British Army - Express Delivery Operative - Full Time Career with Apprenticeship
British Army
Recruiting nationally
Closes on Saturday 30 August 2025
Posted on 11 April 2025
Contents
Summary
This apprenticeship is offered to those employed within the Royal Logistics Corps (RLC) as a Logistic Postal & Courier Operator. An Express Delivery Operative apprenticeship is critical in ensuring that our people stay in touch and that correspondence, letters from loved ones or classified information is delivered worldwide.
- Wage
-
£25,200 a year
- Training course
- Express delivery operative (level 2)
- Hours
-
Shift and working patterns may vary. Working locations will vary nationally depending on the apprenticeship and working requirements.
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 1 September 2025
- Duration
-
3 years 4 months
- Positions available
-
410
Work
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you’ll do at work
A Royal Logistics Corps (RLC) and Royal Artillery (RA) soldier working as an Express Delivery Operative will be responsible for the handling, transporting and delivering military equipment and supplies and potentially classified materials.
Duties will include:
Logisitcs & Transport:
- Moving essential items between bases, supply depots or operational locations
Driving & Vehicle Operations:
- Operating military or civilian transport vehicles, including trucks and vans
Load Handling:
- Safely loading and unloading goods, ensuring correct storage and distribution
Communication & Coordination:
- Working with supply chain teams and command units to ensure timely deliveries
This role is essential for keeping the Army's logistics running smoothly, whether in the UK or on deployment.
Where you’ll work
Depending on your chosen regiment/corps and age at the time of enlistment, you will undertake Phase 1 training at AFC Harrogate (16-17 year olds), ATR Pirbright, ATR Winchester or ITC Catterick (for adult recruits). ITC Catterick is also where the Infantry soldiers complete both Phase 1 and 2. On completion of training, you will be assigned where the Army requires you to be, but wherever that is you will receive 'on the job' training towards the completion of your chosen Apprenticeship.
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
College or training organisation
BRITISH ARMY
Your training course
Express delivery operative (level 2)
Equal to GCSE
Course contents
- Deliver goods to customer premises; load and unload goods in a safe way that ensures the safety and condition of the goods and correctly relates to the delivery schedule
- Plan and track progress against a schedule, using equipment where required e.g. scheduling software, satellite navigation
- Interpret delivery/ collection schedules; follow route instructions and company policies and instructions related to collections, deliveries, failed deliveries and returns
- Consistently meet customer expectations, respond to customer’s needs and identify ways to improve customer service
- Verify delivery or collection of goods. Use manual and ICT systems to confirm delivery and collection and to authorise or make payments for goods where required
- Comply with the law and with contracts to provide express delivery, postal and courier services
- Work safely in accordance with employment law and traffic law. Where required, operate vehicles to DVSA standards to ensure safety of others and a green environmental impact, minimising fuel use, noise and congestion.
- Operate equipment provided to move, collect and deliver goods and when required use any systems and ancillary equipment in compliance with company instructions
- Comply with legal and regulatory requirements relating to express
- Delivery services and where required, with a contract from a client company
- Uses diet, exercise and fitness techniques appropriate to job role
- Where required to carry out basic installation of goods, use correct manual handling techniques and use correct tools and equipment in compliance with manufacturers installation instructions
- Work in a way that minimises business costs while meeting customer requirements
- Comply with rules and regulations relating to the movement and handling of items, handling goods correctly using lifting and other equipment where appropriate
- Apply safeguarding policy whenever deliveries involve young persons or vulnerable adults
- Maintain the health, safety and security of self, colleagues and customers during deliveries
- Carry out appropriate daily equipment or vehicle checks and rectify or report faults
- Apply dynamic risk assessment principles to plan and respond to changing circumstances e.g. footpath closures, road diversions, incidents and accidents
Your training plan
Express Delivery Operative Level 2 Apprenticeship Standard:
Step 1:
- Basic training will teach you how to be a soldier. This covers everything from fieldcraft to how to handle a rifle
- If you join as a Junior Soldier (under 17 years and 6 months), you’ll do a 23-week basic military training course at Harrogate. If you join as a Regular Soldier (over 17 years and 6 months), you’ll do the regular 14-week adult basic training
Step 2:
- After basic training you will be sent to Deepcut in Surrey for 3 weeks to learn your RLC trade and commence your apprenticeship
- The apprenticeship will be taught while you are serving within the Field Army through a combination of hands on and classroom-based training approach
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English & Maths (grade A-D/9-3)
Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Administrative skills
- Team working
- Initiative
About this company
Protecting the nation and its dependent territories will always be the British Army's first role. Highly trained soldiers are ready to deploy anywhere at any time to meet a variety of challenges, ranging from support to the Police following a terrorist attack, to specialist capabilities such as bomb disposal and intelligence experts, 24 hours a day 365 days a year, we are always ready to serve. You belong here.
https://www.army.mod.uk/ (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
The Army offers job security, career growth, adventure and world class training. Benefits include competitive pay, travel, fitness, leadership skills, a pension, free healthcare, cheaper housing and 30-days paid leave a year, plus public holidays.
After this apprenticeship
The apprenticeship is a gateway to a full-time career in the British Army. Promotion, along with increased salary and responsibility is dependent on successful completion of the apprenticeship and then on merit by competitive selection. As you advance through the ranks, you will have the increased opportunity to lead and direct people, managing resources and workforce within your area of work to deliver the required outputs whilst maintaining and instilling the highest values and standards expected of the British Army. You belong here.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
BRITISH ARMY
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000315175.
Apply now
Closes on Saturday 30 August 2025
When you apply, you’ll be asked to sign in with a GOV.UK One Login. You can create one at the same time as applying for this apprenticeship.
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.
Company’s application instructions
At this link you can find more information about the roles offered by the British Army. We have positions available for all roles throughout the year and you can ignore the application open/closing dates shown against this apprenticeship advertisement. Once you have completed an application you will be invited to complete an aptitude assessment, selection interview, health assessment and a fitness test. More details of the requirement can be found at the application link.