Clayers Academy

The Clayers Academy, Careers Loaded with possibilities:

Clays began with a bold vision: to reimagine the traditional sport of clay target shooting into a high-energy, tech-driven social experience. While our innovative concept captures attention, it’s our people who truly define the guest experience.

From the very beginning, we recognised that the quality of our service depends entirely on the strength and capability of our team. That’s why we built the Clayers Academy, your internal learning and development hub that makes growth, recognition, and career progression a visible and celebrated part of life at Clays.

A Cultural Cornerstone

The Clayers Academy is the cornerstone of how we grow and develop our people. Hospitality careers can often feel unclear or chaotic, so we designed the Academy to bring structure, transparency, and purpose to every role.

Structured Pathways for Every Role

Every Clayer follows a tailored development journey, with pathways mapped specifically for Floor, Kitchen, Bar, and Management roles. Each pathway outlines clear skills, behaviours, and milestones, giving you visibility over your progress and clarity on what comes next. We offer two types of pathways:

- Emerging Pathways for those new to a role or the industry, focusing on strong foundations in service, confidence, and technical ability.

- Established Pathways for experienced hires or those stepping into leadership, designed to stretch their capabilities and prepare them for greater responsibility.

Hands-On, Practical Learning

Learning at Clays is immersive and practical. Training is delivered through live service challenges, on-the-job practice, reflective conversations, and regular feedback. Our bespoke Learning Management System supports this with over 130 tailored courses, covering everything from signature cocktails to leadership essentials, alongside an extended library of specialist courses through our Expert LMS partnership. We also fund external qualifications like WSET and the Personal Licence, and our career pathways can lead to nationally recognised Diplomas in Hospitality.

Growing Leaders from Within

Since launch, the Academy has supported several internal promotions, including many into management roles. Our team regularly highlights growth and progression as one of the best parts of working at Clays, praising the structure, visibility, and support they receive.

At Clays, learning and development is not an afterthought, it's who we are. The Clayers Academy allows us to scale our culture, invest in people, and build teams who are confident, capable, and motivated. In an industry often challenged by retention and unclear progression, we’ve created something different: a place where careers are nurtured, growth is celebrated, and people truly belong.