Amazon is set to create 7,000 jobs across the UK - here’s how to apply

Amazon has announced it will create a further 7,000 UK jobs this year, in order to meet growing demand (Photo: Shutterstock)Amazon has announced it will create a further 7,000 UK jobs this year, in order to meet growing demand (Photo: Shutterstock)
Amazon has announced it will create a further 7,000 UK jobs this year, in order to meet growing demand (Photo: Shutterstock)

Amazon has announced it will create a further 7,000 UK jobs this year, in order to meet growing demand.

The retail giant has already recruited for 3,000 roles so far in 2020.

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With a total of 10,000 new jobs this year, Amazon’s permanent UK workforce will rise to more than 40,000.

Will the new roles be permanent?

Amazon, which has faced criticism over workplace conditions at its warehouses, said that the 7,000 new jobs will be permanent and will pay a minimum of £9.50 an hour and £10.50 in London.

Alongside this, Amazon is recruiting 20,000 seasonal posts for the festive period.

Temporary workers will help to operate three pop-up parcel packing centres, which will open for the busy Christmas period.

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The news comes after Tesco’s recent announcement that it would add 16,000 new roles following a surge in online demand.

Business Secretary Alok Sharma said: "While this has been a challenging time for many businesses, it is hugely encouraging to see Amazon creating 10,000 jobs in the UK this year.”

Why are new roles being created?

The 7,000 new roles have been created to enable the company to keep up with growing demand.

During the coronavirus lockdown period, Amazon recruited thousands of temporary workers.

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The company has said many of these workers will now be able to move into these new permanent roles.

The coronavirus pandemic saw the UK enter into lockdown in March, with a multitude of shops closing on a temporary basis.

This subsequently saw shoppers turn to online shopping sites, including Amazon.

Online sales in July were more than 50 per cent higher than levels in February before lockdown, latest retail sales figures show.

Where will the new jobs be located?

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The company is currently recruiting at more than 50 sites and the new roles will include engineers, graduates, human resources, IT, health and safety and finance specialists, alongside teams who will pick, pack and ship customer orders.

In a statement, Amazon said: "At the centre of the job creation programme are three new, state-of-the-art fulfilment centres in Darlington, Durham and Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, each fitted out with advanced Amazon Robotics technology and each creating more than 1,000 new permanent roles.

"Construction of these new fulfilment centres began last year. Darlington started operations in May and the sites in Durham and Sutton-in-Ashfield will launch later this autumn."

How can I apply?

To apply for a role with Amazon or for further information, visit the company’s recruitment page.

A version of this article originally appeared on our sister title, The Scotsman.