Who is DHL Global Forwarding?
DHL Global Forwarding (DGF) is part of the DHL Group. While the DHL Group employs more than 580,000 people globally, DGF has around 31,000 freight forwarding experts in more than 190 countries around the world, with around 1,000 of us based in the UK across 15 Sites. As the experts in Freight Forwarding since 1815, we are the global specialists in Air, Ocean and Rail Freight.
You name it, we’ve shipped it - from brown bears to aircraft engines, to lifesaving medicines and luxury cars! We are also proud to partner with some of the well-known global sporting series, movie franchises and music tours.
Our people are at the heart of what we do, and we’re committed to helping our Forwarders to realise their full potential, supported by our own development journey - Certified International Forwarder
(CIF).
Our Values
Every day we are guided by our values: Passion, Entrepreneurship, Excellence and Teamwork.
We are extremely passionate about our people and what we do, which is why DHL Global Forwarding is recognised as a Top Employer and a Great Place to Work, because we are specialists in providing Excellence, Simply Delivered.
In addition to our values, we promote an open and honest feedback culture based on Respect & Results, whereby our employees embrace diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, while ensuring that we never compromise our integrity and compliance.
Role Overview
The Project Coordinator Apprentice will support the Industrial Projects team in delivering high levels of customer service, operational excellence, and compliance across Air Freight, Ocean Freight, and project cargo activities. This role is designed for an individual starting their career in logistics and will provide structured training and hands-on experience to develop the skills required to become a fully competent Project Coordinator.
Key Responsibilities:
- Learn the fundamentals of Air Freight, Ocean Freight, and Industrial Projects operations through on-the-job training and mentoring.
- Support the coordination of customer shipments and ensure operational and customer requirements are met.
- Assist with shipment tracking, customer updates, and status reporting.
- Develop an understanding of project cargo, out of gauge movements, and specialist logistics solutions.
- Support the team in maintaining accurate operational records and system updates.
- Assist with preparing shipping documentation and ensuring information is completed accurately and on time.
- Work closely with operations, warehouse teams, overseas offices, and other departments to support the smooth movement of customer cargo.
- Respond professionally to customer and internal enquiries, escalating issues to senior team members where required.
- Participate in team meetings, performance reviews, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Learn and follow all customer-specific procedures and operational processes.
- Develop an understanding of key performance indicators (KPIs) and contribute to achieving team and station objectives.
- Take an active role in personal development by completing apprenticeship training, seeking feedback, and working towards agreed learning objectives.
- Maintain compliance with DPDHL policies, including Health & Safety, Security, Code of Conduct, and Anti-Corruption requirements.
- Contribute positively to a collaborative team environment and support colleagues when required.
- Ensures that all interactions are compliant with DPDHL Code of Conduct and other compliance requirements e.g. anti-corruption
- Contribute to the First Choice continuous improvement program
Skills and Experience:
Essential
- A minimum of 5 National 5 qualifications (or equivalent), including English and Maths.
- Strong willingness to learn and develop a career within logistics, freight forwarding, and project operations.
- Good written and verbal communication skills.
- Positive attitude with a customer-focused approach.
- Good attention to detail and ability to work accurately.
- Basic IT skills, including Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel.
- Ability to organise workload and manage multiple tasks.
- Reliable, professional, and enthusiastic approach to work.
- Ability to work effectively as part of a team.
Desirable
- Higher qualifications (or equivalent) in subjects such as Business Management, Geography, Mathematics, Engineering, or Computing.
- An interest in logistics, transport, supply chain, project management, or international trade.
- Previous experience gained through part-time employment, volunteering, school projects, Duke of Edinburgh Award, Young Enterprise, or work experience placements.
Benefits:
- A structured apprenticeship programme leading to a recognised qualification.
- Hands-on experience across Air Freight, Ocean Freight, and Industrial Projects operations.
- Exposure to project cargo and specialist logistics solutions.
- Support and mentoring from experienced industry professionals.
- Development of customer service, operational, and commercial skills.
- A potential pathway into a permanent Project Coordinator role and future career opportunities within DHL Global Forwarding.
- A competitive salary
- Generous holiday entitlement
- Pension scheme which includes life assurance
- Access to professional employee assistance and wellbeing programme
- A competitive package of voluntary benefits including retail, entertainment, gym membership, cycle to work scheme, contribution to eye care costs, and many more discounts
- Training and Development opportunities with a strong focus on internal promotion
HOURS/SHIFT PATTERN: 37.5 hours per week
REPORTS TO: Operations Supervisor
Please note: Due to the nature of our business we are regulated by the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority), therefore it is compulsory for all applicants once offered employment to provide a full 5 year employment history. Additional to this we are required to carry out a Criminal Record Check.
What’s Next?
If you would like to be considered for this position, then please apply via our careers website with a copy of your CV outlining your experience to date and suitability for the role.
DHL is the leading global brand in the logistics industry. Our DHL divisions offer an unrivalled portfolio of logistics services ranging from national and international parcel delivery, e-commerce shipping and fulfillment solutions, international express, road, air and ocean transport to industrial supply chain management. DHL connects people and businesses securely and reliably, enabling global sustainable trade flows.
Our culture is focused on personal commitment – to our customers, to each other, to our communities and to the environment. We reward excellent work and we nurture the talents of our employees. This enables you as an employee to develop your expertise and your career in different areas or divisions – and even in other countries.
We are committed to creating a workplace that ensures mutual respect and is focused on results. We hire talented people from all backgrounds – irrespective of gender, disability, nationality, ethnicity, social background, religion and beliefs, age or sexual orientation and identity. Diversity enriches our workplace, drives our success, and helps us deliver excellence.
