A Motherwell-based Amazon worker is urging others to start an apprenticeship with the company as it expands its programme with 1,000 new positions across the UK this year.

The apprenticeships will cover more than 30 different schemes, including sustainability and engineering, project management and product buying, as well as warehouse team leaderships and health and safety technicians.

One of the apprentices currently on the scheme is Cynthia McCulloch who works at the Motherwell delivery station.

Ms McCulloch, who worked in the oil industry in the Middle East and West Africa with her husband, said: “In 2019, we decided to move our family back to the UK and we started looking for new jobs. During my time in the Middle East, I became fascinated with Amazon.

Glasgow Times: Ms McCulloch worked in the oil industry in the Middle East and West Africa with her husband

"I was intrigued about the process of getting deliveries to customers and always wanted to know how they did it. When we came home, I saw a job advert for the delivery station in Motherwell and I decided to go for it. “There are so many exciting things happening and every day is different. The job is engaging, the team is supportive, and the environment here makes you great at your job."

A few years into her Amazon career, she saw an opportunity to join the Amazon Apprenticeship programme, calling it a "win-win situation”.

She added: "Every day, my apprenticeship is teaching me new things and that gives me confidence to make a difference at Amazon. I’m learning things that are helping me to grow and I am increasing my impact on the team."

New programmes launching this year will include digital product manager apprenticeship and the commercial procurement and supply apprenticeship.

More than half of these will be offered to existing Amazon employees, providing an opportunity to retrain and learn new skills.

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.

"Whether they’re retraining to begin a new and exciting career, or gaining new skills to take their career in a new direction, we’re proud to provide opportunities for people to find their dream roles.”

Once qualified, apprentices will have the opportunity to work in Amazon’s UK sites including fulfilment centres, delivery stations, sortation centres and corporate offices in London and Manchester, and four development centres in Cambridge, Edinburgh, London, and Swansea.

The roles pay a minimum of £11.80 or £12.50 per hour, rising to between £12.30 and £13 per hour from April, depending on location, and up to £33,500 a year for degree-level apprenticeships.

Employees can also benefit from Amazon's Career Choice programme, which pre-pays up to 95 per cent of tuition and fees for courses in high-demand fields, up to £8,000 over four years, regardless of whether the skills are relevant to a career at the company.

Applications are now open and for more information, go to www.amazonapprenticeships.co.uk.