Latest news with #fulfilmentcentres
Daily Telegraph
03-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Telegraph
Amazon's robotics, AI push not eliminating jobs, company says
Don't miss out on the headlines from Technology. Followed categories will be added to My News. Amazon warehouses are still a viable job option for unskilled and entry-level workers, executives of the e-commerce giant say, despite massive robotics and AI investments. Speaking to NewsWire in Japan this week, Amazon's global head of PR for robotics and AI, Xavier Chao, compared AI robots and sorting machines to offices having a coffee machine and snacks close to the desks. 'Retention is very, vitally important for us if we want to continue to manage and sustain our business and grow; we have to retain our workforce,' Mr Chao said. 'And so we think that innovation is part of the solution of creating a nice workplace that attracts people, and retains staff.' A worker in front of an item-by-item timer at their station inside Amazon's Chiba Minato warehouse in Tokyo. Picture: NewsWire / Blair Jackson Australia has eight Amazon 'fulfilment centre' warehouses; seven of these do not have Amazon's robots. The custom designed and built robots operate using AI, moving stacks of products for humans to pick and put into boxes. Australia's robotised Amazon warehouse is at Kemps Creek in Sydney, and employs about 2500 workers. With Australia's comparatively low-tech Amazon facilities - compared to warehouses in comparable countries - retraining Australian workers to fix and maintain Amazon's robots has stalled. In June, Amazon announced it would be investing $20bn in data centres in Australia, reiterating concerns about the e-commerce company's entrenchment in the Australian economy. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joined Amazon Web Services chief executive Matt Garman in Seattle in June as AWS announced a $20bn investment into data centre infrastructure in Australia. Picture: NewsWire / PMO Anthony Albanese faces internal pressure from high-ranking Labor MPs, The Australian reports, over accusations Amazon undermines labour laws and employs tax avoidance tactics. These criticisms are echoed by unions - the ACTU, TWU and the SDA - who claim Amazon Australia's workplace practices are unethical. Asked if operating in countries with relatively strong workplace protections was tough for Amazon, Mr Chao said 'Right now, what we're really hyper-focused on is can these systems actually benefit our frontline workers, and getting feedback from them'. He argues wide-scale automation is good for workers. 'If we can create the most innovative workplace that we possibly can, we want to try to do three things. 'Safety … Ease - all of us want to have an easier job. 'And then three, it's exposure. So a lot of people who come and work at an Amazon facility, you know, there are people from all walks of life.' *Amazon paid for NewsWire's travel and accommodation in Japan Originally published as Amazon's robotics, AI push not eliminating jobs as tech giant continues automation wave
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Amazon to invest $53.7bn in UK up to 2027
Amazon will invest £40bn ($53.7bn) in the UK between 2025 and 2027 to construct four new fulfilment centres along with delivery stations across the country. The fulfilment centres will be constructed in Hull, Northampton and the East Midlands. The investment will create thousands of new permanent, full-time jobs, particularly outside London and the South East. It will include upgrades and expansions to Amazon's existing network of more 100 operational buildings in the UK. The investment plan also encompasses the opening of two new buildings at Amazon's corporate headquarters in East London, and enhancements to the transportation infrastructure. Amazon will also redevelop the Bray Film Studios in Berkshire, which it purchased in 2024, and make investments in skills and training programmes. The expansion will contribute an additional £38bn to the UK's GDP. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy stated:"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 South East – 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.' The investment includes the previously announced £8bn for building and maintaining data centres from 2024 to 2028. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated: 'Whether it's cutting-edge AI or same-day delivery, this deal shows that our Plan for Change is working — bringing in investment, driving growth and putting more money in people's pockets.' The move comes after Amazon announced plans to invest more than $4bn in expanding its rural delivery network, focusing on small towns across the US. "Amazon to invest $53.7bn in UK up to 2027" was originally created and published by Retail Insight Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
Times
23-06-2025
- Business
- Times
Amazon invests $40bn in major UK expansion
Amazon will invest £40 billion in Britain over the next three years, including building four robotic fulfilment centres and refurbishing its film studios in Berkshire. The East Midlands will host one of the high-spec warehouse sites, there are two centres being planned for Northampton and Hull, which the company had already announced, and the location of the fourth warehouse has yet to be decided. With pay starting at £28,000 a year, 2,000 jobs will be created at each site by the expansion, which also involves the tech giant growing its vast London site into two further buildings that can house 1,500 people. John Boumphrey, Amazon's UK country manager, said: 'By spreading out across the UK, you can get deliveries to customers even faster. One of the big advantages of this investment is going to be that customers will get an increasing proportion of their deliveries available on the very same day.' The £40 billion figure includes part of a previously announced £8 billion spend to build, maintain and operate data centres by Amazon Web Services. Many companies are trying to tap into this growing market as demand for AI increases the need for digital infrastructure. Amazon is also refurbishing Bray Film Studios, which it bought last July for an undisclosed sum, to produce content for Amazon Prime. The second season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power was made there and a new season of the Russo brothers' spy series Citadel started filming in September. Boumphrey said: 'We've got a lease at Shepperton and we're currently filming in Manchester and Edinburgh and in Wales as well. There is a significant investment in being able to make, edit and produce films here, using British talent and British locations with British artists, which we are very excited about.' Amazon is one of the UK's top ten private employers with 75,000 members of staff, and is offering more than 1,000 full-time apprenticeship roles this year. Amazon has not always had an easy ride in this country, facing criticism over its safety record in its fulfilment centres; it also clashed with the GMB union over pay and conditions. The company has always rejected such claims. Andy Jassy, Amazon's CEO said: '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 more than 100 communities nationwide, from developing drone technology in Darlington to producing world-class entertainment at our studios in Bray. '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.' Sir Keir Starmer said: 'Amazon's £40 billion investment adds another major win to Britain's basket and is a massive vote of confidence in the UK as the best place to do business.' Amazon Web Services announced a $20 billion investment in Pennsylvania and a $10 billion in North Carolina to expand cloud infrastructure. It also made a $13 billion investment in Australian data centres last week.
