Swansea apprentice helps Amazon announce 1,000 new UK apprenticeships

• The company is recruiting for more than 40 different schemes; from data science and cyber security, to marketing and engineering

•  More than half of the roles are open to external candidates, combining paid work with classroom education

•  Roles include more than 500 higher-level apprenticeships for software development, automation engineering, and operations

A Swansea apprentice has helped Amazon announce that it is creating more than 1,000 new apprenticeships in the UK in 2025. The Amazon apprenticeship programme, recognised as one of the UK’s top apprenticeship schemes by the Government’s Department for Education[1], will offer a wide range of opportunities across the country in Amazon businesses including Amazon Web Services (AWS), Prime Video, and Amazon Devices and Services.

Alan Smith from Swansea has taken part in the programme and is sharing his story to encourage others to consider an apprenticeship.

Alan works at the Amazon fulfilment centre in Swansea as a team lead in the shipping department.

Before joining Amazon, Alan worked as a farmer for 30 years. When the last farm he worked on was sold by its owner, he decided to pursue new things outside agriculture and worked in IT for 18 months. Following redundancy, he joined Amazon for better job security, and he has now been with the company for 11 years, working his way up from a temporary role to team lead.

Last year, Alan completed an 18 month Operational and Departmental Management apprenticeship through the Amazon Apprenticeship programme.

Alan decided to apply for the apprenticeship to boost his people management skills. Speaking on the impact it had on him, he said: “We did a module on the apprenticeship that taught us about the importance of self-awareness. I’d like to think I was pretty good at that anyway, but it helped me look at myself in a more in-depth way.

“I always prioritise looking out for my team, but knowing myself better has helped me put strategies in place to look after myself too. I know I can be shy and reserved, so now I have tools that make it easier for me to come out of my shell and have difficult conversations if I need to. That was a particularly insightful part of the apprenticeship for me as a leader.”

Alan was one of the older members of his apprenticeship cohort, and although it was daunting returning to formal education after three decades, Alan is glad he decided to take on the challenge.

“There’s no pressure to be better than anyone else when you do an apprenticeship with Amazon,” Alan shared. “You do the course the way you want to do it and learn the way you want to. Getting back into the swing of studying was tricky for me when I first started the course, but it was well worth the effort.

“I didn’t think a degree was ever on the cards for me, but I’m about to start the next level of apprenticeship following what I completed, which is the Chartered Management Degree apprenticeship.

“If you’re thinking about applying for an apprenticeship, go for it! It’ll be hard, but it’s worth it. You get a chance to learn and then put those skills straight into action, which you don’t get with other education routes.”

Alan’s son Christopher also works at the Amazon fulfilment centre in Swansea. Alan is currently encouraging him to apply for an apprenticeship to boost his career.

During their time at Amazon, both Alan and Christopher have also taken part in Amazon’s Career Choice programme to gain qualifications in IT. Career Choice is an innovative programme which provides funding for adult education, offering to pre-pay 95% of tuition and reimburse employees for eligible fees for nationally recognised courses; up to £8,000 over four years.

“Apprenticeships have been a big focus for Amazon for over a decade, and we’re excited to continue creating opportunities for people to start and grow their careers through the announcement of 1,000 new UK apprenticeships in 2025,” added John Boumphrey, UK Country Manager at Amazon. “The Amazon Apprenticeship programme is perfect for people of all ages who are either taking their first step on the career ladder, or for those who want to pursue a new path. This is one of the many ways we continue to create opportunities for people inside and outside Amazon to learn new skills and gain new qualifications.”

Recruitment is now underway across more than 40 different programmes, including data science and cyber security, HR, marketing, engineering, health and safety, and warehouse operations. The majority of courses now also include generative AI training, and this year, Amazon is also launching new programmes including creative industries production, data centre operations, and facilities operations.

Since the launch of the Amazon Apprenticeship programme in 2013, Amazon has offered 7,000 apprenticeships in the UK. There are currently around 2,000 apprentices in the programme, making it one of the largest and broadest apprenticeship schemes in the UK. Since 2021, Amazon has committed £11 million supporting 650 small and medium-sized businesses, third sector organisations, and public sector bodies including the NHS with more than 1,000 apprenticeships. This is through the apprenticeship levy transfer scheme, across a wide range of schemes including adult care, data, dental nurses and broadcast production assistants.

Young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) can also take advantage of the Amazon Supported Internship programme. Launched in 2021, the initiative combines classroom learning with practical work experience; helping interns develop essential skills in English, Maths, and CV writing, while gaining hands-on experience across three operational job functions.

Pay at Amazon starts from £13.50 or £14.50 per hour depending on location, equating to between £28,000 and £30,000 annually. Additionally, from day one, all employees are offered a comprehensive benefits package including private medical insurance, life assurance, income protection, and an employee discount. Together, these benefits are worth more than £700 annually, and employees can take advantage of a company pension plan.

Applications are now open for Amazon’s apprenticeship programme. For more information, visit: www.amazonapprenticeships.co.uk

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[1] https://apprenticeshipguide.co.uk/department-for-education-reveals-top-100-employers-rankings-2024/