Amazon UK announced that it has created 700 permanent jobs at its UK fulfilment centres so far this year, with a further 800 permanent jobs to be created at its new fulfillment centres in Dunstable and Doncaster that will open later this year.
The e-commerce giant now employs over 7,800 people at its eight UK fulfilment centres which nearly double the 4,000 staff the company counted at the beginning of 2011.
“We are excited to have created 700 great jobs with competitive wages and comprehensive benefits starting on day one this year already, on top of the thousands we created in the past five years,” John Tagawa, Amazon’s VP of UK FC Operations, said. “Amazon has a dedicated and enthusiastic workforce who play a crucial role in delivering a first rate level of service for our customers.”
Amazon has eight fulfilment centres across the UK in Doncaster, Dunfermline, Gourock, Hemel Hempstead, Milton Keynes, Peterborough, Rugeley and Swansea Bay. It recently announced that it will open a new fulfilment centre in Dunstable next month, creating a further 500 permanent jobs. A second fulfilment centre in Doncaster will also open in later this year, creating more than 300 new permanent jobs over three years.
In terms of wages, all permanent Amazon associates start with an hourly wage of £7.20 or above, with the rate increasing by at least 11% over their first two years of employment and all employees earning £8 per hour and more by then.
“Permanent associates also receive a comprehensive benefits package, including private medical insurance, a company pension plan, life assurance, income protection, subsidised meals and an employee discount. All permanent associates also receive stock grants, which over the last five years equal to £1,000 or more per year per associate,” Amazon explained the benefits of permanent employment with the company.
As an additional benefit, the company introduced a new education programme called ‘Career Choice’ last year which pre-pays 95% of tuition and associated fees for permanent employees to undertake nationally recognised courses and funds up to £8,000 over four years.
Ahead of the Christmas period, Amazon will also be hiring thousands of temporary workers to help cope with the flood of Christmas presents.
