Firm’s jobs boost,
Amazon launches pre-christmas recruitment drive at four east mids centres
AMAZON is set to create 900 jobs across its four centres in the East Midlands, it has been revealed.
In some good news for the jobs market and retail front, the online e-commerce giant has launched a major recruitment drive in the region ahead of the Christmas period.
While the majority of the jobs will be temporary seasonal work, it is hoped 400 jobs will become permanent.
The company seeks to recruit 900 seasonal employees at its four hitech fulfilment centres in the East Midlands, which includes Coalville, while also planning to increase its permanent headcount from 3,000 to 3,400 by the end of the year.
Amazon’s UK operations director Jonatan Gal said: “Since 2010, we’ve made direct investments in our UK operations of more than £23 billion.
“This includes both capital expenditure – such as the infrastructure we build, including our fulfilment centres – and operating expenditure, such as the jobs we create in the UK.
“Amazon prioritises the safety and health of its employees and has invested millions of pounds to provide a safe workplace.
“Our operation has grown significantly in the East Midlands, where the chamber of commerce has done so much for businesses of all sizes and sectors.
“We’re looking forward to working more closely with East Midlands Chamber and the wider business community.”
Amazon began operating in the East Midlands in 2016 when it opened a one million square feet warehouse in Coalville.
Last year, it opened two 500,000 sq ft sites in Chesterfield and Kegworth, before launching operations at a similar-sized fulfilment centre in Sutton-in-ashfield last month.
Overall, the company has more than 2.5 million sq ft of warehouse space in the region – the size of 35 football pitches. It also has a “sortation” centre – where items are sorted automatically – and delivery station in Bardon, near Coalville.
The majority of products handled at Amazon centres are for thirdparty companies, and a significant proportion of those are small and medium sized UK businesses.
Employees pick, pack and ship orders from there, supported in some centres by Amazon’s robotics technology. The robots slide under a tower of shelves where products are stowed, lift the batch and move it through the warehouse.
Amazon’s jobs include a range of roles, including engineers; HR, IT, finance, health and safety professionals; and operations managers, with salaries starting at £9.50 per hour.
They come with a range of benefits, including private medical insurance, life assurance, income protection, subsidised meals and an employee discount alongside a company pension plan.
The firm also runs a Career Choice programme that provides staff with adult education, offering to pre-pay 95 per cent of tuition and associated fees for nationally-recognised courses, valued up to £8,000 over four years.
Jobs are available by visiting Amazon’s recruitment website at www.amazon.jobs/en/