An apprentice who works at Amazon’s corporate office in Holborn is taking the first step on the path to higher education and new experiences after joining the Amazon Apprenticeship programme.
Amazon is creating 1,000 full-time apprenticeships in the UK this year, covering 25 programmes ranging from IT, safety technician and HR, through to software engineering and creative digital design. Roles include 100 degree-level apprenticeships and more than 500 apprenticeships for Amazon employees, providing an opportunity to retrain and gain new skills
After completing the fully funded apprenticeship in AWS (Amazon Web Services) Account Management, Ibraheem Bhaijee (19) will use his new skills and knowledge in an Account Management role for the Justice and Public Safety Team at Amazon’s corporate office in Holborn, helping him continue his career progression within the company.
Speaking about the Amazon Apprenticeship programme, Ibraheem said:
“I always knew I wanted to do an apprenticeship, as I like to learn on the job. I also think an apprenticeship prepares you for the working world and gives you great experience.”
Ibraheem, who grew up and lives in East London, originally began a Creative Learning Apprenticeship at London’s South Bank Centre in 2019. But when the pandemic hit, Ibraheem was furloughed. He used his time on furlough to volunteer, which is a big passion of his. During April and May of 2020, he supported the Ramadan Tent Project, delivering over 1,000 parcels that included recipe cards and supportive information packs to members of the community during Ramadan.
As the pandemic progressed, Ibraheem decided to apply for an apprenticeship at Amazon. He was impressed by how adaptable the company was during lockdown and was drawn to its innovation and stability.
He said: “I’m really pleased my career journey has led me to an Amazon Apprenticeship. I’ve always respected how pioneering Amazon is, but during lockdown my interest in the company increased and I was impressed at how quickly it was to adapt to the changing circumstances. Amazon’s innovation is what lead me to apply for an apprenticeship at the end of last year. I started my role in January 2021, and I’ve already learned so much.”
“I’ve learned a lot about AWS and the technology behind it. I’ve developed my interpersonal skills, learnt how to effectively communicate with customers and how to deal with challenges. I’ve also learned lots about office admin – for example – how to manage my time.”
Ibraheem is encouraging others to think about starting an apprenticeship with Amazon, he adds: “I would advise anyone who is considering their next career move to think about an apprenticeship with Amazon. You’re given lots of great opportunities. For example, recently, I was asked to create and deliver a workshop to other apprentices, which is something I would have previously been nervous about. It went really and I’m now more confident because of it.”
Nicola Drury, UK Apprenticeship Manager at Amazon, added: “The Amazon Apprenticeship programme is a great way to develop new skills and embrace new opportunities. We’re passionate about helping our people develop through a wide range of training programmes and it’s fantastic that hundreds of our 1,000 apprenticeships have been taken by existing Amazon employees and that we are also welcoming new people to the company. We’re proud that Ibraheem has joined the programme and everyone at Amazon in Holborn is looking forward to supporting his career progression.”
The 1,000 new apprentices will join current apprentices already working at Amazon. The recent Amazon apprenticeship programmes have attracted recruits from a range of different backgrounds including a former barista, footballer and photographer, to former military veterans and nurses. Throughout the last year, people have also joined Amazon from construction, customer services, health care, hospitality and sales industries.
The apprenticeship programmes are designed to suit candidates with a range of experience, from those with life skills to school leavers who are 18+ with GCSEs or A-levels. The roles pay a minimum of £10.00 or £11.10 per hour depending on location, up to £32,000 a year for degree-level apprenticeships.
Apprentice programmes last between 14 months and four years and a typical apprenticeship combines theoretical learning with hands-on training, enabling participants to obtain qualifications and degrees and earn money in the process.
Once qualified, apprentices will have the potential 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.
Amazon provides competitive pay, excellent benefits and a modern, safe and engaging work environment for its employees. The comprehensive benefits package 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.
Earlier this year, Amazon announced plans to create more than 10,000 new permanent jobs in 2021, taking its total UK workforce to more than 55,000 people by the end of the year. It will also invest £10 million over three years to train up to 5,000 employees in new skills and support the Government’s investment programme. This training will be offered through Amazon’s Career Choice programme, where the company pays course fees for its employees who have expressed an interest in pursuing a career outside of Amazon – something that will boost the skills and employability of British workers.
Amazon employees also have great opportunities to progress their careers at the company, whether that be through improving existing skills or promotion into a managerial role. For those who see their future outside of Amazon, the Career Choice programme provides funding for adult education, offering to pre-pay 95% of tuition and associated fees for nationally recognised courses, up to £8,000 over four years. Courses available range from accountancy to HGV drivers and software developers, and are designed to help employees pursue careers outside of Amazon if they choose to do that.
