By Tony O’Riley-
Amazon is to hiring 10,000 UK employees, as it opens more warehouses in the north and south of England.
The giant company is creating a number of corporate roles in Cambridge, Edinburgh, London and Manchester.
Amazon has thrived well economically for years, and has been a blessing to many firms and businesses who have benefited from their association with the globally successful organisation.
Providing a lifeline for many workers, many of the employed have who lack the skills for other forms of employment have found refuge with the prominent high tech company.
The company has also been a profitable source of income for numerous authors world-wide , who have been afforded an opportunity to have their books published with Amazon, many of them, first time authors.
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng praised the move as “a huge vote of confidence in the British economy”.
The firm, which has come under criticism for over working its employees has continued to expand and make sizeable profits throughout the pandemic, making its largest shares during all three lockdowns in the UK.
However, Amazon has defended the criticisms by stating that its payments for operations roles was £9.70 per hour, or £10.80 in London, with other benefits. Although there have been complaints from disgruntled employees, the vast majority have no complaints about their working conditions.
The online retail giant is to open new “fulfilment” warehouses in Dartford, Gateshead, Hinckley and Swindon, and a “parcel receive”
It is also creating a number of corporate roles in Cambridge, Edinburgh, London and Manchester.
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said the move was “a huge vote of confidence in the British economy”.
The coronavirus pandemic has accelerated a trend towards online shopping, and tech giants such as Amazon have reaped the benefits.
The online retail giant will open new “fulfilment” warehouses in Dartford, Gateshead, Hinckley and Swindon, and a “parcel receive” warehouse in Doncaster.
It will recruit in its offices for roles in fashion, digital marketing, engineering, video production, software development, cloud computing, AI and machine learning.
The company will also be recruiting for its Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud computing business and its operations network.
Tax Payments
Amazon has also been scrutinised for its tax payments, but the online retail giant has insisted that it pays all taxes required in the UK.
In March, the Unite union demanded that Amazon give its British workers a “new deal”, including allowing them to unionise and have a greater share of the firm’s profits.
The union also launched a confidential hotline for Amazon workers to call to whistleblow on working conditions.
“Amazon continues to be plagued by reports of poor working conditions and anti-union tactics,” said Unite’s executive officer Sharon Graham at the time.
“Unite has written to Jeff Bezos to call on him to guarantee workers the freedom to talk with and form a union without fear of reprisals.
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng heralded Amazon’s plans as making a “prime investment in our retail sector”, which will “open up a wide range of opportunities for even more workers”.
Amazon will also invest £10m over three years into a scheme to train 5,000 employees in subjects including accountancy, HGV driving and software development, in a bid to give them transferable skills.
Amazon will pay 95% of tuition and associated fees for adult education courses, up to £8,000 over four years.
Local chambers of commerce will work with Amazon to identify regional skills shortages.
Shevaun Haviland, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “Providing staff with training to plug the skills gaps that exist within the local business community is going to be a key driver to increasing productivity and boosting the economy as the UK recovers from the pandemic.”
Amazon’s UK Country Manager John Boumphrey said: “We’re proud of the front-line roles we offer across Amazon, and we also know that they will be a stepping stone for some in their career journey.”
It will recruit in its offices for roles in fashion, digital marketing, engineering, video production, software development, cloud computing, AI and machine learning.
The company will also be recruiting for its Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud computing business and its operations network..
In March, the Unite union demanded that Amazon give its British workers a “new deal”, including allowing them to unionise and have a greater share of the firm’s profits.
Unite Union further launched a confidential hotline for Amazon workers to call to whistleblow on working conditions.
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng heralded Amazon’s plans as making a “prime investment in our retail sector”, which will “open up a wide range of opportunities for even more workers”.
Large Investment Scheme
Amazon will also invest £10m over three years into a scheme to train 5,000 employees in subjects including accountancy, HGV driving and software development, in a bid to give them transferable skills.
Amazon will pay 95% of tuition and associated fees for adult education courses, up to £8,000 over four years.
Local chambers of commerce will work with Amazon to identify regional skills shortages.
Shevaun Haviland, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “Providing staff with training to plug the skills gaps that exist within the local business community is going to be a key driver to increasing productivity and boosting the economy as the UK recovers from the pandemic.”
Amazon’s UK Country Manager John Boumphrey said: “We’re proud of the front-line roles we offer across Amazon, and we also know that they will be a stepping stone for some in their career journey.”