Kegworth apprentice encourages others to follow in their footsteps during National Apprenticeship Week 2026

Ava Hodgson is taking part in the Amazon Apprenticeship programme and is sharing her story to encourage others to consider an apprenticeship.

Ava lives in Nottingham and works as Pick Team Lead at Amazon’s fulfilment centre in Kegworth. Originally from the Peak District, Ava relocated to pursue her career through Amazon’s Chartered Management Degree Apprenticeship programme, which she is due to finish in 2029.

After completing her A-Levels, Ava took a gap year, travelling across Southeast Asia and volunteering at wildlife sanctuaries and farms. It was during this time abroad that Ava decided to apply for the Amazon Apprenticeship programme. Knowing the application process would be competitive, she started applying eight months before returning to the UK.

“I applied for two apprenticeships with Amazon - I remember having one call in the middle of Malaysia, and doing my final interview whilst on a farm in Italy, which was very random! Thankfully it was done virtually, so I didn’t miss out on the opportunity.”

Ava was drawn to the apprenticeship because it offered her the best of both worlds. “I knew I wanted to do something where I could study and work - Amazon is such a big company, so I thought it would set me up in the best way, learning skills from somewhere that offers so many different roles.”

Ava’s three-year programme is in partnership with the University of Exeter, where she’ll earn a business degree alongside Chartered Management Institute recognition. “I’m quite lucky, I get every Wednesday dedicated to my studies. It’s nice to link together these two aspects of my life - I’ve got a portfolio, so I can show how my learning is applied in my day-to-day work, with things like Amazon’s leadership principles, for example.”

What makes the experience particularly valuable for Ava is the scale and variety of opportunities available. “We’re a big site here in Kegworth, so there’s so many different opportunities. I recently started working with the mental health and wellbeing group, which I‘m really enjoying. I feel like I can come to work and ask my line manager if there's any projects I can join, or if I can take part in any of the employee-led groups or events. I didn’t expect that when I first came to the company.”

The support she’s received has been transformative. “As soon as I was assigned a team and a manager, everyone was so good to me. They hear the word apprentice and they’re like, ‘how can I help?’. They’ve even been showing me tips and tricks on the computer system - everyone’s been really helpful.”

Ava’s advice to anyone considering an apprenticeship reflects her own experience of taking a leap into the unknown. “Be very open-minded, especially during the application process. I really had no clue what I was coming into. Take a leap and be open to it because outside of your job description, there are plenty of other opportunities for development. You could really end up anywhere.”

She’s particularly excited about the diversity within her cohort. “We had around ten external hires, and then the other 20 were already working within Amazon. One of the apprentices on my course has been working at Amazon longer than another apprentice has been alive, which I found absolutely crazy!”

Looking ahead, Ava is keeping her options open. She’s attending the 2026 Apprenticeship Summit in London next month, where she'll connect with Amazon apprentices across different programmes including project management, IT, and software.

“I’m quite early on in my apprenticeship. I know it’s a three-year course, so over the three years I think I'll be learning lots of different things. I definitely want to see where it can take me next.”

Ava’s journey from travelling the world to managing operations at Amazon demonstrates how apprenticeships can provide unexpected career pathways for young people willing to embrace new challenges.

The Amazon Apprenticeship programme is recognised as one of the UK’s top three apprenticeship schemes by the Government’s Department for Education.

Young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) can also take advantage of the Amazon Supported Internship programme. Launched in 2021, the initiative combines classroom learning with practical work experience; helping interns develop essential skills in English, Maths, and CV writing, while gaining hands-on experience across three operational job functions.

Pay at Amazon starts from £13.95 or £14.96 per hour depending on location, equating to between £29,037 and £31,116 annually. Additionally, from day one, all employees are offered a comprehensive benefits package including private medical insurance, life assurance, income protection, and an employee discount. Together, these benefits are worth more than £700 annually, and employees can take advantage of a company pension plan.

Applications are now open for Amazon’s apprenticeship programme. For more information, visit: www.amazonapprenticeships.co.uk