Logistics & e-commerce
The logistics industry is all about getting the products you need from one place to another. It’s extremely important for buying things online. The sector covers jobs in areas like tracking, warehousing, and delivery, as well as digital skills for building and promoting e-commerce websites.
E-commerce (buying things online) has become hugely important since the pandemic changed the way we all work and buy things. Most businesses have developed new ways to make money online, whether that’s selling on e-commerce platforms or developing their own websites.
It takes thousands of people to get the product you just bought online from the store to your hands. Think about all the people involved in things like:
- Designed and coding a website
- Marketing the product online
- Predicting how many people will buy the product and future trends
- Taking payment online
- Storage, picking and packing at a warehouse
- Truck driving
- Tracking your parcel
- Delivery to your door
- Review websites
The list is truly huge, and the industry is growing.
Major logistics and e-commerce employers in Greater Manchester include:
Popular jobs in logistics and e-commerce
Flows Manager
Job description
Flows managers ensure the supply of stock from distribution centres or warehouses to shops.
Salary range
£35,000+
Working environment
Office and warehouse, with some travel
Hours
35 hours a week minimum, with possible shift work
Opportunities
You could progress into large organisations with complex supply chains at a senior leadership level.
Franchise Owner
Job description
Franchise owners buy a licence to operate a business under an established brand. Franchise owners are self-employed. They employ their own staff but use the branding and products of the established company. Many well-known fast food outlets use a franchise model.
Salary range
Varies with franchise agreement
Working environment
Office, shop, restaurant, or home
Hours
40-42 hours a week
Opportunities
Once your business becomes established, you could open more franchised outlets.
Sales Assistant
Job description
Sales assistants work in shops, selling products and helping customers. They sort and replenish stock, handle payments, and deal with customer queries.
Salary range
£12,500-£25,000
Working environment
Retail – in shops
Hours
Part-time and full-time hours are available, often with evening and weekend work
Opportunities
You could progress to store management and retail management roles or set up your own shop.
Marketing Executive
Job description
Marketing executives promote a company’s products, services, or brand. They research and create campaigns, produce material for adverts and social media, and organise events.
Salary range
£18,000-£35,000
Working environment
Office/hybrid
Hours
37 hours a week minimum, with possible evening and weekend work
Opportunities
You could progress into management. Other opportunities include freelancing, advertising, or public relations and communications.
Visual Merchandiser
Job description
Visual merchandisers create product displays to boost sales. They dress mannequins and show sales staff how to display products.
Salary range
£12,000-£55,000
Working environment
Retail – in shops
Hours
36-38 hours a week, including evening and weekend work
Opportunities
You could progress to team leader or visual merchandising manager. You could also move into retail, exhibition or interior design, or set up your own business creating one-off displays.
Future jobs
E-commerce is a massively growing industry, with lots of opportunities in a huge range of businesses. The logistics and ecommerce sector needs higher level skills because of new technology, so a lot of these jobs require IT qualifications and digital skills.
A quarter of future jobs in the sector will be at Level 4+ (beyond A-levels), and a quarter at Level 3 (A-level or advanced apprenticeship).
