TWO apprentices from Warrington have helped Amazon celebrate the 10th anniversary of its apprenticeship programme and are sharing their stories in the hope of inspiring others to follow in their footsteps.
Jessica Preece and Mike Radcliffe are two of the 1,600 apprentices currently taking part in the Amazon Apprenticeship programme. 5,000 apprenticeships have been offered in the UK in the last 10 years.
Jessica Preece lives in Alsager in Cheshire and is an automated engineering apprentice at Amazon in Warrington. She is entering the final year of her degree apprenticeship, hoping to finish in the summer of 2024.
Speaking on what it’s like working at Amazon, Jessica said: “I have loved everything about my apprenticeship. I have really valued working with highly skilled engineers as well as seeing different pathways where I can grow and the opportunities available to me in the future.”
Jessica Preece
When Jessica was finishing her A Levels, she was encouraged to go to university – but she knew that wasn’t for her. She wanted to get on the industry ladder straight away, so she started her apprenticeship with Amazon at 18 years old, straight from sixth form.
“It was a big jump, going straight into the world of work, but I knew I wanted to be an engineer and just knew university wasn’t for me. I am a very hands-on worker and enjoy that style of learning. If you don’t think you want to go to university, I would highly recommend finding an apprenticeship that fits you and your skill set.”
“I would love to stay here at Amazon in the future. Once I get my degree and finish my apprenticeship, I would love to step into an automation engineering role,” Jessica added. “Eventually I would like to explore leadership positions and progress that way. Thankfully within Amazon there is the scope to do that, which is really inspiring as an apprentice looking on.”
Mike Radcliffe from Wigan works at the Amazon fulfilment centre in Warrington as a Maintenance Engineer and is studying a Mechatronics Apprenticeship degree through the Amazon Apprenticeship programme. Mike started his apprenticeship in 2019 and is due to complete the course in 2023.
Mike Radcliffe
After school, Mike went into the bricklaying trade but after a couple of years, decided it wasn’t for him. Mike had always wanted to get into engineering but having a family to support meant he had financial commitments so he couldn’t afford to re-train. The Amazon Apprenticeship programme offers the opportunity to learn while earning a salary, so Mike jumped at the chance to apply.
The ever-evolving nature of his role is the thing Mike likes most about his time so far on the Amazon Apprenticeship programme. “Every day I learn something new.
This apprenticeship has presented me with some amazing opportunities and challenges to help me build my skillset. I enjoy the fact that every day is different, as the company is so dynamic,” he said.
To anyone considering joining the Amazon Apprenticeship programme, Mike said: “The apprenticeship programme offers a lot of opportunities within a variety of fields. As someone who was sceptical to join an apprenticeship programme due to financial responsibility, the pay is fantastic and has eliminated that worry. I am very grateful to soon be qualified in a career I will hopefully have for a lifetime.”
Headline act Cat Burns
To mark the tenth year of the Amazon Apprenticeship programme, Brit-nominated, South London artist Cat Burns was the headline act at a mentoring event for 200 aspiring apprentices in one of Amazon’s largest fulfilment centres in the UK, marking the tenth anniversary of the company’s apprenticeship programme.
The audience included Amazon employees and apprentices, alongside 200 members of Apprentice Nation, the career development platform, that uses the power of music to inspire 16-25-year olds to shape their future.
In addition to the concert, attendees were given a tour of the centre, which is equipped with advanced Amazon robotics technology, to experience a behind the scenes look at what happens when they click ‘buy’ on the Amazon website and see the technology used to help deliver for millions of customers around the world every day. The Apprentice Nation members also took part in career development activities and a mass mentoring session with Amazon apprentices, employees and industry leaders from Lucozade and Havas, sharing their career stories and advice.
When the Amazon apprenticeship programme launched in 2013, it had one scheme – engineering – and only six apprentices. Five are still employees of the business today and are flourishing as engineers in fulfilment centres in Dunfermline, Rugeley and Swansea. This year, Amazon has offered hundreds of full-time apprenticeship roles across the UK starting at entry-level and including around 250 degree-level apprenticeships in over 30 different schemes ranging from engineering to broadcast production, warehouse team leaders to buying and merchandising.
In total, since the launch of the Amazon apprenticeship programme in 2013, there have been 5,000 Amazon apprenticeships offered in the UK. The vast majority (85%) of employees who completed their apprenticeships have gone on to build successful careers at Amazon and currently 79% remain working with the company today. There are also over 1,600 apprentices currently taking part in the apprenticeship programme, making it one of the largest and broadest apprenticeship schemes in the UK.
Amazon also launched new apprenticeship programmes for 2023 including cyber security and information communications technicians. The new apprenticeships highlight Amazon’s ongoing commitment to creating jobs and providing opportunities for training and up-skilling across the UK.
Speaking at the event, double-platinum-selling Cat Burns said: “It’s been amazing to support young people with Apprentice Nation and celebrate ten years of Amazon apprenticeships in this incredible robotics fulfilment centre with such an inspiring group of people. So much of my own journey has been about ‘learning on the job’ and I know how valuable it is to have relatable mentors to offer support along the way. This event has shown just how powerful the combination of music and mentorship can be.”
Amazon’s UK Country Manager, John Boumphrey, speaking at the event said: “We are exceptionally proud to be celebrating 10 years of our apprenticeship programme, providing opportunities for upskilling and retraining for people of all ages, at all stages of their careers. Apprenticeships are key to equipping people with the skills they need to progress in today’s labour market, and we now offer one of the broadest and largest apprenticeship programmes in the UK. From young people entering the workplace for the first time, to older people looking to take their skills and careers in a new direction, our apprenticeship schemes illustrate that, at Amazon, there are opportunities for everyone.”
Stephen Greene CBE, CEO RockCorps & Producer of Apprentice Nation, said: “This is a time where we are all questioning university as being the dominant career route. There are many other ways to a career. That is what Apprentice Nation does – offers options – in this case through our exciting and unique partnership with Amazon. We are stoked to have Cat Burns perform in Dartford and share her inspiring story with others. What an artist!”
Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education Robert Halfon said: “I applaud Amazon for its decade-long commitment to apprenticeships. Giving 5,000 people the opportunity to earn while they learn and develop the skills needed to succeed is key to building a skills and apprenticeships nation, and I hope that more employers follow in their footsteps.
“Over 90% of apprentices go into work or further training, and this is certainly true at Amazon. In fact, 85% of employees who completed their apprenticeships have gone on to build successful careers at the company, showing that an apprenticeship isn’t just a rung on the ladder of opportunity, it can take you all the way to the top.”
Apprentice Nation member, Jecoliah Frimpong, from Greenwich, said: “This has been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity – Cat Burns was incredible and the mentors were really inspiring. I had no idea there were so many opportunities and different apprenticeships available at Amazon and it will definitely make me think of doing an apprenticeship instead of going to university!”
After talking about her own career journey with host and Capital Radio DJ, Remel London, Cat Burns and her band performed a live set for the audience which included her hits Go and People Pleaser, all taking place in the state-of-the-art fulfilment centre. Cat has previously partnered with Amazon Music to release several exclusive performances including a live performance of Go ft Sam Smith, and more recently Live More & Love More from the Amazon CURVED studio in London.
For more information about Amazon apprenticeships visit here
Explore more about Apprentice Nation at www.apprenticenation.co.uk
