Freight Forwarding Apprentice
DAVIES TURNER PLC
Bristol (BS11 8DT)
Closes in 15 days (Wednesday 13 May 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 28 April 2026
Contents
Summary
A 2-year program building expertise in global supply chains. Apprentices coordinate between manufacturers and carriers, managing cargo by air, sea, road, or rail. They gain core freight and customer service skills, specialise in Ocean or Road Freight, and prepare for roles like Freight Forwarder or Shipping Specialist.
- Wage
-
£15,600 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Business administrator (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday – Friday 09:00 – 17:30.
37 hours 30 minutes a week
- Start date
-
Monday 1 June 2026
- Duration
-
1 year 6 months
- Positions available
-
2
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
The work environment is fast-paced. Freight forwarding is highly reactive; you must be able to switch between tasks quickly as new shipment updates arrive. It is also team-oriented, with the apprentices working in small, supportive teams where they can learn from experienced ‘mentors’ or senior forwarders. Work is also collaborative, and you will regularly interact with people from different countries and time zones, requiring strong professional communication skills.
There are vacancies in either:
- Ocean Freight: Booking space on shipping lines and handling containerised cargo
- Road Freight: Managing haulage collections and deliveries, often focusing on UK-EU trade routes
Core responsibilities/Learning:
- Logistics Planning: Selecting the most cost-effective and timely transport routes
- Customs and Compliance: Mastering the essential documentation and regulations required for international trade, such as Incoterms and customs declarations
- Documentation: Preparing shipment bookings, bills of lading, and insurance contracts
- Commercial Skills: Calculating freight costs, providing quotes to customers, and managing invoices
Common weekly tasks include:
- Morning Checks - Tracking shipments to see if they arrived at ports or airports on time; identifying any delays due to weather or technical issues
- Communication - Proactively emailing or calling customers with updates; liaising with hauliers, airlines, or shipping lines to book space for cargo
- Documentation - Preparing essential paperwork such as Bills of Lading, Certificates of Origin, CMR’s or commercial invoices
- Customs Work - Learning to input data for customs declarations and ensuring shipments comply with HMRC regulations
- Finance - Checking supplier invoices against agreed tariffs and preparing quotes for new customer shipments
Where you'll work
Western Freight Terminal
Fifth Way
Bristol
BS11 8DT
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
CITY OF BRISTOL COLLEGE
Training course
Business administrator (level 3)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Skilled in the use of multiple IT packages and systems relevant to the organisation in order to: write letters or emails, create proposals, perform financial processes, record and analyse data. Examples include MS Office or equivalent packages. Able to choose the most appropriate IT solution to suit the business problem. Able to update and review databases, record information and produce data analysis where required.
- Produces accurate records and documents including: emails, letters, files, payments, reports and proposals. Makes recommendations for improvements and present solutions to management. Drafts correspondence, writes reports and able to review others' work. Maintains records and files, handles confidential information in compliance with the organisation's procedures. Coaches others in the processes required to complete these tasks.
- Exercises proactivity and good judgement. Makes effective decisions based on sound reasoning and is able to deal with challenges in a mature way. Seeks advice of more experienced team members when appropriate.
- Builds and maintains positive relationships within their own team and across the organisation. Demonstrates ability to influence and challenge appropriately. Becomes a role model to peers and team members, developing coaching skills as they gain area knowledge.
- Demonstrates good communication skills, whether face-to-face, on the telephone, in writing or on digital platforms. Uses the most appropriate channels to communicate effectively. Demonstrates agility and confidence in communications, carrying authority appropriately. Understands and applies social media solutions appropriately. Answers questions from inside and outside of the organisation, representing the organisation or department.
- Completes tasks to a high standard. Demonstrates the necessary level of expertise required to complete tasks and applies themself to continuously improve their work. Is able to review processes autonomously and make suggestions for improvements. Shares administrative best-practice across the organisation e.g. coaches others to perform tasks correctly. Applies problem-solving skills to resolve challenging or complex complaints and is a key point of contact for addressing issues.
- Takes responsibility for initiating and completing tasks, manages priorities and time in order to successfully meet deadlines. Positively manages the expectations of colleagues at all levels and sets a positive example for others in the workplace. Makes suggestions for improvements to working practice, showing understanding of implications beyond the immediate environment (e.g. impact on clients, suppliers, other parts of the organisation). Manages resources e.g. equipment or facilities. Organises meetings and events, takes minutes during meetings and creates action logs as appropriate. Takes responsibility for logistics e.g. travel and accommodation.
- Uses relevant project management principles and tools to scope, plan, monitor and report. Plans required resources to successfully deliver projects. Undertakes and leads projects as and when required.
Training schedule
All on-site in Avonmouth, BS11 8DT.
What training will the apprentice take and what qualification will the apprentice get at the end?
- Business Administrator Level 3
- Supporting and engaging with different parts of the organisation and interacting with internal or external customers.
- City of Bristol College
- Off-site in its entirety
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4)
- Maths (grade 4)
Desirable qualifications
A Level in:
- - (grade -)
- - (grade -)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Problem solving skills
- Team working
- Willingness to Learn
Other requirements
- Smart/casual dress code
- Office environment
- Getting to and from Avonmouth (public transport isn’t great for this location, but we have bike sheds and free on-site parking, there is also the option of using the Westlink bus service)
About this employer
Davies Turner is a long‑established UK‑based freight forwarding and logistics company, founded in 1870 and headquartered in London, with a nationwide network of branches. It specialises in multimodal transport and supply‑chain services, including air, ocean, road and rail freight, as well as warehousing and fulfilment. The company is known for combining a long family‑owned heritage with modern logistics capabilities and compliance‑focused operations.
Company benefits
Hapi Benefits
After this apprenticeship
Full-time employment.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
CITY OF BRISTOL COLLEGE
Business Partnership Onboarding Team
apprentice@cityofbristol.ac.uk
01173125250
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000028303.
Apply now
Closes in 15 days (Wednesday 13 May 2026 at 11:59pm)