Amazon expands UK apprenticeship programme with 1,500 new roles in 2022
London – Thursday 3rd February 2022 – Today Amazon announces the expansion of its apprenticeship programme with the addition of 1,500 full-time positions across the UK in 2022 including over 200 degree-level apprenticeships.
- More than 40 different apprenticeship schemes from [entry level to degree level] reflect Amazon’s diverse workforce and the communities we serve every day across the UK
- Schemes range from a new apprenticeship in corporate responsibility and sustainability to creative digital design, broadcast production, engineering and warehouse team leaders
- Pay starts at a minimum of £10.00 or £11.10 per hour depending on location and up to £32,000 a year for some degree-level apprenticeships
- 500 apprenticeships will be offered to existing Amazon employees to retrain and gain new skills
- Amazon will also provide opportunities to military spouses and children of serving parents
Recruitment has now started for more than 40 different schemes, from engineering to broadcast production, creative digital design to warehouse team leaders and health, safety and environment technicians. The range of different apprenticeship schemes reflect Amazon’s diverse workforce and the communities we serve every day across the UK.
This year, Amazon is also launching a new apprenticeship programme focusing on environmental, social and corporate governance, giving apprentices the opportunity to gain real world sustainability experience. Additionally, there will be new apprenticeship schemes available including publishing, retailing, marketing and many more.
Over 500 new apprenticeships will be offered to existing employees that want to retrain and gain new skills for an exciting new career path. Amazon will also be working with Forces Families Jobs in 2022 to provide apprenticeship opportunities to military families.
Amazon provides competitive pay, comprehensive benefits and a modern, safe and engaging work environment for its employees. The roles pay a minimum of £10.00 or £11.10 per hour depending on location, and up to £32,000 a year for degree-level apprenticeships. Apprentices also receive a benefits package that includes private medical insurance, life assurance, income protection, and an employee discount – which combined are worth more than £700 annually – as well as a company pension plan.
The 1,500 new apprenticeships highlight Amazon’s ongoing commitment to creating jobs and providing opportunities for training and upskilling across the UK. Once qualified, apprentices will have the opportunity to work across Amazon’s UK sites including fulfilment centres, delivery stations, sortation centres and the company’s UK head offices in London and Manchester and the three development centres in Edinburgh, Cambridge and London.
There are over 1,000 apprentices currently taking part in Amazon’s apprenticeship programme. More than 500 Amazon employees have already completed apprenticeships and gone on to build successful careers within the company.
One graduate of the Amazon apprenticeship scheme is Evelina Slavova.
Evelina, who lives in Dartford, joined the team at the Amazon fulfilment centre in Tilbury when it opened in 2017. Her first role with the company was as an associate instructor. In 2018, Evelina secured a place on the Amazon apprenticeship programme and started the business improvement techniques scheme. She was inspired to join the programme by her family and after successfully completing her apprenticeship, she has worked across multiple departments in a number of roles and is now an area manager with Amazon in Tilbury.
Evelina said: “When I joined the Amazon Apprenticeship programme, I was struggling with confidence and didn’t think I was good enough to progress. The apprenticeship gave me confidence and opened my mind to a new way of thinking, and that has been critical in helping me develop into different roles at Amazon. Since completing my course, I have achieved several promotions at Amazon. If you’re thinking about doing an apprenticeship, then my advice is to go for it. It has given my career an amazing boost and has set me up for many more happy years with Amazon.”
John Boumphrey, UK Country Manager at Amazon, said:
“We are very proud to be providing opportunities for upskilling and retraining for people of all ages, at all stages of their careers, helping to address skills gaps and increase social mobility.
“After the success of last year’s programme, we are pleased to be expanding to new regions across the UK and in new disciplines like corporate responsibility and sustainability. Amidst a backdrop of skills shortages across the country, apprenticeships are key to equipping people with the skills they need to progress in the modern labour market.”
