Working at Amazon UK — how to get a job in a fulfilment centre
Pay £13.50/hour (day), £15.65 night, overtime up to £27/hour. No experience needed, basic English is enough. Apply through amazon.jobs. With BRP, eVisa or ARC — you can work. Career Choice programme pays for training up to £8,000.
Why Amazon — honest pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Pay is above minimum wage (£13.50+ vs £12.71 NMW) | Physically hard — 10–12 hours on your feet |
| No experience needed, basic English is enough | Strict performance targets |
| Career Choice — up to £8,000 for training | Regular drug and alcohol tests |
| Pension from day one (auto-enrolment) | Night and weekend shifts are part of the schedule |
| Sick pay (SSP) from the first day of illness | Monotonous work — same thing every day |
| Employee discounts + free parking | Strict lateness control (points system) |
| Career growth inside the company | High turnover — not for everyone |
For migrants: Amazon is one of the best options to start. The company takes part in the Tent Partnership for Refugees programme and actively hires refugees in the UK, Germany, France and the USA. Language is not a barrier: in the centres people from 50+ nationalities work together.
How much Amazon UK pays (2024)
| Shift type | Per hour | Per week (40h) | Per month (before tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day shift | £13.50 | £540 | £2,340 |
| Night shift | £15.65 | £626 | £2,713 |
| Overtime (40–50 hours) | £20.25 | — | x1.5 of base rate |
| Overtime (50–60 hours) | £27.00 | — | x2 of base rate |
Data from official amazon.jobs vacancy (Warehouse Operative, Rochester, September 2024). Rates may differ between centres.
For comparison: the UK minimum wage (NMW) for 21+ is £12.71/hour. Amazon pays 6% more for day shifts and 23% more for night shifts. Overtime goes up to £27/hour.
After tax (Income Tax + NI) from £30,000/year you keep about £24,500. More about taxes →
What jobs are in a fulfilment centre
| Job | What you do | Physical effort |
|---|---|---|
| Warehouse Associate | Main entry-level job. They can put you in any role below | High |
| Picker | Collect items from shelves for orders. You walk 15–20 km per shift | High |
| Packer | Pack items into boxes for shipping | Medium |
| Stower | Put incoming items on shelves | High |
| Sorter | Sort parcels by delivery route | Medium |
| Count / ICQA | Inventory — check stock levels | Low |
Most jobs do not need qualifications. When you start, they assign you a role based on the centre's needs.
Biggest Amazon centres in the UK
Amazon has more than 60 centres across the UK. Here are the main ones:
| City | Code | Region | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tilbury | LCY2 | Essex (near London) | 2,000,000 sq ft |
| Dunfermline | EDI4 | Scotland (near Edinburgh) | 1,500,000 sq ft |
| Doncaster | MME1 | Yorkshire | 1,000,000 sq ft |
| Coalville | BHX2 | Leicestershire (East Midlands) | 1,000,000 sq ft |
| Rugeley | BHX4 | Staffordshire (West Midlands) | 750,000 sq ft |
| Swansea | CWL1 | Wales | 800,000 sq ft |
| Bristol | BRS1 | South West | 700,000 sq ft |
| Manchester | MAN1 | North West | 700,000 sq ft |
In 2024 Amazon is opening new robotic centres in Northampton (East Midlands) — investment £500 million, 2,000+ new jobs. Full list of centres and vacancies on amazon.jobs.
How to apply — step by step
Find a vacancy
Go to amazon.jobs → section Hourly / Warehouse → filter by city. Also search on Indeed.co.uk for "Amazon warehouse".
Fill in the online form
Name, address, right to work status, shift availability. A CV is not required for warehouse jobs, but it does not hurt.
Take the online test
Basic questions: situational tasks (what would you do if...), simple maths. 15–20 minutes. You can do it with a translator nearby.
Get an invitation
If you pass — invitation to a New Hire Event (orientation) within a few days. You go to the centre.
Document check
At orientation they check Right to Work (BRP / Share Code / ARC). Also — drug & alcohol test (random check).
Training and start
3–5 days of paid training: safety, systems, your role in the centre. They assign a buddy — an experienced colleague.
Tip: The whole process from application to first working day usually takes 1–3 weeks. In peak season (October–November) hiring speeds up — Amazon hires thousands of temporary workers.
