a friendly team of talented people in a huge range of roles.

Explore our store support office

Facilities

In B&Q house, you’ll enjoy an onsite gym, a subsidised Costa, a canteen and restaurant, prayer room, plus open plan and cosy work spaces, an outdoor picnic area, and bike sheds for those who cycle in.

Sustainability

B&Q House has a biomass boiler, solar panels and a rainwater harvesting system. Our building also makes use of upcycled and recycled furniture and fittings, and features natural ventilation, heat retention and CO2 management, all via our very own weather station on the roof.

Ready to apply?

Step 1

Apply via bandqcareers.com

Step 2

We'll contact you for a phone interview

Step 3

We’ll carry out a face to face or online interview (and we may request a 2nd interview if the role you're applying for is more complex).

Step 4

We’ll contact you with feedback, and maybe even a job offer.

Check out our FAQs for more information about interviewing at B&Q.

HR Pathway Programme

Eastleigh, Hampshire

Full Time - Permanent

Up to £29,000.00 per year