Find Your Path

I’m currently a Level 6 Degree Apprentice on the Supply Chain Leadership programme with GXO Logistics. I’m based at the M&S Milton Keynes site and am currently in my first year, rotating around different areas of the operation to gain experience across the business.

What attracted me to a career in logistics was my curiosity about what happens behind the scenes in everyday life. Whether I was shopping in a supermarket, ordering something online or even buying a drink in a pub, I often found myself wondering how products got there. Questions like how fresh food makes it from the field to a supermarket shelf, who is involved in that journey, how products stay fresh and how businesses make it all work efficiently really fascinated me. Combined with my attention to detail, appreciation for well-organised systems and naturally curious mindset, logistics felt like the perfect fit.

I chose a degree apprenticeship because I wanted to gain valuable hands-on experience while also earning a university qualification. It offered the opportunity to start building my career straight away while continuing my education. The financial benefits were also a major advantage, as I could earn a salary, avoid student debt and work towards a qualification with strong career prospects at the end.

My expectations of the apprenticeship have not changed too much since I started. I expected to get involved in the operation, learn quickly, rotate through different departments and gain practical experience from day one, and that has been exactly my experience so far. I have been very hands-on within the operation, supported a range of tasks and projects, and had the opportunity to contribute to continuous improvement initiatives. The one area where my expectations did change was around managing the balance between work, study and personal life. Before starting, I thought this would be one of the biggest challenges. However, GXO has been very supportive and flexible whenever I have needed additional time for university work, and my working pattern has allowed me to maintain a healthy balance outside of work as well.

One of the most exciting experiences I have had so far was supporting the opening of a new GXO site in Daventry for the M&S contract. I was asked to help with the warehouse operative assessment centre, which involved assisting with the organisation of the day, supporting presentations and conducting interviews. It was a unique opportunity to be involved in such an important stage of launching a new operation and gave me valuable exposure to recruitment and people management activities. It also helped me develop skills that are essential for becoming an effective manager in the future.

Since starting my apprenticeship, I have developed several key skills, particularly resilience, leadership and confidence. Working in a fast-paced environment, taking on new responsibilities and stepping outside my comfort zone have all contributed to my personal and professional growth.

One achievement I am particularly proud of is achieving a high 2:1 grade in my first university assignment. The assignment was a group project, and I took responsibility for leading and coordinating the team. Balancing the demands of a full-time role alongside university work was challenging, so achieving such a strong result as a group was incredibly rewarding and gave me confidence in my ability to succeed on the programme.

For students considering their options, my advice would be to trust your instincts. If a particular pathway does not feel right for you, remember that it is never too late to change direction. Take the time to think about what suits your goals, interests and preferred way of learning, rather than simply following what others are doing.

For anyone considering a career in logistics, I would strongly encourage you to give it a go. It was not a sector that I knew a great deal about before joining, but after nine months in the sector, I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience. If you are naturally curious, enjoy problem-solving and have a good eye for detail, logistics offers an exciting and rewarding career path. It is a sector that touches almost every aspect of our daily lives, operates across every sector and offers a huge range of specialist career opportunities. Logistics is constantly evolving, creating new challenges and opportunities for those willing to get involved and learn.

What attracted me to a career in logistics was the opportunity to learn how a large business operates from end to end. I wanted to understand the full process behind getting products from suppliers to customers and see how different departments work together to keep a business running effectively.

I chose a degree apprenticeship instead of going to university because I had been working since leaving school and wanted to continue in a working environment while also gaining a degree. The apprenticeship allowed me to stay in a routine that suited me while developing both practical experience and academic knowledge. I liked the idea of keeping busy, building my career and gaining real-world experience at the same time as studying.

Before starting, I did not really know what to expect because I had never worked in a logistics environment before. Overall, I enjoyed the experience and learned a huge amount, although there were certainly challenges along the way. At times, communication issues between the university and GXO made things difficult, and finding time to complete off-the-job learning requirements could be challenging. Early in the apprenticeship, I also experienced a mentor change, which initially put me behind schedule. However, with support and determination, we worked together to identify the next steps needed to get back on track.

One of the most interesting parts of my apprenticeship was the opportunity during my first year and part of my second year to rotate through different departments. I spent time working in areas such as wholesale, e-commerce, retail and stock control, as well as supporting functions including Health and Safety and Human Resources. I really enjoyed seeing how different departments operated and understanding how all the pieces fit together to make the wider operation successful.

Another aspect I valued was attending university in person. Travelling to campus and spending a few days away from work provided dedicated time to focus on studying and coursework. It also brought a social element to the programme, which was both enjoyable and important for maintaining a balance between work and academic commitments.

Since starting my apprenticeship, I have developed a range of valuable skills. The areas where I have seen the biggest improvement are patience, communication, confidence, problem-solving, working under pressure and perseverance. These skills have helped me both professionally and personally, allowing me to handle challenges more effectively and contribute more confidently within the workplace.

One achievement I am particularly proud of is successfully reaching the end of the programme and completing the course. Along the way, there were times when things were difficult, but I became much better at addressing challenges and finding solutions with the support of my mentor. I am also proud of how adaptable I became, regularly adjusting to changing business needs and working patterns. There were situations that I never expected myself to handle, but overcoming those challenges helped me grow in confidence and resilience.

