British Army - Port Operative - Full Time Career with Apprenticeship

British Army

UK Country wide, SO21 2RG

Closes on Monday 1 December 2025

Posted on 19 February 2025

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Summary

An opportunity to embark on a full-time career in the British Army within the Royal Logistic Corps as a Level 2 Port Operative apprentice. You'll be responsible for loading and unloading containers, cargo and vehicles from chartered military vessels in port. Port Operators are mainly based in Marchwood, Southampton.

Wage
£25,200 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Port operative (level 2)
Hours
Shift and working patterns may vary. Working locations will vary nationally depending on the apprenticeship and working requirements. Days and times to be confirmed.

40 hours a week

Possible start date

Thursday 1 January

Duration

1 year

Positions available

36

Work

As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff.

What you’ll do at work

  • As part of a Port Task Group, load and unload vessels to meet port deadlines and operational commitments.  You'll also learn how to operate cranes mechanical equipment to load and unload pallets, containers and other cargo.
  • Primarily based at the home of Army Maritime in Marchwood, Southampton.
  • You could be deployed worldwide– wherever the British Army has a presence.
  • Gain your Category C+E Driving Licence and learn how to use equipment such as an Industrial Forklift and cranes.
  • Gain MHE qualifications and a Level 2 Port Operative Apprenticeship.

Where you’ll work

UK Country wide

SO21 2RG

Training

An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.

College or training organisation

BRITISH ARMY

Your training course

Port operative (level 2)

Equal to GCSE

Course contents
  • Follow port sector procedures in line with sector regulations and legislation.
  • Follow procedures in line with health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance.
  • Identify and report hazards and risks in the workplace. Take action to mitigate hazards and risk.
  • Comply with safe systems of work and apply control measures.
  • Identify hazardous goods.
  • Follow standard operating procedures (SOPs).
  • Comply with port security measures.
  • Follow instructions provided from information, for example, text, data, job card, work instructions, risk assessments, method statements, operation manuals, or permits to work.
  • Use equipment and machinery.
  • Follow procedures to ensure safe movement of traffic, goods, or pedestrians around the port.
  • Carry out pre-operational checks.
  • Comply with environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance.
  • Follow techniques for waste management across the port.
  • Escalate issues of concern.
  • Follow equity, diversity, and inclusion principles.
  • Use information systems. General data protection regulation (GDPR). Cyber security.
  • Communicate in writing with others for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
  • Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
  • Record or enter information - paper based or electronic.
  • Apply team working and wellbeing principles.
  • Uses cargo handling techniques.
  • Use toolbox talks.
  • Classify cargo.
  • Load, unload, or store cargo.
  • Follow a loading, lift or stow plan.
  • Identify, record and report pre-existing damage or new damage.
  • Secures the load, for example to maintain the integrity of the cargo, or to prevent damage to the vessel.
  • Use techniques to coordinate planned cargo movements for example, hand signalling or radio communication.
  • Provide equipment or assistance for passengers to embark and disembark a vessel.
  • Follow procedures for secure passenger access.
  • Carry out operational tasks related to passenger vessels, such as loading and unloading commodities and products, assisting the vessel, its occupants and vessel staff.
  • Follow procedures for damaged, lost, unclaimed, unlabelled, unaccompanied, or suspect baggage.
  • Use techniques and equipment to handle baggage and items.
  • Complete site checks.
  • Take action to mitigate the risks to passengers where there are adverse weather conditions.
  • Identify customer needs and deliver a service to meet those needs, resolving queries or problems.
  • Follow port sector procedures in line with sector regulations and legislation.
  • Follow procedures in line with health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance.
  • Identify and report hazards and risks in the workplace. Take action to mitigate hazards and risk.
  • Comply with safe systems of work and apply control measures.
  • Identify hazardous goods.
  • Follow standard operating procedures (SOPs).
  • Comply with port security measures.
  • Follow instructions provided from information, for example, text, data, job card, work instructions, risk assessments, method statements, operation manuals, or permits to work.
  • Use equipment and machinery.
  • Follow procedures to ensure safe movement of traffic, goods, or pedestrians around the port.
  • Carry out pre-operational checks.
  • Comply with environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance.
  • Follow techniques for waste management across the port.
  • Escalate issues of concern.
  • Follow equity, diversity, and inclusion principles.
  • Use information systems. General data protection regulation (GDPR). Cyber security.
  • Communicate in writing with others for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
  • Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
  • Record or enter information - paper based or electronic.
  • Apply team working and wellbeing principles.

Your training plan

Step 1 - You'll start with your initial military training which will teach you how to be a soldier - this will cover everything from fieldcraft to handling 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 - Next, you will undertake your 15-week Combat Logistician course at the Defence School of Transport in Leconfield. During this, you will earn your Category C+E Driving Licence and study general service driver modules. This training also gives you the opportunity to gain a broader knowledge on the Royal Logistic Corps functions and roles.

Step 3 - Then you’ll complete the Port Operator Class 3 course where you will learn the safety aspects of working in a hazardous port environment and gain your MHE Licences. You’ll also learn how to transfer cargo between military and civilian transport using cranes and other equipment.

On promotion, and after earning two further MHE Specialist Qualifications, you will begin the Port Operator Class 2 course. Later on, you will complete the Port Operator Class 1 course which includes learning how to be a Crane Supervisor.

Qualifications you could get after training:

  • Level 2 Port Operative Apprenticeship
  • MHE Qualifications
  • Functional skills
  • CMI Diploma
  • ILM award in Leadership and management

Requirements

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

  • Communication skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Number skills
  • Analytical skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Initiative

Other requirements

The British Army recruits throughout the year and you should ignore the application closing dates shown against this advert.

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 of 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 VAC1000304862.

Apply now

Closes on Monday 1 December 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.