In late 2017, Amazon opened a new robotics fulfilment centre on the outskirts of Tilbury, Essex. The site, which is approximately the size of 28 football pitches, is named LCY2 after the nearest international airport, London City Airport.
With the opening of the Tilbury site, Rosie McCarthy started her first ever job aged 18. Rosie started as a fufilment centre associate, picking customer orders from shelves and sending them on to be packed. In less than a month in the job, Rosie was promoted to an instructor, training new and existing employees. A few months later Rosie decided to take on an operations apprenticeship, studying modules such as health and safety, visual management systems, working relationships and workplace organisation.
“I have surprised myself with all that I have achieved and how quickly I have grown at Amazon both at work and as a person too,” said Rosie.
As part of a programme called ‘I Found the Right Place’ Amazon invited employees from fulfilment centres across the UK to explain what they like best about working at Amazon and why it is the right place for them. More than 800 employees from across the UK and dozens from each site put pen to paper.
In her entry, Rosie wrote “within three weeks of being at Amazon I became an instructor, the feeling you have when you see someone progress as a result of your help is very rewarding. I have found the right place!”
All of the entries were anonymised and the best entry from each fulfilment centre was chosen. The chosen employees were invited on an all-expenses-paid trip to Seattle, U.S., to explore the Amazon head office and see where it all started.
During the five-day trip to Seattle, Rosie and Amazon colleagues from sites across the UK were shown around the city and enjoyed a trip up the Space Needle. They also went on a tour of the Amazon campus and the robotics fulfilment centre in Kent, Washington, where they met Amazon’s chief scientist.
“I loved coming together with people from Amazon fulfilment centres across the country and learning what we do differently and what we do the same. Getting to see the Amazon headquarters in Seattle with them was amazing,” said Rosie.
Looking to the future, Rosie said “being an apprentice here has taught me so many different skills and processes. I am hoping to progress within Amazon and can't wait to see what my future at the company brings.”
