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More info
- Manage stock and deliveries in warehouses, building supply yards and depots
- You'll be doing physical, hands-on work outdoors and in all weathers
- Progress into supervisory or yard management roles
As a yard operative you might work for a construction supplier, in a road haulage depot, a retail distribution centre or factory warehouse, making sure materials and supplies are in the right place at the right time.
DAY-TO-DAY DUTIES
- Loading and unloading delivery vehicles by hand or with a forklift truck
- Sorting and grading stock
- Moving supplies to storage areas
- Picking and packing orders
- Dealing with customers
DAY-TO-DAY ENVIRONMENT
Your working hours may include shift work, evenings and weekends. You may need to work outside in all weather conditions, and the work can be dusty, dirty and physically demanding, with some heavy lifting.
You'll need
There are no set entry requirements, but some employers may ask for GCSEs, or equivalent, in maths and English. You'll need customer care skills, and good basic levels of maths and English for record keeping and communication.
You'll also need to be physically fit.
You may be able to get into this job through an intermediate apprenticeship in warehousing and storage, or trade supplies.
Experience of warehouse work, labouring on a construction site or having a forklift truck licence may be helpful.
CAREER PROSPECTS
With experience, you could become a yard or warehouse supervisor, or yard manager. Alternatively could move into delivery driving, forklift work or product sales.