Minister for Skills Alex Burghart said:
“Apprenticeships give people the chance to earn while they learn and deliver the skilled workforce employers need to grow their business.
“There has never been a better time to do an apprenticeship, and it is fantastic to see top companies like Amazon offering 1,500 more people the opportunity to gain the skills they need to build a successful career. “
Amazon employees can also take advantage of Amazon’s pioneering Career Choice programme, which pre-pays 95% of tuition for courses in high-demand fields, up to £8,000 over four years, regardless of whether the skills are relevant to a career at Amazon.
Amazon also provides opportunities to improve existing skills or learn new ones through internal career progression opportunities such as cross-training, transferring to a different department and promotion into a managerial role.
Amazon created more than 25,000 new permanent jobs in the UK in 2021 alone, and employs more than 70,000 people in some of the most advanced workplaces of their kind in the world with competitive pay, processes and systems to ensure the wellbeing and safety of all employees.
Amazon has invested over £32 billion in the UK since 2010 to provide convenience, selection and value to UK consumers, while supporting tens of thousands of businesses and creative professionals including small businesses selling on Amazon’s online stores, Amazon Web Services developers and Kindle Direct Publishing authors.
Fiona White works at the Amazon delivery station in Ipswich and is studying the team leader apprenticeship.
Fiona, works as an operations supervisor which sees her prepare the teams working at the site to deliver products to customers locally and across Suffolk. She joined the Amazon Apprenticeship programme so she could learn new skills and has been impressed because it’s available to people of all ages – not just school leavers.
Fiona has had a varied career, working for many organisations in different countries around the world. She spent a long time working in the banking industry, and it was this role that led her into training other employees. Teaching others was something Fiona enjoyed, and she carried this passion into subsequent roles with organisations including the police, the magistrate courts and telephony businesses. She’s worked across the UK, Singapore and the US and is now happily settled at Amazon in Ipswich.
Fiona said: “Learning new things has been fantastic for me and I’m really enjoying it. Working at Amazon and doing the apprenticeship has given me a whole new perspective on compromise and the importance of working together as a team.”
John Aitken from Larbert, works at the Amazon fulfilment centre in Dunfermline in the inbound dept and is studying the chartered management degree apprenticeship.
At school, John enjoyed working on business studies projects, but when deciding on a career, chose to follow his heart into performing arts. After six years in the industry working on musical production tours across the world, John ended his time as a performer on a cruise ship to settle down in Scotland with his partner.
Unsure of what to do next, and worried that he may not be able to find another career to suit him, John was excited when he saw the chartered management degree apprenticeship advertised by Amazon. The role would mean that he could finally achieve a business studies degree whilst also earning as he learns, meaning that he wouldn’t need to sacrifice his lifestyle to return to study.
John said: “I’m so pleased to have found a career that I love just as much as performing. On Amazon’s apprenticeship scheme I have a supportive team behind me, modules to study that interest me and the opportunity to gain practical, hands-on experience of managing a team as I get my qualifications. I would encourage everyone to apply – you don’t know what your potential is until you give it a shot.”
Saskia Phokou from North London is working at the Amazon Development Centre in Cambridge as a digital marketing apprentice.
A typical day for Saskia involves building new campaigns, working towards future goals and catching up with other apprentices.
Saskia studied English Literature prior to the apprenticeship and has always kept an open mind about her career. After her degree, Saskia started a small online art business where she taught herself some social media skills when promoting her brand. This sparked an interest to apply for an apprenticeship in digital marketing and Saskia hasn’t looked back.
Saskia’s favourite thing about the apprenticeship is how it mixes learning with working, which she felt she would miss out on if she went straight into a graduate role.
Saskia said: “For anyone considering taking part in the Amazon Apprenticeship programme, I would say go for it. It’s a great introduction to a corporate environment and you are always trusted and taken seriously in your role. There is no age limit and anyone that wants to learn something completely new should apply.”
A series of Amazon webinars will also take place during National Apprenticeship Week.
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