UK economy to be boosted by 2,500 new Amazon jobs

Amazon is to create 2,500 permanent new jobs in the UK this year, which will see the total number of jobs in the country provided by the e-commerce giant rise to 27,500 by the close of 2018.

Over 650 permanent new positions are to be created in Amazon’s development centres as well as in the Amazon Web Services division, and there will be hundreds of new roles in the company’s head office, according to the company.

Amazon said that it intends to have more than 6,500 research and development, corporate and AWS positions in the UK by the end of this year. The company is hiring for positions in its head office and a fashion photography studio based in London; a customer service centre in Edinburgh; development centres in London, Edinburgh and Cambridge; and dozens of delivery stations all across the UK, including new sites in Bolton and Coventry.

Amazon said that the new positions are a reflection of the growing investment in research and development in the UK as well as the continuing expansion of services and products in line with increasing customer demand.

The news represents a “clear vote of confidence in our workforce and our economy”, according to Chancellor Philip Hammond.

Amazon’s UK Country Manager Doug Gurr said: “The UK is a fantastic place to do business so we are delighted to continue our investment in the British economy and provide quality, permanent roles for people the length and breadth of the country.”