How to become
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
- specialist courses run by professional bodies
University
You could do a degree before applying to join a freight company's management training scheme.
Employers accept most subjects but you may have an advantage if you study:
- transport and distribution management
- logistics and supply chain management
- business and management
- business studies with a foreign language
Choosing a degree with an industry placement or a summer internship could help you to get relevant skills and might be useful when you apply for jobs.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
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Apprenticeship
You could apply to do an International Freight Forwarding Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship.
This can take up to 2 years to complete and combines on-the-job training and time spent with a learning provider.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
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Work
You could start as an administrator in a freight forwarding or logistics department and work your way up through training and promotion.
You'll find it useful to have office experience and good computer skills.
You're likely to need 4 or 5 GCSEs at grade 9 to 4 (A* to C), including English and maths. Some employers might want you to have A levels or a higher education qualification.
Other Routes
You could do a training course through an industry body, such as The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport and the Chartered Institute of Export and International Trade.
Courses start from introductory level onwards, so you can choose what to do based on your knowledge and experience.
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Career tips
You may have an advantage in some jobs, if you can speak a second language, especially if you want to work for a company that operates internationally.
Further information
You can find out more about working in logistics and transport from Generation Logistics and The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport.