DHL Global Forwarding is recruiting a warehouse apprentice at its Trafford Park site in Manchester, with applications closing at 11:59pm on Saturday 14 November 2026.

The apprenticeship is listed on the government's Find an Apprenticeship service. It pays £15,600 for the first year, with salary reviewed after 12 months, for a 37.5-hour week. The role lasts one year and three months and is due to start on Saturday 28 November 2026. There is one position available.

What the apprentice will do

The successful applicant will train as a supply chain warehouse operative at Level 2, the intermediate level of apprenticeship, gaining hands-on experience supporting the movement, handling and storage of goods within a warehouse environment.

Day-to-day work includes handling cargo movement, loading and unloading trucks and containers, processing ocean or air freight, recording inbound and outbound deliveries, and carrying out random physical inspections of cargo. Apprentices may also handle special cargo, including perishable goods, dangerous goods and IT equipment, and will take part in regular cycle counting and keeping transaction files for the warehouse.

The apprentice will also have the opportunity to complete forklift licence training, and will learn key warehouse operations, cargo handling, stock control, safety procedures and customer service skills.

Hours and training

Working hours are Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.30pm during initial training. Once fully trained, hours change to Monday to Friday, 12.30pm to 8.30pm.

Training is provided by Seetec Business Technology Centre Limited. Apprentices study the Level 2 supply chain warehouse operative course, covering risk assessments, safe working practices, receiving, storing, picking and dispatching products, and using IT and digital systems. Apprentices without Level 2 English and maths will need to achieve that level before taking the end-point assessment.

Who can apply

Applicants need GCSEs in English and maths at grade 4 or above. The listing also asks for communication and IT skills, attention to detail, organisation, customer care, problem solving and number skills, along with team working and physical fitness.

The role involves some working at height and manual work, and applicants must be keen to take a forklift truck licence. Because of DHL insurance requirements, candidates must be over 18 years old.

About the employer

DHL Global Forwarding is one of five DHL divisions within the DPDHL Group, specialising in shipping freight by air and sea. The company says it is the world and UK market leader for airfreight and number two for ocean freight, with more than 30,000 employees across more than 200 countries and more than 1,000 colleagues in the UK.

Benefits include 25 days of annual leave plus bank holidays, a pension scheme that includes life assurance, and a package of voluntary benefits including retail and gym discounts and a cycle to work scheme.

The apprenticeship will initially be a 24-month fixed-term contract, with the aim that apprentices move on to a further apprenticeship or a permanent role within the business, subject to a suitable vacancy being available.

Applications must be made through the Find an Apprenticeship service on GOV.UK before the closing date of Saturday 14 November 2026. The apprenticeship reference is VAC2000061801.