“Over the past two years, we have added well in excess of 2,000 new employees to our workforce and we are delighted to be able to add a further 1,000 to that number over the coming months,” said John Tagawa, director of UK operations at Amazon.
Amazon has invested over £1 billion in its UK operations to date which includes eight large fulfilment centres.
Amazon has also continued to implement new programmes and ways of working for the benefit of its entire workforce:
• Associates now work four ten-hour shifts per week meaning they benefit from three days off every week. Fewer visits to work saves associates both time and money on a weekly basis.
• Amazon introduced the Amazon Career Choice Programme, an innovative new education programme which pre-pays 95% of tuition and associated fees for permanent employees to undertake nationally recognised courses.
• Permanent associates start on an average of £7.39 per hour and earn up to £8.90 per hour after 24 months. In addition, after one year all permanent associates receive stock grants which over the past five years have added an average of 12% to base pay annually. Other benefits for permanent employees include private medical insurance, a company pension plan, life assurance, income protection and an employee discount.