The Independent
23-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Amazon's new UK warehouses to hire thousands as Starmer hails ‘win' for Britain
Amazon has said thousands of jobs will be created at new UK warehouses in locations including Hull and Northampton as part of a £40 billion investment over the next three years. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hailed the expansion plans as a 'major win' for the UK, while Amazon's boss stressed the investment will boost areas outside of London and the south east of England. The technology giant confirmed that some 2,000 jobs will be created for a new fulfilment centre in Hull, set to open this year, and another 2,000 for a site in Northampton, due to open in 2026. It also announced that two new warehouses will be built in the East Midlands, due to open in 2027. Amazon did not confirm the locations of the sites. It is understood they will lead to the recruitment of thousands of additional roles. Fulfilment centres are large warehouses where customer orders can be picked, packed and shipped – some of which use the latest technology including robotics. Amazon – which hires more than 75,000 people in the UK and is one of the country's biggest private sector employers – also confirmed significant expansion plans for its London headquarters. This will form part of the £40 billion investment and will see the opening of two new buildings at the corporate office in the Shoreditch area. The investment also includes the majority of the £8 billion already earmarked for data centres across the UK, as well as spending on upgrading operations and infrastructure such as drone technology, its streaming service Prime, and staff wages and benefits. Sir Keir said: 'Amazon's £40 billion investment adds another major win to Britain's basket and is a massive vote of confidence in the UK as the best place to do business. 'It means thousands of new jobs – real opportunities for people in every corner of the country to build careers, learn new skills, and support their families.' Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the investment was a 'powerful endorsement of Britain's economic strengths'. Amazon's chief executive Andy Jassy said: 'When Amazon invests, it's not only in London and the South East – 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.'
The Independent
23-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Thousands of jobs to be created at Amazon's new UK warehouses
Amazon is set to create thousands of new jobs across the UK as part of a substantial £40 billion investment over the next three years, signalling a major expansion of its logistics network. The technology giant confirmed that a new fulfilment centre in Hull will open this year, generating some 2,000 roles. Another 2,000 jobs are earmarked for a site in Northampton, scheduled to open in 2026. Beyond these confirmed locations, Amazon also announced plans for two additional warehouses in the East Midlands, slated for a 2027 opening. While the precise sites remain undisclosed, these facilities are expected to lead to the recruitment of thousands more positions. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer lauded the expansion plans as a "major win" for the UK economy. Amazon's leadership underscored that the significant investment is specifically aimed at boosting regions outside of London and the south east of England, aligning with broader efforts to level up economic opportunities. This multi-billion-pound commitment underscores Amazon's continued growth in the UK, promising a significant boost to employment and infrastructure in key regional areas. Fulfilment centres are large warehouses where customer orders can be picked, packed and shipped – some of which use the latest technology including robotics. Amazon – which hires more than 75,000 people in the UK and is one of the country's biggest private sector employers – also confirmed significant expansion plans for its London headquarters. This will form part of the £40 billion investment and will see the opening of two new buildings at the corporate office in the Shoreditch area. The investment also includes the majority of the £8 billion already earmarked for data centres across the UK, as well as spending on upgrading operations and infrastructure such as drone technology, its streaming service Prime, and staff wages and benefits. Sir Keir said: 'Amazon's £40 billion investment adds another major win to Britain's basket and is a massive vote of confidence in the UK as the best place to do business. 'It means thousands of new jobs – real opportunities for people in every corner of the country to build careers, learn new skills, and support their families.' Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the investment was a 'powerful endorsement of Britain's economic strengths'. Amazon's chief executive Andy Jassy said: 'When Amazon invests, it's not only in London and the South East – 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.'
