Student Placement - Footwear

BARBOUR; Jarrow; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A British lifestyle brand is looking for a Footwear Design Student Placement within their Menswear team for a 12-month training contract. The role involves assisting the footwear team with various tasks, including design support and communication across departments. Candidates should be studying an undergraduate degree related to Fashion or Footwear, show a keen interest in the industry, and have strong organisational and communication skills. Benefits include staff discounts and flexible working.

Benefits

Staff discount

25 days holiday

Access to training activities

Free onsite parking

Subsidised canteen

Hybrid & flexible working

Qualifications

• Participation in an undergraduate degree relating to Fashion or Footwear.
• Demonstrate a keen interest in Fashion, Footwear and Brands.
• Highly organised with good time management.
• Strong communication skills required.

Responsibilities

• Assist footwear team with presentations and meetings.
• Help designers with research and competitor analysis.
• Produce high-quality range overview boards.
• Maintain footwear specification documents.
• Assist in maintaining footwear work room in good order.

Skills

Organised with good time management

Strong communication skills

Proactive working manner

Working knowledge of Microsoft business packages

Keen interest in Fashion and Footwear

Experience with Adobe Illustrator

Education

Undergraduate degree in Fashion or Footwear

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Microsoft Office

Job description

Company Description

The Barbour story began in 1894 in South Shields in the North East of England. Founder John Barbour began supplying oilskins and other garments to protect the growing community of sailors, fishermen and dockers. Still family owned and now fifth generation, Barbour HQ remains in South Shields. Under the leadership of Chairman Dame Margaret Barbour, Barbour has grown into a lifestyle brand sold in over 55 countries worldwide including Europe, the US and Asia offering a wardrobe of stylish functional clothing, footwear and accessories inspired by the unique values of the British countryside. The iconic Barbour Bedale and Barbour Beaufort wax jackets continue to be made by hand in the factory in South Shields. In 2020, Barbour launched Wax for Life, an overarching name for all of Barbour's wax services designed to encourage customers to extend the life of their wax garments. Wax for Life includes re-waxing and repairs (first introduced in 1921) and Barbour Re‑Loved an upcycling circularity initiative. Each year over 70,000 wax garments are sent back to Barbour globally to be repaired, rewaxed or altered.

Position Overview

We are excited to announce that we have opened the application process for our Barbour Footwear Design Student Placement within our Menswear team. In Barbour's paid placement programme, students get a full immersion into the brand's culture for a 12‑month period. During this time, our Placement Students become an integral part of the team, tackling complex business challenges, contributing to the company's growth, and building relationships and skills that they will then carry forward throughout their career. In line with Barbour's aim to offer essential training to students wishing to work in the fashion business, this role has been developed so that you can gain experience in how design and development functions and the interaction across the business. This opportunity will be a temporary training contract from Summer 2026 – Summer 2027.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist and support the footwear team through presentations and meetings (whether this is preparation, organising samples or presentation boards etc).
• Assist designers with research and competitor analysis.
• Assist designer with mood boards and colour palettes seasonally.
• To be confident using Adobe Illustrator to assist designers with all aspects of range design.
• Produce range overview boards to a very high standard ensuring they are updated throughout the season.
• Filing and file management.
• Help with sample handling – Proto/Launch/Salesman Samples.
• Assist and be proactive with communications via email and telephone.
• All work to be accurate.
• Set up and maintain footwear specification documents and keep them updated throughout the season.
• Strong communication required as you will be working with other departments in the business.
• Assist with swatch and trim packs for Collabs.
• Manages swatch libraries.
• Maintain Footwear work room in good order.

Skills and Experience

• Participation in an undergraduate degree relating to Fashion or Footwear.
• To demonstrate a keen interest in Fashion, Footwear and Brands.
• Highly organised with good time management.
• Strong communication skills.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft business packages.
• Proactive and flexible working manner.
• Good time keeping.
• Working knowledge of Cad. Illustrator etc.

Additional Information

• To apply for this placement, you must be currently studying an Undergraduate Sandwich Degree Course and able to undertake 12 months in industry as part of your course.
• This placement is based in our South Shields Head Office.

Benefits

• Staff discount
• Staff shop
• 25 days holiday as standard plus bank holidays
• Access to training and development activities to support your studies
• Free onsite parking
• Subsidised canteen
• Operate hybrid & flexible working
• 4pm finish on a Friday
• Wellbeing support
• Reward & Recognition Program

Note: In the event that a sufficient volume of suitable applications are received, the post may close prior to the specified closing date. Please apply as soon as possible if interested.