Whistl the UK’s leading logistics specialists in e-fulfilment, mail and parcels has announced that employees now have the opportunity to study for an Express Delivery Manager Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship – leading to a BSc (Hons) Degree at the University of West London.
Steve Pickard – Senior Operations Manager; Rozi Oprisescu – Shift Manager; and Adam Bamford – Supervisor are the three inaugural applicants for the three-year course.
“Starting a degree later in life has me feeling both nervous and enthusiastic in equal measures, excited to get started and glad for the opportunity I've been given to further my professional career.”
The course is paid for from the Apprenticeship Levy and is one of the highest qualifications available through the learning and development programmes available at Whistl.
The company also announced that a further 23 employees completed a variety of apprenticeships in the year including the Level 2 Sortation Hub Apprenticeship as part of the company’s strategy to enable employees to gain nationally recognised qualifications. Whistl was one of the ‘employer trailblazers’ that developed the standards for the apprenticeship that was launched in 2022.
The degree course and sortation hub qualification are accredited by the Institute of Couriers.
Whistl also funds apprenticeships in the community from its Whistl Apprenticeship Fund. It supported 33 Level 2 to 5 apprenticeship schemes in 2023 including in the care, accountancy and early years sectors. Organisations can view and apply for the Whistl Apprenticeship Fund by searching funding opportunities at manage-apprenticeships.service.gov.uk.
Nick Wells, Executive Chairman, Whistl, said: “It is so important to invest in the professional development of all our colleagues and through our learning and development programmes, everyone has an opportunity to do so, whatever role they have within the company. It is great to see that we can now offer employees sector specific degree level qualifications.
“I am also pleased that we can continue to make a positive impact within the communities we operate and through the innovative Whistl Apprenticeship Fund. we are continuing to make a difference though giving people the opportunity to enhance their employability skills through recognised qualifications.”
