A Swansea man working in operations at Amazon is celebrating his career journey this Learning at Work Week (12–18 May 2025), sharing how he advanced professionally through Amazon’s lifelong learning programmes.
Each year, Learning at Work Week is coordinated by the Campaign for Learning, a UK charity that collaborates with organisations nationwide to host events, spark curiosity in the workplace, and align employee development with organisational goals.
This year’s theme, “Get Connected,” emphasises the social side of learning at work. It focuses on how empathy, collaboration, and shared experiences between colleagues can support professional growth.
One employee inspired by these values is Luke Mogford, who works at Amazon’s fulfilment centre in Swansea. Luke has advanced his career using Amazon’s training and development pathways, including the Amazon Career Choice programme.
Career Choice, which launched in 2012, offers to cover up to 95% of tuition and fees—up to £8,000 over four years—for courses in high-demand fields. It supports employees whether they choose to stay at Amazon or pursue opportunities elsewhere. The programme offers a range of learning paths including associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees, and certificates in areas like software development, HGV driving, accountancy, and English language skills.
Luke used Career Choice to transition into operations and hopes his story encourages others to pursue their ambitions too.
Working on the receive team, Luke completed a CIPD Level 3 HR course in November 2024. He has since applied for a Level 2 Supply Chain Warehouse Operative apprenticeship, with plans to start an operations role this summer.
“Funnily enough, I found out about Career Choice through my phone,” said Luke.
“The A-to-Z app—Amazon’s internal tool—suggested I ‘expand my career.’ After working in HR, I wanted to know more about the role, so I applied. Now I’m pursuing an Amazon Apprenticeship too, which will open even more doors.”
Luke joined Amazon in September 2019 and became a permanent employee in August 2020. He followed in the footsteps of his father, who also worked at the Swansea fulfilment centre.
“My father was a packer, then moved to receiving and cross-dock. We even shared a few shifts—he’d come in just as I was finishing!”
What drew Luke to Amazon was the structure and progression opportunities.
“My previous role involved travelling for stock-taking, which was a bit chaotic. I wanted something based in one location, with more routine.”
Career Choice stood out to Luke because of its variety and broad applicability.
“I loved that the learning wasn’t limited to Amazon. It gave me insights into HR practices in other companies too, helping me connect the dots.”
The most valuable takeaway? Confidence.
“Before Career Choice, I would second-guess myself when applying for roles. Now, I have the confidence to go for it.
If I’m not successful, I take the feedback, improve, and try again. That’s my advice—just give it a go. Even if it’s challenging, it’s worth it if you want to grow.”
Looking ahead, Luke is focused on taking his apprenticeship “one day at a time” and embracing the journey.
“I’m excited for the challenges it will bring.”
Working at Amazon
Amazon offers competitive pay and comprehensive benefits. As of 2025:
- Starting pay for frontline operations roles ranges from £13.50 to £14.50 per hour, depending on location.
- For employees with 36 months’ service, rates rise to £13.75 to £14.75 per hour.
- Since 2022, Amazon has invested £550 million in pay increases—a 35% rise in two years.
- From day one, all employees receive benefits including:
- Private medical insurance
- Life assurance
- Income protection
- Subsidised meals
- Employee discounts
- A pension plan
- Benefits worth more than £700 annually
Recognition
Amazon has been named a Top Employer UK 2025 by the Top Employer Institute for the second consecutive year, and a Top Employer in Europe for the third. These awards recognise Amazon’s commitment to employee development and well-being.
In addition, Amazon ranked #2 on LinkedIn’s Top Companies UK 2025 list—highlighting the most sought-after employers to grow a career in the UK.
Explore Careers at Amazon
To find out more about opportunities with Amazon, visit Amazon Jobs.
