Amazon’s new Leicestershire site to create 500 jobs

The online retailer, which delivers food and beverages under its Amazon Prime Now business, promised to offer staff at the 1Mm² ​site “comprehensive benefits”​ immediately, its vice president of UK operations John Tagawa claimed.

“Amazon has a dedicated and enthusiastic  workforce who play a crucial role in delivering a first rate level of service  for our customers and we look forward to recruiting people from Leicestershire  and the surrounding area,” ​he said.

The 500 new jobs are part of Amazon’s commitment to create 2,500 jobs in the UK this year. This will bring its total UK workforce to 14,500.

Amazon has started its recruitment programme for a range of positions, from operations managers to engineers, human resources and IT roles to associates who will handle orders at the fulfilment centre in Mountpark Bardon.

The centre, which is located just two-and-a-half miles from the M1 motorway, will begin operating this autumn.

‘Strategic location ​

MP for North West Leicestershire Andrew Bridgen said he was pleased that “such a reputable company”​ has the confidence in the area, not only given its strategic location but also for the recruitment of a wide-ranging work force.

“North west Leicestershire continues to be an area good for business and long-term investment and we are currently enjoying one of the highest economic growth rates outside London and the south east,”​ he said.

All permanent Amazon fulfilment centre employees start on £7.20 an hour or more. This rate increases by at least 11% over their first two years of employment, by which time all employees earn £8 an hour or more.

All permanent fulfilment centre employees are given stock grants, which over the last five years were on average equal to £1,000 or more per year per person.

Employee benefits ​

Fulfilment centre employees also receive a comprehensive benefits package, including private medical insurance, a company pension plan, life assurance, income protection, subsidised meals and an employee discount.

Amazon also provides fulfilment centre employees funding for adult education as part of its Career Choice programme.

Career Choice offers to pre-pay 95% of tuition and associated fees for nationally recognised courses, up to £8,000 over four years.

Amazon has ten fulfilment centres in the UK, including two in Doncaster and one each in Dunfermline, Dunstable, Gourock, Hemel Hempstead, Milton Keynes, Peterborough, Rugeley and Swansea Bay. Two of these centres opened in 2015.

Amazon holds public tours of its fulfilment centres in Rugeley and Hemel Hempstead.

Earlier this week, Aldi announced it would create 5,000 jobs across 80 new stores. ​