For students considering their options, my advice would be to be confident in speaking up when you feel a situation could be improved or when there are opportunities to enhance your learning experience. Make the most of every opportunity available to you and actively look for ways to get involved in different tasks, projects and events. The wider your experience, the more you will learn and the more value you will gain from your chosen path.

For anyone thinking about a career in logistics, I would recommend being prepared for a fast-paced environment where there can be periods of pressure and tight deadlines. However, one of the things I have learned is that success comes from teamwork, with different departments working together towards the same goal. As someone who regularly shops online, I have found it particularly interesting and rewarding to see everything that happens behind the scenes to get an order from a warehouse to a customer’s door. Logistics gives you the opportunity to be part of that process and to understand the vital role it plays in everyday life.

I am a first-year Supply Chain Management Degree Apprentice, studying for a degree in Professional Practice in Supply Chain Leadership.

My journey into logistics started when I attended an open day at Sheffield Hallam University with my sixth form. During the visit, I sat in on a talk delivered by Tony Mannix, which focused heavily on GXO and its apprenticeship programme. The session presented logistics as a fast-paced and constantly evolving sector that embraces change in order to succeed. What appealed to me most was the idea that every day is different and that there are endless opportunities to progress and develop your career.

There were several reasons why I chose a degree apprenticeship instead of university. One of the biggest was the financial benefit. Having my degree funded by GXO means I can gain a qualification without accumulating student debt. At the same time, I am earning a salary while learning, which demonstrates GXO’s commitment to investing in its people.

I also felt that workplace experience is becoming increasingly valuable. While academic knowledge remains important, practical experience can be harder to obtain. By the time I complete my apprenticeship, I will have several years of sector experience alongside my degree. This combination of theory and practical application provides a strong foundation for a future career and allows me to demonstrate real achievements and evidence of my development.

The programme has more than met my expectations. One of the aspects I enjoy most is the learning model, which allows me to attend university blocks and then return to work and immediately apply what I have learned in a real-world environment. This helps bring the theory to life and makes the learning much more meaningful.

The level of support available has also exceeded my expectations. I have access to a workplace mentor, a learning coach and supportive colleagues across the business. At the same time, I have been given a significant amount of autonomy and responsibility. Even as a first-year apprentice, I have been trusted to contribute to projects and process improvements that have a genuine impact on the operation.

The most exciting part of my role so far has been working with the Continuous Improvement team and implementing projects that started as my own ideas. I was given the freedom to identify opportunities for improvement, propose solutions to my General Manager and explore the use of automation tools. Seeing a project progress from an initial concept to a fully implemented process was incredibly rewarding.

What made the experience even more valuable was the support I received throughout. Rather than taking ownership of the project themselves, the Continuous Improvement team gave me the opportunity to learn, develop and drive the project forward. That experience helped me understand what it takes to successfully deliver change within an operation.

One of the biggest areas of personal growth for me has been the development of my emotional intelligence. Working and leading alongside different people every day has taught me that every individual responds differently and requires different approaches. As a result, I have become more confident, more adaptable and much more comfortable stepping outside my comfort zone.

The apprenticeship has also taught me that making mistakes is often an important part of learning. I have learned the importance of taking ownership of both my successes and my development, while remaining open to feedback and continuous improvement. The support available is incredibly valuable, but I have found that the greatest growth comes from having a genuine willingness to learn and improve.

The achievement I am most proud of so far is the project that I led on the operation where I have worked since joining the programme. The project began with a recurring issue that was frequently being discussed. I decided to investigate possible solutions and started experimenting with different ideas. After working closely with the Continuous Improvement team, we agreed that one of my proposed solutions had real potential.

I was then given the opportunity to further develop the idea and transform it into a viable process. Alongside building technical skills, I also gained valuable experience in stakeholder management when I presented the proposal to the site’s senior leadership team. Following a successful presentation, I was given just one week to implement the process. At the time, it felt like an impossible deadline, but through determination and hard work I successfully delivered the project and saw it become part of the operation.

For students considering their options, my biggest piece of advice is not to worry if you do not yet know exactly what you want to do. You are still young and do not have to have all the answers immediately. It is also important not to assume that university is the only option. Keeping an open mind allows you to explore opportunities that you may never have previously considered.

I would strongly encourage people to look at degree apprenticeships. They offer the opportunity to gain a qualification, build valuable experience and develop professional skills at the same time. Since starting my apprenticeship, I have met incredible people both through my degree programme and within GXO. Every day I go to work knowing I am contributing not only to the success of the business but also to my own personal growth. The experiences and challenges I encounter daily are things that simply cannot be replicated in a classroom.

For anyone considering a career in logistics, my advice is simple: go for it. The opportunities are extensive and varied, whether you want to work in operational roles at the heart of day-to-day activities or move into support functions and specialist areas. Logistics is a sector that is constantly evolving, creating new challenges and opportunities all the time. It is an exciting sector to be part of, and companies like GXO are helping to drive that innovation and lead the future of the sector.