What 18 Months as an Amazon Apprentice Taught Me About Sustainability, Logistics and Growth
- Haziq Hussain
- 3m
- 3 min read
By Riyaad Kara - XR Apprentice Ambassador
Introduction
18 months into my Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability apprenticeship with Amazon, I can confidently say it’s been an incredible journey. When I first joined the company, I had no idea how much work went into getting a package from a fulfilment centre to someone’s front door.
Over the last year and a half, I’ve learned something new almost every day about Amazon Logistics. Even now, I’m constantly impressed by how one of the world’s most complex logistics networks runs. Across the network, teams are always looking to innovate, improve speed, efficiency, and sustainability.
What I Do: Sustainability in Action
I’m part of the UK Operations Integration team within AMZL, where much of our work focuses on sustainability. My team focuses on execution, turning projects on paper into deliveries on road. Over the past 18 months, we’ve successfully launched multiple electric cargo bike operations across the UK and walker cart operations throughout London.
Being involved in these launches has opened my eyes to how much planning, co-ordination, and problem-solving goes into turning an idea into a working solution on the road.
At the same time, I’ve been working towards my CRS Practitioner qualification alongside RHG, which has helped me connect real-world operations with sustainability principles in practice. Having the opportunity to boost my skillset through real-world working whilst simultaneously boosting my qualifications is something I’m ever grateful to have the opportunity to do.
Real Impact I’m Proud Of as an Amazon Apprentice
Some of the work I’ve contributed to includes:
Creating a servicing guide for e-bike battery cabinets used across the UK.
Working with technical teams to identify and implement improvements for all users.
Collect and analyse performance data across Micromobility and subsequently present insights in a format that enables fast, effective data led decision making.
Leading my own project focused on launching sustainable deliveries from a new perspective.
If I were to summarise my role, I'd say my role is to identify opportunities in our sustainable delivery operations. That could be understanding data patterns, working on the app experience for delivery associates, or shaping how our micromobility solutions perform on the ground. At Amazon even the smallest fixes can have largescale impacts. For me it all comes down to one thing: curiosity. Most of the time the answer I’m looking for is not obvious, but it will always be there.
Challenges, Doubt & Growth
From first being introduced to electric cargo bike deliveries to being able to showcase our operations to the president of Brooklyn (Antonio Reynoso) an apprenticeship is full of experiences and emotions.
Sometimes, my projects challenge me, and there have been times where doubt creeps in. This is when it’s most important to stop, understand that the moments in your apprenticeship where you feel unsure, are actually the best moments, because feeling nervous means you're pushing yourself out of your comfort zone and growth begins where comfort ends.
Why I’d Recommend an Apprenticeship
For me, this is the best part of apprenticeships, you're never quite sure what you'll be doing tomorrow, who you'll meet, what challenges you'll face, what you'll learn, but one thing is for sure, you'll grow, everyday you'll be wiser than before, and those learnings compound and eventually your confidence grows and this is where I currently find myself, I feel I've come a long way from the person I was 18 months ago yet I feel I have more to learn now than ever.
This apprenticeship has helped me build a foundation in:
Corporate working life
Amazon Logistics
Sustainability in practice
How large organisations operate and deliver at scale
Problem solving on a whole new level
What drives me every day to give it my best is the mission I carry alongside every other Amazonian, “to be the earth's most customers centric company”, from a point of sustainability, speed and accuracy in deliveries. At a company like Amazon, the opportunities are truly endless and thanks to this apprenticeship, I look forward to taking advantage of every one of them.
At a company like Amazon, the opportunities to develop are genuinely endless. I’m grateful for the chance to be on this journey, and I’m excited to see where the next stages of this apprenticeship takes me.
Start Your Apprenticeship Journey
Inspired by Riyaad’s story?
Apprenticeships with organisations like Amazon offer the chance to gain real experience, earn a salary, and build recognised qualifications while working on impactful projects from day one.
If you’re exploring apprenticeships and want expert guidance on applications, interviews, or assessment centres, XR Consultancy provides 1-to-1 coaching, CV reviews, and tailored preparation designed to help you secure competitive roles.
Whether you’re applying to Amazon or any other top employer, the right preparation can make all the difference.
Ready to take the first step? Get in touch with XR Consultancy to start your journey.