Jobs boost as Amazon opens distribution hub
jcoupe@thekmgroup.co.uk Online retail giant Amazon is creating 20 new jobs with the opening of a new delivery centre to sort customers’ orders.
The new warehouse will mean parcels will be transported to Larkfield and sorted, before being delivered to people’s homes.
Amazon’s delivery station will be based at the New Hythe Business Park, off College Road and will open later this month.
The new warehouse roles will mainly be order pickers – who source the products ordered online.
The new site is also expected to generate more jobs across the county.
Amazon says it will work with nine independent companies from Kent who will be tasked with delivering parcels seven days a week.
These firms are expected to employ extra drivers if they want to work with Amazon – and a total of 140 new roles could be on offer.
It is part of a new strategy by the firm to open a series of small, regional distribution depots under the brand Amazon Logistics to speed up deliveries and take on Britain’s high street chains. The station will be the 16th in the country.
It comes as some good news for New Hythe and Aylesford which were served a blow when nearby Aylesford Newsprint fell into administration in February, costing more than 230 jobs.
The company used to produce an average of 400,000 tonnes of recycled paper every year, and was one of three mills of its kind in the country.
Jamie Stephenson, UK director for Amazon Logistics, said: “We’re helping independent local delivery companies to grow their businesses by providing stateof-the-art technology to deliver Amazon orders.”
Amazon, which has attracted criticism over wages and working hours, says it has invested over £1 billion at its operations across the country and workers employed at the centre will earn an average of £7.39 per hour.