Amazon is paying people up to £31,000 to learn cybersecurity and data science on the job – no degree needed
Amazon is pouring £40 billion into the UK over the next three years, with a major focus on creating high-tech jobs and backing apprenticeship schemes.
The e-commerce giant first announced the massive investment back in June 2025, covering everything from building four new robotic fulfilment centres and expanding delivery networks to upgrading over 100 existing sites across the country.
The move is expected to create thousands of full-time roles and add an estimated £38 billion to the UK’s GDP, with the government hailing it as a major vote of confidence in British skills and industry.
Apprenticeships at Amazon
A big slice of that commitment is going towards upskilling the workforce through Amazon’s highly regarded apprenticeship programme, one of the top three in the UK according to the Department for Education.
Ranked among the top three apprenticeship providers by the Department for Education, Amazon currently has more than 2,000 apprentices enrolled across over 50 schemes, and has supported over 6,000 people since the programme launched.
What sets Amazon’s apprenticeships apart is the strong earning potential right from the start: pay begins at £13.95 to £14.96 per hour (depending on location), translating to an annual salary of roughly £29,000 to £31,000.
Apprentices receive a full benefits package from day one, including private medical insurance, life assurance, income protection, employee discounts worth over £700 a year, and pension contributions, all while gaining nationally recognised qualifications and on-the-job experience in cutting-edge environments like robotics and AI-aligned tech.
Applications for 2026 intakes are now open at amazonapprenticeships.co.uk, spanning fields such as mechatronics engineering, cybersecurity, data science, HR, software development, and chartered management degrees.
The schemes are designed for everyone: school leavers, career changers, internal employees switching roles, neurodiverse individuals, and those with special educational needs through dedicated supported internships. Many feature flexible shifts, site rotations, and pathways that blend practical work with specialist stud, no prior formal qualifications required in several cases.
From ex-bar staff to rugby players
Amazon highlighted some of the individuals currently in the programme:
- Leah McFarlane, ex-bar staff and rugby league player from West Leeds: Swapped sports studies for a four-year mechatronics engineering apprenticeship, rotating between Bolton and Wakefield sites to get hands-on with robotics. “I’m a very practical and visual learner – I thrive on getting my hands dirty.”
- Maleeha Patel, college leaver at 18: Chose Amazon’s RME mechatronics programme over other offers for the pay, flexible locations, and travel-friendly shifts. Studying at the Manufacturing Technology Centre in Coventry, she aims to inspire more women in engineering: “Don’t be scared – apprenticeships are for everyone.”
- Shai Coleman, former fulfilment centre associate with a psychology degree: Now an HR People Professional apprentice via the University of Exeter, balancing autism, maternity, and a fast-paced role. “Why study in your own time when you can do it whilst you’re at work?”
- Alexandra Herczeg, Hungarian immigrant and sole parent: Progressed from part-time fulfilment work to area manager and chartered management degree apprentice, while supporting community initiatives like The Felix Project. Calls it a “once in a lifetime opportunity” for upskilling.
