A Doncaster man who joined Amazon just to earn “a bit of extra money” is now sharing his success story to inspire the next generation of workers. Sam Booth, an Area Manager at Amazon’s iPort fulfilment centre, is speaking out during National Apprenticeship Week 2026 to show how vocational training can completely rewrite a career path.
Sam, who lives between Doncaster and Barnsley, first stepped into the Amazon warehouse seven years ago after leaving sixth form. What began as a temporary job soon turned into a career when he enrolled in his first apprenticeship: a Level 3 in Business Improvement Techniques. Today, he is working toward a Level 4 Data Analytics qualification, a move that has helped him discover a hidden talent for numbers.
“I used my first apprenticeship to help me secure a leadership position that I really wanted at Amazon,” Sam explained. “This role helped me uncover a passion that I never really knew I had – deep diving data, using data, manipulating data and working with numbers.”
©UNP Mark Bickerdike
Sam’s journey has taken him across multiple Yorkshire sites, from the “Inbound” docks to leadership roles in Wakefield, before returning to Doncaster as an Area Manager. He credits the apprenticeship programme with giving him the mental space to excel. “With Amazon, everything needs to be done quickly,” he noted. “The apprenticeship has given me time to assess what’s happening, and then go from there.”
Amazon’s apprenticeship scheme is currently ranked as one of the UK’s top three programmes by the Department for Education. For those starting, the pay is competitive, beginning at £13.95 or £14.96 per hour, depending on location, roughly £29,000 to £31,000 a year. Employees also receive private medical insurance and a company pension from their first day.
The company also offers a “Supported Internship” programme for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), focusing on essential life skills and hands-on work experience.
For Sam, the best part of the job isn’t just the data – it’s the people. “You meet everyone from all walks of life, from all around the world,” he said. His advice for anyone on the fence about applying is simple: “Just go for it. What have you got to lose? You get to learn something that you’re passionate about, and you get to do it whilst you’re working.”
