Airfreight Operations Apprentice

DHL GLOBAL FORWARDING (UK) LIMITED

Bristol (BS35 4ER)

Closes in 17 days (Monday 4 May 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 17 April 2026

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Summary

As an Airfreight Operations Specialist, you will work with colleagues based throughout the UK to support the administration of processes and activities to deliver goods across the customers’ global supply chain; utilising air transportation, maximising profitability and optimising business and human assets to meet business objectives.

Wage

£15,600 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Salary review after 12 months.

Training course
International freight forwarding specialist (level 3)
Hours
Monday to Friday, 9am – 5.30pm.

37 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Monday 18 May 2026

Duration

1 year 6 months

Positions available

1

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

Key Responsibilities of the Role Includes:

  • Develops relationship with allocated customers.
  • Accepts all orders (from customer or overseas offices) and processes such.
  • Creates and confirms transport order to ensure pickup of the shipment at origin.
  • Process all bookings to carriers and issue HAWB instructions.
  • Runs all checks on HAWB prior to acceptance/print of HAWB.
  • Completes all Export/Import HMRC Requirements.
  • Fully ensures compliance with varying countries' security needs, AMS/ACI etc.
  • Prepares, controls and distributes all required Import/Export documents to counterparts (carriers, consignee, supplier) complying with regulations and internal procedures.
  • Checks responses from counterparts and finalises validation of required documents.
  • Proactively informs customers on shipment status, exceptions and provides intermediate updates on incident solutions.
  • Provides spot quotations and closes contract.
  • Performs up and cross-selling (inbound calls) for existing customers and passes on leads to sales.
  • Takes and handles customer enquiries, e.g. Track and Trace.
  • Takes customer requests with regard to Go Green topics and informs Country Go Green Head.
  • Reviews reports (generated by the Performance Reporting & Exception Specialist) and sends them to the customer.
  • Takes and registers all customer complaints and drives the solution of customer complaints by solving them directly or assigning tasks to other functions.
  • Acts as first contact point for customer claims.
  • Participates in joint sales visits if necessary.
  • Fully complies with GCCS input guidelines with root cause input and corrective action closure.
  • Completes all financial input relating to job files (billing/cost provisions/printing of billing, invoice to customers and posting/distribution of same with required back up).
  • Manages and controls workflow on a daily basis.
  • Take ownership of all account queries, both customer and carrier, and their conclusion.
  • Ensure that all customer enquiries are responded to promptly and professionally.
  • Escalates issues if required.
  • Ensures that all interactions are compliant with DPDHL Code of Conduct and other compliance requirements, e.g. anti-corruption. 

Where you'll work

Unit 9, More Plus
Central Park, Madison Way
Severn Beach
Bristol
BS35 4ER

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

SEETEC BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY CENTRE LIMITED

Training course

International freight forwarding specialist (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Select freight forwarding services based on customer requirements, taking into account country specific factors, delivery times and modes.
  • Use generic or bespoke ICT systems in order to enter and monitor data on importing or exporting goods.
  • Book, plan and monitor international shipments, using manual or ICT systems, in accordance with the rules and regulations that apply to that area of the world and to the goods consigned.
  • Prepare a customs declaration to a national standard, or give custom clearance instructions to a third party.
  • Use data systems to submit the information required by customs authorities as part of the management of the international movement of goods.
  • Produce freight costings and invoices in line with Incoterms, customer profile or sales contract.
  • Identify and source data from customers, systems or colleagues.
  • Identify and resolve problems in line with responsibilities.
  • Create and maintain productive working relationships with internal and external customers.
  • Adapt communication based on the situation and the audience.
  • Identify problems outside of limits of responsibility and escalate within company policy.
  • Communicate in writing, preparing communications on technical matters.
  • Communicate with others verbally, including internal and external customers.
  • Air. Use and adapt terminology appropriate to the air freight industry.
  • Air. Select and use documentation appropriate to the air freight industry.
  • Ocean. Use and adapt terminology appropriate to the ocean freight industry.
  • Ocean. Select and use documentation appropriate to the ocean freight industry.
  • Road. Use and adapt terminology appropriate to the road freight industry.
  • Road. Select and use documentation appropriate to the road freight industry.
  • Select freight forwarding services based on customer requirements, taking into account country specific factors, delivery times and modes.
  • Use generic or bespoke ICT systems in order to enter and monitor data on importing or exporting goods.
  • Book, plan and monitor international shipments, using manual or ICT systems, in accordance with the rules and regulations that apply to that area of the world and to the goods consigned.
  • Prepare a customs declaration to a national standard, or give custom clearance instructions to a third party.
  • Use data systems to submit the information required by customs authorities as part of the management of the international movement of goods.
  • Produce freight costings and invoices in line with Incoterms, customer profile or sales contract.
  • Identify and source data from customers, systems or colleagues.
  • Identify and resolve problems in line with responsibilities.
  • Create and maintain productive working relationships with internal and external customers.
  • Adapt communication based on the situation and the audience.
  • Identify problems outside of limits of responsibility and escalate within company policy.
  • Communicate in writing, preparing communications on technical matters.
  • Communicate with others verbally, including internal and external customers.

Training schedule

On the job training delivered by the employer.

Apprentices without Level 2 English and Maths will need to achieve this level prior to taking the end point assessment. For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement, the apprenticeship English and Mathematics minimum requirement is Entry Level 3.

Allocation of an apprenticeship delivery coach who will carry out regular training.

Assessment and support visits to ensure you acquire new learning, knowledge, skills and behaviours in order to progress and develop.

Identify, track and support 6 hours off the job training activities.

Quarterly formal progress review meetings, identifying learning achievements and next steps. 

More training information

Internal sytems training will be conducted by DHL.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade Minimum Grade C or 4)
  • Maths (grade Minimum Grade C or 4)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • IT skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Customer care skills
  • Administrative skills
  • Number skills
  • Team working
  • Keen to learn

Other requirements

Due to the nature of our business, we are regulated by the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority). Therefore, it is compulsory for all applicants once offered employment to provide a full 5-year employment/education history. In addition to this, we are required to carry out a Criminal Record Check.

About this employer

DHL Global Forwarding (DGF) is one of the five DHL divisions within DPDHL Group. DGF UK specialise in shipping freight by air and sea. We are the world and UK market leader for airfreight and number two for ocean freight. At DGF we have over 30,000 employees working across more than 200 countries. In the UK we have over 1,000 colleagues working across office, warehouse and transport roles. We collect, store and deliver the goods and handle customs formalities.

http://www.dhl.com (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

Generous Holiday Entitlement. Eligibility to participate in the Employee Incentive Bonus Scheme. Pension scheme which includes life assurance

After this apprenticeship

The Apprenticeship will initially be a 24-month Fixed Term Contract (FTC), with the aim that Apprentices either move onto a further Apprenticeship or a permanent role within the business – subject to a suitable vacancy being available and in line with the selection process for the role. 

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

SEETEC BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY CENTRE LIMITED

Paul Cotton

paul.cotton@seetec.co.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000027034.

Apply now

Closes in 17 days (Monday 4 May 2026 at 11:59pm)