Health and safety are our number priority at Amazon. To achieve this, we rely on our strong, experienced and growing safety team, which now consists of over 6,200 workplace health and safety professionals across the world.
Safety is integral to everything we do at Amazon—every day, in every operation, across every country. Every meeting starts with a safety tip, every site is regularly inspected, and we educate and empower every employee to consider their own health and safety, and the health and safety of those around them, in their daily work.
We have also invented hundreds of ways to enhance employee safety and wellbeing. From safety harnesses to water stations, no-go-zones to protective safety vests, Amazon ensures all employees stay safe while delivering for customers.
Amazon’s Health, Safety and Environment Technician Apprenticeship
Two of our apprentices are celebrating becoming the first ever Amazon apprentices in the UK to graduate from the Amazon Health, Safety and Environment Technician Apprenticeship and are now fully qualified members of our safety team.
We have also welcomed the next generation of safety apprentices at our fulfilment centres who are among the first of the 2021 in-take of 1,000 apprentices recruited by Amazon this year.
The Amazon Health, Safety and Environment Technician Apprenticeship is an 18-month programme of academic studies and practical learning with the aim of becoming a fully qualified health and safety professional.
Once they complete the programme, our apprentices will receive a nationally recognised qualification as a Safety, Health & Environmental technician. They will also be eligible to join the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment at affiliate level.
To find out more, we spoke to some of our safety apprentices about their exciting new journey in their safety careers.
Emma Horton, 31, Health and Safety Specialist, Kegworth Fulfilment Centre
Emma from Cannock is the first Amazon apprentice in the UK to graduate from the Amazon Health, Safety and Environment Technician Apprenticeship.
“When I was younger, I wasn’t sure what career path I wanted to take, but I always had an interest in safety. During my time at Amazon, this interest grew because it truly is a safety-first company. When I learned about the new Health, Safety and Environment Technician Apprenticeship, I decided to apply because I knew it would improve my knowledge of safety while forcing me to think outside the box.”
She felt it was a great opportunity that offered a funded course that she didn’t have to do in her free time as it ran alongside her job. “It was simply too good an opportunity to turn down. A free apprenticeship that Amazon managed around my time and offered me a qualification at the end. It was no brainer!”
Emma added: “Safety is the company’s number one priority. The safety of the team and everyone on site is the focal point of every day, every meeting, and every chat. It’s something that’s important to the company and important to me, and that’s why I’ve enjoyed the apprenticeship so much.”
Justas Skeivalas, 30, Health and Safety Coordinator, Bristol Fulfilment Centre
Justas joins Emma in being one of the first Amazon apprentices to graduate from the Amazon Health, Safety and Environment Technician Apprenticeship.
“My background is in business and business studies, and I didn’t have any previous knowledge of safety before my apprenticeship. However, I was always interested in safety and how it’s applied in the workplace and the apprenticeship offered me the opportunity to build on my interest with a mix of theory and practical development.
“What also appealed to me was the exceptional opportunities at Amazon to grow and progress, as well as the fact that the apprenticeship is paid for. This made it a simple choice for me. It was an opportunity I couldn’t miss.
“I feel proud to be one of the first apprentices in to graduate from the Health, Safety and Environment Technician Apprenticeship in the UK. It has served me well in my new role so far, and I’m looking forward to applying my new skills and knowledge at Amazon, while also helping the new apprentices who have joined the programme this year to settle into their roles.”
Carly Loscombe, 38, Health, Safety and Environment Technician Apprentice, Durham Fulfilment Centre
Carly, who is from Sunderland, is among the first of the 2021 in-take of 1,000 apprentices being recruited by Amazon this year and is looking forward to an exciting new chapter in her career. Before joining Amazon, Carly worked at the Land Registry before starting a new career in healthcare.
“I’ve had a few different jobs over the years but never really felt like I had found my career until now. I returned to work last year, having taken time off to look after my daughter, and I wanted to ensure I was entering a job that was prioritising staff safety during the pandemic.
“I began working in Amazon’s fulfilment centre in Durham in operations, but when I saw the chance to apply for the apprenticeship programme, I jumped at the opportunity to be able to get hands on experience while gaining a qualification.”
“I would really like to progress within Amazon after my apprenticeship and take on the role of health and safety coordinator. I’d love to continue contributing to the safe working environment in Amazon.”
Leigh Green, 19, Health, Safety and Environment Technician Apprentice, Daventry Fulfilment Centre
Leigh went to school in Coventry and wanted to do an apprenticeship when she finished college. Due to COVID-19, she couldn’t find any apprenticeships of interest and went to university instead. She didn’t feel like university was the right route for her and left her course to join the Amazon apprenticeship programme.
“The opportunity to join this apprenticeship couldn’t have come at a better time. I had just dropped out of university and was a bit lost with what I wanted to do next. The apprenticeship programme is perfect for me as it means I can continue to learn while also gaining experience, all while working for one of the biggest companies in the world.”
When it comes to her experience of safety during her practical experience at Amazon in Daventry, Leigh enjoys seeing safety programmes in real time. “I feel very safe Amazon,” she added. “There are a lot of safety measures in place and safety is always a focus of day-to-day life at Amazon. That’s something the apprenticeship is already teaching me – the importance of safety and how it is the key part of working at Amazon.”
Find out more about the Amazon apprenticeship programme.
