AMAZON has announced that it will create 1,200 permanent new jobs in the UK with the opening of a new warehouse in the Cheshire town of Warrington.
The e-commerce giant will be recruiting for a range of new roles, including operations managers, engineers, HR and IT specialists.
A number of roles are already being advertised online, but recruiting will properly begin later this year.
The new warehouse, known as a “fulfilment centre” – where goods are received, stored and packaged – is one of four being opened this year by Amazon in order to meet “increasing customer demand” in the UK.
The centres will open in Doncaster, Tilbury and Warrington around autumn time, while the Daventry site opened in February.
In total, more than 2,300 new permanent full-time jobs will be created across the four centres.
Amazon said that employees will start on a minimum salary of £7.65 an hour – just a little over the £7.50 compulsory national living wage for over-25s.
Stefano Perego, Amazon’s director of UK customer fulfilment said: “We are thrilled to begin recruitment for 1,200 new permanent roles in Warrington with competitive wages and comprehensive benefits starting on day one.”
Benefits include private medical insurance, subsidised meals and an employee discount, which Amazon claims is worth more than £700 a year, as well as a company pension plan.
Amazon also announced that the first dedicated UK receive centre will open in Coventry next year, and will act as a central hub to receive and sort millions of products sold each year. This will create an additional 1,650 jobs.
Martin Lane, managing editor of money.co.uk said that it was “great” Amazon is creating new opportunities for workers, but that it could be potentially hindering competition which could mean higher prices for shoppers in the long run.
He said: “Competition is good for consumers and Amazon is making life difficult for small start-ups and the self-employed who simply can’t compete with its prices.
“After the exposé on its employment practices last year, I imagine Amazon will be ensuring it observes squeaky clean processes and be committed to safe and legal hours.”