500 new UK jobs at Amazon

INTERNET giant Amazon is continuing its British expansion by opening another giant distribution depot.

It will open a one million square foot centre in Leicestershire which will create 500 new jobs over three years. The centre, in Mountpark Bardon near Coalville, will open in the Autumn.

The new jobs are part of the already announced 2,500 roles that it said it will fill this year, bringing its total UK workforce to 14,500.

The announcement follows news it is planning to launch its own clothing line.

Amazon is in talks to hire M&S’ former head of womenswear Frances Russell in what is viewed as a provocative move to tempt middle England shoppers to the online behemoth’s website.

British shoppers will soon be able to buy clothes designed, made and sold by Amazon directly from its website.

Amazon has been stepping up its fashion credentials and last year hired model Suki Waterhouse to front its fashion campaign and has opened a fashion photography studio in east London for fashion shoots.

It already sells clothes from brands including French Connection, New Look and Debenhams on its website in Britain having launched in 2007. It began selling clothes online in the US in 2002.

Amazon declined to comment on its own-label plans.

Russell, who could not be reached for comment, worked at M&S for around seven years. She previously worked at Sir Philip Green’s Arcadia.

Last year Amazon Fashion’s vice president of clothing Jeff Yurcisin said he saw an opportunity in selling ownlabel fashion. ‘When certain brands have decided for their own reasons not to sell with us, our customer still wants a product like that.’