Global e-commerce giant Amazon today said it would create 5,000 full-time jobs in the UK this year as part of a new employment drive, demonstrating strong confidence in the British economy ahead of Brexit.
Amazon, along with other tech giants such as Google and Apple, has increased its commitment to Britain in the last year, saying Britain’s referendum decision to leave the European Union last June did not affect its investment plans.
The announcement came as economists grapple to understand the magnitude of the costs and benefits of Britain leaving the 28-member European Union single market.
“Amazon UK today announced plans to create more than 5,000 full-time jobs this year, taking the company’s total UK workforce to over 24,000,” a statement said. In fact staff in seasonal roles will be encouraged to take permanent ones, taking its total UK workforce to more than 24,000.
Doug Gurr, the head of Amazon’s UK business, said: “We are creating thousands of new UK jobs including hundreds of apprenticeship opportunities as we continue to innovate for our customers and provide them with even faster delivery, more selection and better value.”
“These new job opportunities are for people with all types of experience, education and skill levels, from software developers, engineers and technicians, to those seeking entry-level positions and on-the-job training,” it added.
The jobs will be created at Amazon’s head office in London, as well as in the Edinburgh customer service centre and in three new warehouses. The three new warehouses, or what it calls “fulfilment centres”, will be located in Tilbury, Doncaster and Daventry.
The expansion reflects the importance of the UK market, which is Amazon’s second biggest outside the US, behind Germany.
Services which are developed in the US are usually launched in the UK first, such as Amazon Fresh, the grocery service which was launched in parts of Britain last year.
More expansion for the company could be coming soon as Amazon is close to launching its own-brand fashion label.
