Food & drink

Warehouse manager

Warehouse managers plan and co-ordinate operations at distribution centres, large retail stores and factories.

Annual Salary

£25,000 to £42,000

Working hours

40 to 42

You could work: evenings / weekends / bank holidays; on shifts

6.1%
Future employment

There will be 6.1% more Warehouse manager jobs in 2029.
In your local area

What's it all about?

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.

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
For more information
  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • student finance for fees and living costs|https://www.gov.uk/student-finance
  • university courses and entry requirements|https://www.ucas.com/
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

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
For more information
  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide
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.

More information

Career tips

You might have an advantage when looking for work, if you've done forklift training, though employers will put you through this, if it's needed for the job.

Further information

You can find out more about careers in warehousing from Generation Logistics.

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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.

You can find out more about careers in warehousing from Skills for Logistics.

Skills required and how your skills match up

What skills are required?

  • 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
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