Amazon is expandings its apprenticeship programme in 2022, including more than 200 degree-level apprenticeships.
The news comes ahead of National Apprenticeships week next week.
The tech giant says it has already started recruiting for more than 40 different schemes, from engineering to broadcast production, creative digital design to warehouse team leaders and health, safety and environment technicians.
It is also launching a new apprenticeship programme focusing on environmental, social and corporate governance. It hopes this will give apprentices the opportunity to gain real world sustainability experience.
There will also be new apprenticeship schemes available including publishing, retailing and marketing, amongst others.
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. She managed to get on the apprenticeship programme in 2018.
She said: 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. Since completing my course, I have achieved several promotions.”
John Boumphrey, UK Country Manager at Amazon, said: “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.”
The company also plans to offer apprenticeship opportunities to military families and will be working with Forces Families Jobs in 2022.
70,000 staff work for Amazon in the UK and the company says it will offer 500 apprenticeships to existing employees who want to retrain and get new skills.
Recently, BT Group announced it would recruit more than 600 apprentices and graduates for September this year.
Meanwhile, FDM Group announced this week that it has signed a partnership deal with Sheffied Hallam University to recruit 500 apprentices.
It is offering new joiners the opportunity to gain degree-level qualifications as part of an innovative training course.
Candidates will be given full vocational training in key IT roles alongside to study as part of the government-approved level 6 (Bachelor of Science Degree) Digital and Technology Professional apprenticeship.
After the initial training phase is complete, employees will then be able to specialise in key areas such as IT consultancy, software engineering, cyber security, and data science.
Rod Flavell, CEO, FDM Group said: “Far too many talented young people from disadvantaged backgrounds miss out on a university education due to fears around tuition fees, a problem compounded by the chaos and disruption of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Our new apprenticeship programme has been designed to give those very people access to well-paid experience in the IT industry and having the freedom lean and develop as part of a fully funded degree level qualification.
“We all have responsibility to contribute to the UK’s wider levelling up agenda and we hope that our new offering will transform the lives of hundreds of young people, spreading opportunity and access to a fantastic career across the whole country.”
Feyaza Khan has been a journalist for more than 20 years in print and broadcast. Her special interests include neurodiversity in the workplace, tech, diversity, trauma and wellbeing.