PLANS by retail giant Amazon to build a state-of-the-art fulfilment centre at the SEGRO Logistics Park Northampton are set to create more than 2,000 new jobs.
The Amazon Robotics fulfilment centre, which will start managing customer orders in 2026, will create 1,400 new jobs at launch with at least 600 more within three years.
This new building will be the latest generation fulfilment centre with three floors of Amazon robotics (pictured left) where products will be stored and customer orders picked using advanced technology. Jobs expected to be created include those for engineers, HR and IT professionals, health & safety and finance specialists and team members who pick, pack and ship customer orders.
Amazon’s announcement has been welcomed by Northamptonshire business leaders.
Louise Wall, chief executive of Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “Amazon’s investment in Northamptonshire will create thousands of new jobs in one of the most advanced buildings of its type in the world. This is a significant endorsement of the strategic location of the SEGRO Logistics Park Northampton and the importance of our region’s role in the UK logistics industry.”
Amazon’s new fulfilment centre is the result of a £500 million investment. “The East Midlands is an important region for Amazon, with more than 6,000 small- and medium-sized enterprise selling partners and I am delighted to confirm our ongoing commitment,” said Amazon’s regional director Neil Travis.
The new site will take Amazon’s total workforce in the East Midlands past 10,000 and its investment to £4 billion-plus since 2010.
The centre will feature specialist building management systems to ensure a comfortable working environment for employees and reduce unnecessary energy consumption. Amazon is the world’s largest corporate purchaser of renewable energy and is on a path to powering its operations with 100% renewable energy by 2025 – five years ahead of its original target., Mr Travis said.
“Amazon continues to invest in our buildings and innovative technology to provide our people with some of the most advanced workplaces of their kind in the world, ensuring their wellbeing while delivering for our customers.”