Amazon: creating 10,000 new jobs in the UK
Amazon has announced that it will create more than 10,000 new permanent jobs in 2021, taking its total UK workforce to more than 55,000 people by the end of the year.
In addition to this, Amazon will invest £10 million over three years to train up to 5,000 employees in new skills and support the government’s investment programme.
The training will be offered through Amazon’s Career Choice programme, which covers the course fees for Amazon employees interested in pursuing a future career outside of the company – an initiative that will grow the skills and employability of British workers.
Amazon is also partnering with the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) and local businesses to identify regional skills shortages and focus training on local demand – this will help meet the UK’s future employment needs outside of Amazon while strengthening the economy.
Kwasi Kwarteng, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy commented: “Amazon’s announcement today is fantastic news and a huge vote of confidence in the British economy, helping us deliver on our commitment to level up across the UK with a whopping 10,000 new permanent jobs.”
Amazon’s UK Country Manager John Boumphrey said: “We have always wanted to be Earth’s Most Customer-Centric Company, and we have also committed to being Earth’s Best Employer and Earth’s Safest Place to Work. We’re creating thousands of good jobs across the UK from a diverse range of roles with excellent pay and benefits. We’re also delighted to be working with the British Chambers of Commerce on a pioneering approach to our Career Choice programme to provide the training and skilled workers needed to boost local economies right across the country.
He added: “We’re proud of the front-line roles we offer across Amazon, and we also know that they will be a stepping stone for some in their career journey. For people whose ambitions fall outside of our company, we are pleased to support them by paying for training and academic courses that can get them to where they want to be.”
