Looking to Move to the UK? These Warehouse Roles Could Be Your Golden Ticket
Contents
- 1 🏁 Let’s Be Real – Not Everyone Starts with a Fancy Job Abroad
- 2 📦 What Are Picker and Packer Jobs?
- 3 🛂 Can You Really Get Visa Sponsorship for These Jobs?
- 4 🏢 Companies Offering Picker & Packer Jobs with Sponsorship (2025)
- 5 💷 Salary Expectations (2025)
- 6 📋 Eligibility for UK Work Visa (Picker & Packer Role)
- 7 🌍 Who Can Apply?
- 8 🛠️ How to Apply – Step-by-Step
- 9 📦 A Real Success Story
- 10 🚫 Watch Out for Scams!
- 11 📌 Final Thoughts: A Small Job Can Open Big Doors
🏁 Let’s Be Real – Not Everyone Starts with a Fancy Job Abroad
Let’s get one thing straight: not all UK jobs require a degree or fancy qualifications. Some just need hard work, consistency, and the right opportunity. That’s where picker and packer jobs come in.
Thousands of foreign workers move to the UK each year to work in warehouses, distribution centers, and retail logistics. And guess what? In 2025, many of these roles still offer visa sponsorship for the right candidates.
Whether you’re from India, Nigeria, the Philippines, Pakistan, Ghana, or anywhere else, this article breaks down everything you need to know about applying for picker and packer jobs in the UK with visa sponsorship.
📦 What Are Picker and Packer Jobs?
Simple, yet essential.
A picker is someone who selects items in a warehouse to fulfill a customer’s order. A packer carefully packs those items, making sure they’re safe for shipping.
Your tasks might include:
- Locating and scanning barcodes
- Moving goods from shelves to packing stations
- Packing, labeling, and sealing boxes
- Performing quality checks
- Working in cold storage (for food-related warehouses)
- Meeting daily order targets
Don’t worry—it’s mostly basic training. No college degree needed. But you do need stamina, a good work ethic, and a willingness to work in shifts.
🛂 Can You Really Get Visa Sponsorship for These Jobs?
Yes. But here’s the truth most people don’t tell you:
Not all picker and packer jobs offer sponsorship. Only employers listed on the UK government’s register of licensed sponsors can legally sponsor work visas. But there’s a growing demand in 2025, especially due to labor shortages and Brexit’s lingering impact.
✅ Some major companies and recruiting agencies do sponsor Skilled Worker Visas under the “Warehouse Operative” or “Logistics Associate” roles.
🏢 Companies Offering Picker & Packer Jobs with Sponsorship (2025)
Here are some UK-based employers known to hire international workers:
🔹 1. Amazon UK
- Often hires warehouse associates
- Some fulfillment centers offer relocation packages
- Check if they work with approved staffing agencies
🔹 2. Ocado Group
- Online grocery delivery service
- Runs high-tech automated warehouses
- Hires for picker/packer and warehouse operative roles
🔹 3. Tesco Distribution
- Large logistics network across the UK
- Needs staff in rural/less-populated areas
- May sponsor under the Skilled Worker category
🔹 4. Iceland Foods Warehouses
- Cold storage warehouses
- Picks and packs frozen food orders
- Often struggles to fill vacancies in winter
🔹 5. Third-Party Agencies
- PMP Recruitment, Adecco, Blue Arrow, and Staffline sometimes work with sponsor companies
- Look for job ads that mention “visa sponsorship available”
💷 Salary Expectations (2025)
Picker and packer roles are usually paid hourly, with overtime available during peak seasons (like Christmas or Black Friday).
Position | Hourly Rate (GBP) | Monthly (Full-time) |
---|---|---|
Picker/Packer | £11.00 – £12.50 | £1,760 – £2,000 |
Warehouse Operative | £12.50 – £14.50 | £2,000 – £2,300 |
Shift Supervisor | £14.50 – £16.00 | £2,300 – £2,600 |
Most jobs also come with:
- Paid holidays
- Pension contribution
- Night shift bonuses
- Weekly pay in some cases
- Basic training and certification (PPT, forklift, etc.)
📋 Eligibility for UK Work Visa (Picker & Packer Role)
To be sponsored by a UK employer, you’ll need:
✅ A valid passport
✅ Proficiency in English (IELTS sometimes needed)
✅ Job offer from a licensed sponsor
✅ Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)
✅ Meet the salary threshold (currently £20,960/year or more)
✅ Tuberculosis test (for some countries)
✅ Clean background check
🌍 Who Can Apply?
These jobs are open to applicants from outside the UK, especially:
- India
- Nigeria
- Philippines
- Ghana
- Zimbabwe
- South Africa
- Pakistan
- Bangladesh
- Kenya
- Nepal
Basically, any non-UK national can apply—just make sure you meet visa requirements.
🛠️ How to Apply – Step-by-Step
✅ Step 1: Check the UK Sponsor List
Search the official register of sponsors:
👉 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/register-of-licensed-sponsors-workers
Filter by:
- “Warehouse”
- “Logistics”
- “Recruitment”
- “Packing”
✅ Step 2: Look on Trusted Job Portals
Search for jobs using filters like “visa sponsorship” or “Skilled Worker Visa” on:
✅ Step 3: Apply with a UK-Style CV
Your CV should:
- Be simple and clean (1–2 pages)
- Mention warehouse or logistics experience
- Highlight attention to detail, speed, and reliability
- Clearly mention: “Eligible for UK Skilled Worker Visa – Seeking Sponsorship”
📦 A Real Success Story
Pradeep, a 28-year-old from India, was working in a warehouse in Dubai. In 2024, he applied to an agency that worked with a Tesco distribution center in the UK. Within four months, he received:
- A CoS (Certificate of Sponsorship)
- Skilled Worker Visa
- Relocated to Birmingham with company support
“I started as a picker, now I’m a shift leader. I never imagined I’d be living in the UK through a warehouse job. But here I am.”
🚫 Watch Out for Scams!
Some red flags to avoid:
- Asking you to pay for a job offer = Scam
- Fake CoS without an interview = Scam
- No official UK employer address = Scam
- Asking for passport upfront = Report it
Always verify the company is on the sponsor list before sending sensitive info.
📌 Final Thoughts: A Small Job Can Open Big Doors
Picker and packer jobs aren’t glamorous—but they’re real opportunities. Many foreigners working in the UK today started with basic jobs like these. Over time, they gained experience, got promoted, and settled permanently.
If you’re:
- Willing to work hard
- Okay with long shifts or physical tasks
- Looking for a sponsor to move to the UK
…then don’t overthink it.
Start small. Grow big. Let a picker/packer job be your first step toward a better life in the UK.