Documents and Right to Work
| Your status | Which document | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Refugee status | BRP card | Full right to work without restrictions |
| eVisa / Settlement | Share Code from gov.uk | Employer checks online |
| Asylum seeker (ARC) | ARC card + Permission to Work letter | Amazon checks right to work every 6 months |
| Ukraine scheme | BRP / eVisa | Homes for Ukraine, Ukraine Extension — right to work |
| Student visa | BRP + university confirmation | Maximum 20 hours/week during term |
With an ARC card: Amazon accepts asylum seekers who have the right to work. The company will ask for confirmation every 6 months — this is standard procedure, nothing to worry about. You need an ARC with "Allowed to work" or a separate Permission to Work letter from the Home Office.
You will also need: a bank account for your salary and a NI Number for correct tax (you can start working before you get it).
Interview — what to expect
For warehouse jobs (Warehouse Associate) there is no classic interview. The process looks like this:
- Online form — fill it on amazon.jobs, say your availability and shift preferences
- Situational test — 15–20 minutes online. Questions like: "A colleague breaks safety rules — what do you do?"
- New Hire Event — you go to the centre, document check, sign contract, learn the rules
English requirements — minimal. You need to understand basic safety instructions. Amazon does not require fluent English. In many centres people speak 10+ languages. The navigation system in the centre is visual — icons and colours.
First day and training
- Day 1: Orientation — safety rules, tour of the centre, get your badge and equipment (safety boots are provided or reimbursed)
- Day 2–3: Training for your specific job (picking, packing, etc.). They assign a buddy — an experienced colleague
- Day 4–5: Work under supervision. Targets are lower in the first weeks — time to adapt
- Week 2+: Full work. Targets gradually reach the standard level
Important: Training is paid. The first days are at the standard rate. Do not agree to "unpaid internship" — in the UK this is illegal for employment under a work contract.
Career Choice — Amazon pays for your training
One of the main reasons to consider Amazon is the Career Choice programme. The company pays for employees' education, even if the new profession is not related to Amazon.
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| Amount | Up to £2,000 per year, maximum £8,000 over your whole time working |
| Coverage | 95% of course costs, books and exams |
| Language courses | ESL (English as a Second Language) — available from day one |
| Professional courses | After 1 year of work (full-time or part-time regular) |
| Fields | IT, business, transport, healthcare, mechanics, languages |
This is not just training for Amazon — Career Choice covers courses for any profession. Do you want to become a nurse, IT specialist or get a category C driving licence? Amazon pays. The programme is available through accredited colleges across the UK.
Personal experience
Soon there will be an interview with someone who went from migrant to Amazon UK employee — with real tips and photos.
If you work or have worked at Amazon UK and want to share your experience — write to us on Telegram.
Frequently asked questions
Does Amazon hire without experience?
Yes. Warehouse Associate is an entry-level job. No previous experience needed. Amazon trains you in 3–5 paid days.
Do I need English to work in an Amazon centre?
Minimal. You need to understand basic safety instructions. They do not require fluent English. People from 50+ nationalities work in the centres. ESL courses (English) are available from day one through Career Choice.
Can I work at Amazon with an ARC (asylum seeker)?
Yes, if your ARC card says "Allowed to work" or you have a separate Permission to Work letter from the Home Office. Amazon checks the right to work every 6 months — this is normal procedure.
How much does Amazon UK pay in 2024?
Day shift: £13.50/hour. Night shift: £15.65/hour. Overtime: £20.25 (40–50h) and £27 (50–60h). This is 6–23% above the minimum wage (£12.71).
What is the work schedule in an Amazon centre?
Standard — 4 days of 10 hours or 3 days of 12 hours. There are day shifts (07:00–17:30), night shifts (19:00–05:30) and weekend shifts. When you apply you choose your preferred pattern.
Does Amazon pay for training?
Yes. The Career Choice programme covers up to £2,000/year (£8,000 total). ESL (English) — from day one. Professional courses (IT, healthcare, business) — after 1 year of work.
Are there night shifts and how much do they pay?
Yes. Night shifts (usually 19:00–05:30) pay £15.65/hour (premium of £2.15). Overtime goes up to £27/hour. Night shifts + overtime is the fastest way to earn more.
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