Company: DP World
Role: Customs Supervisor
I’m a Customs Supervisor at DP World, and my job is to make sure goods move across borders smoothly and legally.
In simple terms, I help shipments get from one country to another without delays. That means checking paperwork, making sure the right customs documents are completed on time, and speaking to authorities like HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and UK Border Force. If the paperwork isn’t right, goods can get stuck, and that can cause big problems for businesses waiting for their stock.
A big part of my job is problem-solving. Every shipment is different. Sometimes documents are missing, information is incorrect, or systems don’t work as they should. When something goes wrong, it’s up to us to fix it quickly. We often work to tight deadlines because goods need to be cleared fast to avoid delays. It can be high-pressure, but that’s what makes it interesting.
I didn’t go to university. Instead, I completed a Level 2 Customs Academy Award, which gave me the foundation I needed to work in customs. From there, I learned a lot on the job.
I found this role through an internal advert. I was already working in the business and decided to apply for the opportunity to progress.
What attracted me to the position was the challenge. Customs rules can change with very little notice, so you have to stay updated all the time. You’re also speaking to lots of different people every day — transport teams, warehouse operations, customers, and sometimes even customs offices in other countries. Everyone needs something at the same time, so you have to stay calm and organised.
In my previous role, I worked on stock reconciliation tasks, checking that systems matched up correctly. That gave me a strong understanding of how bonded goods move and how important accuracy is. That experience helped prepare me for customs, where attention to detail is everything.
The best thing about my job is seeing a difficult shipment finally clear because of the work I’ve done. It’s satisfying knowing that my knowledge helped solve the problem. I also enjoy helping younger colleagues build their confidence and skills. Customs is quite a specialised area, and once you build experience, there’s strong career potential because those skills are always in demand.
My biggest career highlight so far has been helping set up the bonded warehouse process for a brand-new site. Being trusted to support something from the beginning and see it successfully up and running was a proud moment for me.
For anyone aged 13–24 thinking about careers, customs might not be something you hear about every day – but it’s a vital part of how the world works. If you enjoy solving problems, working under pressure, and being part of something that keeps goods moving globally, it’s definitely an exciting path to explore.