Amazon to open new fulfilment centre as part of plans to recruit 2,500 people in the UK this year

Amazon is to open its 11th UK fulfilment centre as part of a recruitment drive that is set to see it take on 2,500 people in the UK this year.

The retailer, ranked Elite in the IRUK Top500, is now hiring staff before operations start at the centre in Coalville, Leicestershire, this autumn. Some 500 permanent jobs are expected to be created at the site over the next three years, in areas including engineering, HR and IT as well as staff to handle orders.

John Tagawa, Amazon vice president of UK 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 and we look forward to recruiting people from Leicestershire and the surrounding area.”

This is part of a move by Amazon to hire 2,500 people in the UK this year, taking its total workforce to 14,500 by the end of 2016. Amazon will also take on staff in head office, at research and development centres, a fashion photography studio and at new Amazon Web Services UK data centres that are currently under construction.

Amazon says it has invested £4.6bn to build its UK business since 2010.