Amazon to create 2,500 UK jobs in 'vote of confidence' for economy

Chancellor Philip Hammond hails investment by e-commerce giant

More than 650 permanent roles will be created in the company’s development centres and Amazon Web Services (Getty Images)

Amazon is to create 2,500 permanent jobs in the UK in 2018, taking its total workforce in this country to 27,500 by the end of the year.

More than 650 permanent roles will be created in the company’s development centres and its Amazon Web Services (AWS) division, in addition to hundreds of new head office roles, the e-commerce giant said.

Amazon said it would have over 6,500 corporate, research and development and AWS roles in the UK by the end of 2018.

The company is hiring for roles in its head office and fashion photography studio in London, development centres in Cambridge, Edinburgh and London, its customer service centre in Edinburgh, within AWS, as well as in its dozens of delivery stations across the country and 16 fulfilment centres, including at new sites in Coventry and Bolton.

The company has come under heavy criticism over its treatment of workers at distribution centres after staff reported being overworked.

The company said its new roles reflect growing investment in British research and development, increasing customer demand, and continued expansion of products and services.

Chancellor Philip Hammond said the news was “a clear vote of confidence in our workforce and our economy”.

It comes amid a flurry of warnings about the damaging effects of the UK’s decision to leave the EU on many sectors of the economy.

Doug Gurr, Amazon UK country manager, said: “The UK is a fantastic place to do business so we are delighted to continue our investment in the British economy and provide quality, permanent roles for people the length and breadth of the country.”