Warehouse Operative Job Description (UK template)

A warehouse operative receives, stores, picks, packs and dispatches goods, making sure the right items leave the warehouse on time and in good condition. The job is physical and often target-driven, using handheld scanners and sometimes forklift or other powered equipment. Below is a complete UK job description to copy and adapt, plus guidance on licences, shifts and pay.

Warehouse Operative job description template

Job title

Warehouse Operative

Job purpose

To pick, pack, receive and dispatch goods accurately and safely, meeting productivity targets and keeping the warehouse organised.

Key responsibilities

  • Pick orders accurately using a handheld scanner or pick list
  • Pack goods securely and label them for dispatch
  • Unload deliveries, check them against paperwork and report damage or shortages
  • Put stock away in the correct locations and keep inventory records accurate
  • Load vehicles and prepare dispatch paperwork
  • Take part in stock counts and replenishment
  • Operate powered equipment such as pallet trucks or forklifts when trained and licensed
  • Keep work areas clean, tidy and free from hazards
  • Follow health and safety rules and wear the required protective equipment

Essential skills and experience

  • Able to do physical work, including lifting, bending and standing for a full shift
  • Good attention to detail and accuracy
  • Able to work to targets and keep a steady pace
  • Reliable, punctual and willing to work the advertised shift pattern
  • Basic English and numeracy to read pick lists and labels

Desirable

  • Previous warehouse, logistics or factory experience
  • Counterbalance, reach truck or other forklift licence
  • Experience using a warehouse management system or RF scanner

Requirements

  • Right to work in the UK
  • Valid forklift or MHE certificate where the role requires it
  • Safety footwear (often provided by the employer)

Hours

Shift work is the norm: days, lates, nights, and patterns such as 4 on 4 off or 12-hour shifts. Many roles start through agencies on temporary-to-permanent contracts.

Want it tailored to your organisation? The free AI job description generator writes a version for your setting, seniority and must-haves in seconds.

Warehouse Operative pay in the UK

Warehouse operative pay in the UK usually starts at the National Living Wage (£12.71 an hour from April 2026) and reaches about £15 an hour, with higher rates for nights, weekends, chilled or freezer work and licensed forklift drivers. Overtime is common in peak season.

Pay ranges checked November 2026. They are typical ranges, not official figures: check local adverts before setting your rate.

Career progression

Warehouse operative, then licensed MHE operator, team leader, shift manager and warehouse or operations manager.

Tips for writing your warehouse operative advert

  • State the exact shift pattern and the rate for each shift. Candidates choose by shift first.
  • Say whether the role is permanent, temporary or temp-to-perm.
  • Mention whether you train forklift licences in-house.
  • Describe the environment honestly: ambient, chilled or freezer, and typical weights lifted.

Got a pile of applications for this role?

SwiftShortlist reads every CV against your warehouse operative job description and ranks them, with the reasons for each score. You make every decision.

Try it free

Frequently asked questions

What does a warehouse operative do?

Picks and packs orders, receives and checks deliveries, puts stock away, loads vehicles and keeps the warehouse organised and safe.

Do warehouse operatives need a forklift licence?

Not for most picking and packing roles. Roles that involve driving forklifts or reach trucks require a valid certificate, which many employers will train for.

Is warehouse work hard?

It is physical, with lots of walking, lifting and standing, and often productivity targets. Most people adjust within a few weeks.

How much do warehouse operatives earn in the UK?

Usually £12.71 to about £15 an hour from April 2026, with more for nights, freezer work and licensed equipment operators.