What are you looking for

£25,000 Starter

Average salary (a year)

£42,000 Experienced

Average salary (a year)

40 to 42

Typical hours (a week)

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this job

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role
  • applying directly

University

You could do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in a subject like:

  • logistics
  • supply chain management
  • transport management

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • at least 1 A level, or equivalent, for a foundation degree
  • 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a higher national diploma
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

College

You could take a college course to get the skills and knowledge you'll need to work as an assistant or trainee warehouse manager. 

Courses include:

  • planning and supervision of warehouse operations
  • supply chain management

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

Apprenticeship

You can apply to do a Transport and Warehouse Operations Supervisor Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship, with a warehousing, retailing or logistics company.

As your career progresses, you could do an Operations Manager Level 5 Higher Apprenticeship.

These can take between 1 and 2 years to complete and combine workplace training with study off site.

Entry requirements

To do this apprenticeship, you'll need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

Work

If you're working in a warehouse, you could apply for a team leader or assistant manager job.

With further training and promotion, you could then move into a warehouse manager role.

Direct Application

You can apply directly for jobs if you've got management experience in warehousing, transport distribution or retailing.

A qualification in health and safety might also be useful, though not essential.

What it takes

Find out what skills you will use in this role

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • business management skills
  • leadership skills
  • knowledge of transport methods, costs and benefits
  • maths knowledge
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • customer service skills
  • to be flexible and open to change
  • administration skills
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

What you will do

Discover the day to day takes you'll do in this role

Day-to-day tasks

As a warehouse manager, you could:

  • work closely with clients, suppliers and transport companies
  • co-ordinate the loading and unloading of goods
  • monitor stock levels and storage space
  • make sure stock is stored correctly and safely
  • plan deliveries, dispatch orders and raise invoices
  • organise shift rotas
  • oversee recruitment and training
  • carry out inspections, like health and safety checks

Working environment

You could work in a warehouse or in an office.

Career path and profession

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities

With experience and training, you could be become a shift manager, site operations manager or overall depot manager.

You could also move into related areas like supply chain management or freight transport.

Explore a range of careers from all sectors in the careers directory.