Apprenticeships for Warehouse career development

If you have been working in temporary warehouse jobs and are thinking about making a more permanent career as a Warehouse Operative, then it is worth looking into a Warehouse Apprenticeship. A good place to start is to search for Government apprenticeships. These are provided by independent businesses, but they receive funding from the Government to cover some of the training and assessment costs. As there are warehouses in a wide variety of sectors, think building materials, art supplies, furniture or food, you will be able to search for a warehouse apprenticeship in an industry where you would like to continue your career. 

Warehouse apprenticeships are an important step in career development and will cover the basic duties of the warehouse job role such as:

• Processing orders
• Picking and preparing orders for dispatch
• Handling and processing received goods
• Checking and maintaining stock levels
• Identifying and reporting damage or quality issues
• Completing paperwork to maintain records
• Operating equipment (e.g. Forklift trucks)
• Warehouse housekeeping and health and safety
• Dealing with customers

Another option to further your career in the Warehouse sector is a logistics or supply chain apprenticeship. A supply chain apprenticeship incorporates various aspects of the supply chain, managing the movement of goods from factories, warehouses and suppliers to their final destination. 

Apprenticeships in this sector are available at various levels from Operator to Management. A logistics or transport internship can lead you into a variety of different sectors as they cover road, rail or airline. If you are interested in finding out more about driving jobs then you can learn more on our Blue Arrow Driving Jobs page.

If you are already experienced in the Warehouse Sector, it may be time to take the next step in your career. Management and Leadership apprenticeships are a popular choice for many sectors and working in a warehouse is no exception. Warehouse Managers oversee the running of the entire warehouse which means, as well as being responsible for their immediate staff, they must also liaise with other departments, customers, suppliers and transport providers.

You don’t have to be a school leaver to do an apprenticeship so a higher-level apprenticeship to help develop those management and leadership skills could be an ideal career move. This way you can work and study at the same time gaining a valuable qualification whilst also getting real work experience and, of course, still earning a salary. 

City and Guilds Apprenticeships cover a wide variety of sectors and this is a good place to start in your quest for information and to search for available apprenticeships at different levels.

If you have a specific company in mind that you would like to work for, then go to their website or write to them directly to see what apprenticeship opportunities they may have available.

Other useful resources for more information about a management or leadership apprenticeship include:

• ILM
• Professional Academy
• The Chartered Management Institute

An apprenticeship is a way to prepare for your future. It gives you the opportunity to get into a new industry while also gaining skills and a qualification that can be used to help further your new career.

Many companies in a wide and varied range of sectors now offer apprenticeships – the difficulty may be deciding which one you most want to do. Apprenticeships can be in anything from catering to engineering to marketing to finance. You can even find apprenticeships in more unusual career choices such as blacksmithing or a sail maker. 

In our recent series of blogs on how to change careers from a Warehouse Operative, we have looked at some alternative future proof careers. So far we have considered Barista jobs, Call Centre jobs and Receptionist jobs.

There are many ways to change career – you can find a temporary position to gain experience in a new sector, or you can look for a permanent job.

Another option is to approach employers direct or to consider an apprenticeship. For example, check out the well-known coffee shop websites for apprenticeships if you are considering a career in the coffee industry or visit company websites for industry specific apprenticeships. For ideas and inspiration, view some of the employers we work with at Blue Arrow.

The first step in looking for an apprenticeship is to do some research about what is available for the sector you are interested in. The Apprentice Hub on the Government Apprenticeships website is a good place to start for general information and to begin your search for apprenticeship vacancies currently in your area. 

• Decide the sector you want to work in – stay in the warehouse or change career?
• Visit Apprenticeships - GOV.UK to learn more about government apprenticeships.
• Register your interest on the Apprentice Hub on the Government Apprenticeships website and search to see what apprenticeship vacancies there are in your area and chosen sector.
• Visit specific company websites that you might like to work for and see if they offer internships.
• Check you have the required experience and/or qualifications for apprenticeships that interest you.
• Follow the application instructions - these will vary from one employer to another. For advice and to produce a CV that stands out from the crowd, view our how to write a CV page.

Ready to advance your warehouse career? Explore our current warehouse jobs or contact your local Blue Arrow branch today.