Amazon plans to shut three UK warehouses impacting up to 1,200 jobs

2023-01-10

Amazon plans to shut three UK warehouses in move that will impact up to 1,200 jobs

Amazon has launched consultations over the closure of three UK warehouses
Sites in Hemel Hempstead, Doncaster and Gourouck proposed for closure
It is understood all workers will be offered roles at other Amazon locations

Amazon has said it plans to shut three UK warehouses in a move which will impact up to 1,200 jobs.

Sites in Hemel Hempstead, Doncaster and Gourock, in the west of Scotland, have been proposed for closure, a company spokesman said.

It is understood that all workers at the sites will be offered roles at other Amazon locations.

There are plans for two new major fulfilment centres in Peddimore, the West Midlands and Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham.

The Amazon warehouse floor in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire

Amazon hoped the new fulfilment centres would create 2,500 jobs over the next three years.

A spokesman for the company said: ‘We’re always evaluating our network to make sure it fits our business needs and to improve the experience for our employees and customers.

‘As part of that effort, we may close older sites, enhance existing facilities or open new sites, and we’ve launched a consultation on the proposed closure of three fulfilment centres in 2023.

‘We also plan to open two new fulfilment centres creating 2,500 new jobs over the next three years.

The Amazon warehouse in Gourock, Inverclyde which could impact more than 300 jobs

The Amazon warehouse in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, is also facing closure

‘All employees affected by site closure consultations will be offered the opportunity to transfer to other facilities and we remain committed to our customers, employees and communities across the UK.’

Around 500 employees currently work at Amazon’s Hemel Hempstead site, and will all be offered roles at its nearby Dunstable warehouse or other nearby locations.

The consultations will involve around 400 staff at its Doncaster site in Balby Carr Bank, who the company plans to transfer to its two other fulfilment centres at Doncaster’s iPort.

The proposals will also affect around 300 workers currently based at the Gourock site.

Opening in 2004, the site at Faulds Pauk is still one of the largest employers in the area, one of the most deprived regions in Scotland.

SNP MP for Inverclyde Ronnie Cowan said the news was a ‘serious blow to Gourock, Inverclyde and Scotland’.

Ronnie Cowan, MP for Inverclyde, said the closure was a ‘serious blow to Gourock’ and that he sought urgent talks with the company amid fears for 300 jobs

In a statement, he said: ‘Amongst the number crunching we must remember that 300 families are affected by the decision.

‘They will be under enormous strain, and we must do whatever we can to help them find gainful employment and help them through a very difficult time.’

He added: ‘It goes without saying that in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis this will come as a hammer blow to the staff and their families.

‘Amazon has said it will try to re-deploy workers but has so far given me no firm commitment.

‘I now want to see both the UK and Scottish governments intervene to see what measures an be taken in the light of this decision.’

It comes after Amazon announced last week plans to axe 18,000 jobs globally as the firm attempts to cut costs.

It will be the largest layoff programme in the company’s history and it is understood job losses will affect the UK, but details of how many have not been shared.

Amazon’s chief executive Andy Jassy said the ‘uncertain economy’ was the main factor behind the decision and that the impacted employees will be told later this month.

The group, which employs around 1.5 million people worldwide, warned in November of job cuts without confirming a figure, but said it had found more roles would need to be axed as part of an in-depth review of its business.

Amazon said roles that will be affected the most include those across its stores, such as Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go, as well as its human resources division.

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