The latest recruitment drive will bring the total number of permanent full-time employees across Britain to more than 14,500 by the end of this year.
Amazon planned to recruit throughout the UK, including at its head office in London, its three research and development (R&D) centres in Cambridge, Edinburgh and London, its customer service centre in Edinburgh and 10 fulfillment centres across England, Scotland and Wales.
Amazon Web Services
New jobs will also be created at the retailer’s 24 delivery stations nationwide, its Fashion Photography Studio in London and at the new Amazon Web Services (AWS) UK data centre region announced last year. This is scheduled to launch by early next year.
Business secretary Sajid Javid praised the investment. “Amazon’s continued investment in the UK is very welcome news and further demonstration that the UK is a great destination for innovative industries to invest and do business,” said Javid.
“These new permanent jobs will build on the UK’s record levels of employment and give added security to working people across the country – from app developers in Edinburgh to fashion photographers in London.”
The retail giant said it had invested more than £4.6bn in the UK economy since 2010.
Quality UK workforce
“These new jobs we are creating up and down the country are testament to the quality of the workforce in the UK and our confidence in its economy ...”.
- Christopher North, Amazon
Amazon.co.uk md Christopher North said: “Britain has a world-class tech sector with a reputation for innovation and excellence.
‘Quality of the UK workforce’
“These new jobs we are creating up and down the country are testament to the quality of the workforce in the UK and our confidence in its economy, which we are proud to support through our continued investments.”
The business was on track to open its new head office in Principal Place in Shoreditch next year, providing space for 5,000 London employees, he added.
Amazon’s UK R&D teams were said to be working on innovations focusing on the retailer’s website and mobile apps, the Amazon Prime Video service, Amazon’s device range and voice recognition technology Alexa, Prime Air, and cloud services.
Read more about the retailer’s European expansion plans here.
Amazon in the UK – at a glance
- Creating 2,500 permanent new jobs in the UK by the end of year
- Total UK workforce will exceed 14,500 by the end of year
- UK investment of £4.6bn since 2010