Amazon has announced that it will invest £40bn (US$55bn) in its UK business over the next three years, including building four fulfillment centers and new delivery stations across the country, as well as upgrading its existing network.
According to the company, the investment will create thousands of new permanent, full-time jobs in the UK, including 2,000 at a state-of-the-art fulfillment center in Hull set to open in 2025; 2,000 jobs at another fulfillment center in Northampton opening in 2026; and additional positions at new sites in the East Midlands (opening 2027) and delivery stations across the country.
The multibillion-dollar investment plan also includes opening two new buildings at Amazon’s corporate HQ in east London; ongoing investment to enhance the company’s transportation infrastructure in every region, enabling faster and more efficient service to customers nationwide and to support SMEs; support for Amazon’s workforce through competitive compensation, benefits and training programs; and ongoing commitment to the UK creative industry, including the redevelopment of the historic Bray Film Studios in Berkshire, continued investment in multimillion-pound skills and training programs, and original TV and film productions.
Supporting the digital economy
The investment also includes part of the £8bn (US$11bn) previously announced in September 2024 for building, operating and maintaining data centers in the UK from 2024-2028 to help meet the growing needs of organizations of all sizes, support the UK’s ambition to increase AI compute capacity, and help transform the UK’s digital economy.
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy commented, “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 Southeast – 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.”
In related news, Amazon announced its largest-ever order of electric trucks in the UK in January as part of its wider decarbonization plans.