An apprentice from Windermere at Amazon's Manchester office is encouraging people to follow in her footsteps.

It comes as Amazon has announced a huge expansion of its apprenticeship programme, with the addition of 1,000 new positions across the UK this year.

Before working for Amazon, Megan Kearsley had worked her way up from hospitality roles in the Lake District to a general manager role in New Zealand.

She then lived in Australia for a year before returning to the UK due to the Covid-19 pandemic, settling in Manchester.

She said: "I moved to Manchester after the end of the pandemic and became curious about apprenticeships.

"I didn’t think an apprenticeship would work for me because of my age, but when I learned more about Amazon’s apprenticeships, I decided to apply."

Megan, now a recruitment consultant apprentice for Amazon, provided advice for those considering an apprenticeship, saying: "Focus on applying for a company you really want to work for.

"Ask if they align with your morals and your passions.

"I chose Amazon because it’s a global company that offers me an opportunity to potentially work in a different country in the future."

Following Amazon's ranking as one of the top private sector apprenticeship schemes in the UK, according to the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers, the programme continues to offer a range of placements, from entry-level to degree-level, spanning 30 different schemes.

Amazon employs apprentices in a myriad of roles, from software developers in Prime Video, buyers in fashion, and production in Amazon Studios, to marketing in Amazon Music.

Apart from offering new roles to external candidates, over half of the new apprenticeships will be offered internally to existing employees, offering a chance to retrain.

The age distribution of Amazon apprentices is shifting, with two-thirds of new apprentices in 2023 being over 25 years old - a 10 per cent increase from the previous year.

Nicola Drury, head of skills and apprenticeships at Amazon, said: "Every year we look forward to recruiting ambitious and enthusiastic apprentices to join our teams working to deliver for customers all over the UK.

"We’re proud to provide opportunities for people to find their dream roles."

Qualified apprentices can expect to work in any of Amazon’s UK sites, including fulfilment centres, delivery stations, corporate offices, and development centres.

Amazon employees can also take advantage of the Career Choice programme, which covers up to 95 per cent of tuition for courses in high-demand fields, totalling up to £8,000 over four years.

Amazon provides staff with 'competitive pay, comprehensive benefits and a modern, safe and engaging work environment'.

Applications are now open for Amazon’s apprenticeship programme.

For more information, visit: www.amazonapprenticeships.co.uk