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Working Abroad Job Vacancies Job Hunting Guide Voluntary Work Working Part-time and Temping Useful Job Hunting Resources Working in Somerset Wages and Employment Rights Warehouse Workers in Somerset CLCI: YAT CRCI: WG Every item we eat, wear and use has been stored and transported at some time (often more than once). Warehouses are used to store and distribute goods and materials. Sometimes warehouses are known as “depots.” Big firms may have a number of warehouses dotted around the country with each serving a particular area. In these cases the whole building is a warehouse. Shops, supermarkets and out-of-town retailers are likely to have their own warehouse at the back of their buildings. To find out more look under the above CLCI/CRCI headings in your careers or Connexions library THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT WAREHOUSE WORKERS IN SOMERSET There are many different warehouses in Somerset. Some are small back-of-shop and specialist places (like builders merchants and vehicle parts suppliers) with just a few workers. Others are large depots employing just several hundred people. Warehousing – and the road haulage business in general – is very important in Somerset. This is because Somerset is in the middle of the South West region and the M5 runs right through the county. This means there are large warehouses close to the motorway at places like Bridgwater, Taunton and Wellington. HOW DO I GET STARTED?   Get work experience when at school to see if it’s the career for you   Go to college/sixth-form full-time to do a business, retail or distribution course   Start as a trainee – or apprentice – in a warehouse and go to college as part of your job USEFUL QUALIFICATIONS   GCSEs in subjects like maths and English can be useful   Extra school and college qualifications can help for management jobs   NVQs in distribution and warehousing operations can be done as part of your job   Fork lift truck, Institute of Logistics and other qualifications are helpful as you go along More about qualifications, courses and training can be found in Moving On (published by Connexions Somerset) DO YOU KNOW? Once the largest building in the SW was a cathedral. Now a warehouse is the biggest! WHAT IS THE PAY LIKE? Around £80 per week (maybe more) if starting as a new employed trainee or apprentice. When you’re eighteen, with experience, you might earn £200-£300 per week depending on where you work (this might include shifts and overtime) FINDING A JOB   Connexions centres   Job centres   Through applying for work apprenticeships   School and college careers notice boards   Speculative letters/visits/emails   Newspaper and industry publications adverts   Adverts displayed at premises and on industry/company websites   Job offer after work experience   Word of mouth   A Guide to Job Hunting gives tips on CVs, interviews and job letters. To view click here OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER ABOUT THIS WORK   Hours can be long and awkward with plenty of early starts and late finishes. You may have to travel out-of-town to your work   It can be tough work with lots of lifting. You could be working in cold and draughty conditions   Health and safety is important. This is a job where accidents happen   Everything is recorded on computer so you’ll need basic IT skills   Team work is important and you have to work quickly and get things right. Honesty is important because you are dealing with other people’s property   If you’re working for a builders merchant or vehicle parts supplier you’ll need to know your stuff and be good with customers   There are often part-time and temporary jobs so you might be able to do this work when at college WHO DOES THE WORK? Jodie (17) lives in Burnham-on-Sea and is an apprentice in a small warehouse dealing with vehicle parts. Helped by doing a NVQ, in parts distribution and supply, Jodie is building up a good knowledge of products and customers. Her aim is to eventually become a driver delivering parts to garages. Ben (20), from Wellington, works in a large warehouse near the M5. He started working part-time when he was at college and is now a trainee manager. As the firm has warehouses elsewhere Ben knows there are good opportunities to get promotion and move around the country. More Info: A-Z Careers Careers information dates rapidly. Every effort has been made to ensure information is accurate but please check details before making firm decisions. Make text larger Make text smaller Text Only Display Privacy Policy/Terms of Use