Operational Leadership Apprentice

Operational Leader Apprentice Opportunity

We have an exciting opportunity for an Operational Leader Apprentice to join our Depot Operations Team in September 2026. Our Apprenticeship scheme is designed to develop our future people leaders by giving you hands-on exposure to the operations and real responsibility from day one.

What you'll do at work

You will manage operational processes, drive performance through Key Performance Indicators, and develop your people management/leadership skills. You’ll join a busy Depot Operations team who will support you throughout with structured training and invaluable industry experience in a fast-paced, cost-focused, multi-cultural environment. During your time on the programme, you will complete a Supply Chain Leadership Level 6 Apprenticeship to develop your knowledge and skills.

Duties:

• Help run operational shifts and promote best practices to improve performance.
• Understand and manage budgets to help achieve operational targets.
• Support and motivate teams through coaching and engagement.
• Assist with shift planning and rota management to maximize productivity.
• Use data to spot trends and identify ways to improve cost, service, and quality.
• Help ensure quality, service, safety, and security standards are always met.
• Maintain a visible presence on the shop floor, providing guidance and ensuring best practices are followed.
• Support continuous improvement projects and help implement operational changes.
• Build strong relationships across teams and at all levels.
• Receive mentoring and join a network of emerging talent through our EVRi Emerging Talent Development programme.

Where you'll work

You can select which locations you want to apply for in your application on "Find an apprenticeship." This apprenticeship is available in these locations:

• Unit 2 Reed Close, Panattoni Close, Aylesford, ME20 7XL
• Gemstone Building Crawley Business Park, Manor Royal, Crawley, RH10 9AD
• Hemel Hempstead Depot Unit 5, Blossom Way, Hemel Hempstead, HP2 4ZB
• 157 Valor Park, West Thurrock, RM20 3LW
• Logistics 15 Unit D 3000, Brooklands Industrial Park, Weybridge, KT13 0YX

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

• Training provider: SHEFFIELD HALLAM UNIVERSITY
• Training course: Supply chain leadership professional (integrated degree) (level 6)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents:

• Determine benefits of insourcing, offshoring, or outsourcing.
• Gather, analyze, interpret, and use data from across the supply chain to propose and make effective decisions.
• Source and plan optimal transport solutions.
• Actively integrate and use data across enterprise lines.
• Develop differentiated supply chain strategies aligned to relevant business unit or function to achieve long-term sustainable growth.
• Use end customer insight to design and evaluate end-to-end supply chain networks.
• Use current market and product information to influence and challenge supply chain network design.
• Leverage, and capitalize on, supply chain assets to deliver financial targets.
• Drive cost efficiencies and service level improvements through the distribution network.
• Practise in a sustainable and ethical way all sourcing and buying decisions.
• Control information and material flow on-time and in-full.
• Apply relevant inventory control techniques and tools.
• Articulate ways to minimize costs and deploy Lean principles while optimizing service.
• Introduce strategies for managing inventory optimization and rationalization across the extended supply chain.
• Implement change in the supply chain in response to changes in production, scheduling, and demand.
• Collaborate with manufacturing functions to meet criteria of quality, time, and continuity.
• Manage distribution and logistics networks, inbound and outbound.
• Evolve alternative supply chains to ensure resilience and continuity of supply.
• Design activities for receiving, put-away, storage, replenish, order-picking, and dispatch.
• Identify next-generation software and manage potentially disruptive technologies.
• Match innovation in IT with business needs including global sourcing and the international trade context.
• Meet the challenge of technology selection, development, implementation, and application.
• Give guidance on meeting environmental and legal requirements and maintain a high regard for risk identification and reduction, and safety management.
• Articulate business purpose and values and establish key accountabilities for contract formation and negotiation.
• Introduce innovative distribution, delivery, and return methods while managing risk.
• Implement the 7 "R's" of sustainability: remove, reduce, reuse, renew, recycle, revenue, and read.
• Maintain the competitiveness of the supply chain.
• Agree, communicate, collaborate, and coordinate supply chain and network imperatives with finance, HR, IT, sales, and marketing functions and with key partners.
• Initiate value-adding strategic and operational processes through effective project and task management.