Supply Chain Warehouse Operative

On a supply chain warehouse operative apprenticeship course, you’ll help carry out a range of moving, packaging and stock-taking roles and duties in a warehouse environment.

As an apprentice warehouse operator, you’ll take deliveries, examine for damaged/missing items, store goods, move stock using various procedures, choose and pack orders, load goods for dispatch, manage stock records and paperwork, and clean.

You’ll operate a range of equipment, machinery, and vehicles safely, depending on your role and the surroundings. Forklift trucks, mechanical racking systems, and materials handling equipment are all instances of this.

As a warehouse operator, you’ll deal with a wide range of people and customers. As a result, you’ll be motivated by a desire to go above and beyond for customers by providing high-quality service that encourages them to return.

You’ll learn how to use industry-standard systems and services, as well as how to work under pressure to achieve deadlines.

What you’ll learn

On a supply chain warehouse operative course, you’ll learn to:

• Operate and handle equipment such as forklift trucks, high reach trucks, powered pallet trucks, or man up trucks safely and efficiently as required for their purpose; drive vehicles in tight spaces.
• Comply with necessary standards, rules, and procedures for securely and effectively moving, handling, packing, and unpacking various items, both physically and with appropriate equipment (such as MHE, vehicles, and delivery systems); understand the consequences of improper use.
• Move and handle goods with care, both individually and as part of a team; maintain a high level of housekeeping and effectively manage trash; know where to get instructions or advice; check for damaged or missing items as needed; take responsibility for people’s health, safety, and security at all times.
• Load and unload goods safely and efficiently into and out of vehicles, buildings, containers, lift vans, crates, and/or boxes; use appropriate MHE or equipment as needed; ensure things are packaged, assembled, and/or deconstructed as required.
• Consider the item(s) to be moved and their current and future destinations, then choose, prepare, and use packing materials that are appropriate for the job while minimizing waste, expenses, and environmental impact.
• Utilize the necessary equipment and processes to record receiving or stowing items; use the appropriate equipment and procedures to make applicable documentation or labelling activities.
•  Promote the company’s ideals; communicate effectively with customers and employees to identify and meet their needs.
• Work well as part of a warehouse team, especially under pressure, and to agreed-upon deadlines; adapt to change in response to internal and external client needs or situations.
• Use IT applications and other relevant technologies and systems, such as warehouse management, data capture, radio, and barcoding systems, to ensure safe and efficient handling of items.

Entry requirements

You’ll usually need:

• Depending on the employer, but likely GCSEs or equivalent qualifications or relevant experience.
• Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level before taking the end-point assessment.

Assessment methods

The End Point Assessment consists of two distinct assessment methods: 

• Knowledge and Behaviours Test
• Practical Assessment 

Duration and level

Apprenticeship standard

More information about the Level 2 Warehouse Operative Apprenticeship standard can be found here.

Apprenticeship end point assessment

For more information about the End Point Assessment Process, please read the Institute of Apprenticeships’ information page.