A new Amazon fulfilment centre is set to start operations later this year, bringing around 2,000 jobs to the Hull area.
The centre at the Melton West Business Park was first mooted in 2023 and recruitment will start next month. The centre is part of a major £40bn Amazon investment programme in the UK confirmed today, which has been welcomed by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
The funding package also includes job creation schemes in the East Midlands. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said: “Amazon has been proud to serve our customers in the UK for the past 27 years. Thanks to their support, we’ve grown to be part of over 100 communities nationwide, from developing drone technology in Darlington to producing world-class entertainment at our studios in Bray.
“We now employ over 75,000 people and have become one of the UK’s largest private sector employers and taxpayers. When Amazon invests, it’s not only in London and the South East – we’re bringing innovation and job creation to communities throughout England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, strengthening the UK’s economy and delivering better experiences for customers wherever they live.”
The 2,000 jobs at the Melton West site – up from 1,000 since the initial announcement come alongside plans for another fulfilment centre in Northampton, other new sites in the East Midlands and delivery centres around the UK. Amazon is also investing in its London HQ, upgrading its transportation infrastructure and redeveloping film studios in Berkshire.
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The company said full-time employees at the new centres would earn a minimum of £28,000 a year, with a range of jobs on offer including positions for robotics technicians, safety experts, and mechatronic engineers. The site, which has been developed by Hull property group Wykeland, was granted planning approval in 2021 with Amazon coming on board later.
The plans have been welcomed by the Government, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer saying: “Amazon’s £40bn investment adds another major win to Britain’s basket and is a massive vote of confidence in the UK as the best place to do business. It means thousands of new jobs—real opportunities for people in every corner of the country to build careers, learn new skills, and support their families.”
And Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: “This investment is a powerful endorsement of Britain’s economic strengths. The world is changing, but this Government is working hand in hand with businesses to navigate that change to create jobs, wealth and opportunity in every corner of the country.”