Amazon opens new fulfilment centre in Leeds

Online giant Amazon has opened a new fulfilment centre which will create more than 2,000 jobs in the coming months.

Amazon is investing £500 million in the site – at Gateway45 in Leeds – which uses advanced technology across three floors to pick, pack and ship orders to customers.

The company is recruiting for jobs including engineers, HR and IT professionals, health & safety and finance staff as well as employees who pick, pack and ship customer orders.

James Mason, West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce chief executive, said: “This further, significant investment from Amazon is a confirmation of our strategic location for the logistics industry as a whole, and a ringing endorsement for the strength and skillset of the workforce in our region.

“We at the chamber welcome the job creation, a significant boost for the region’s economy.”

Richard Thompson, Amazon’s regional director, said: “West Yorkshire is an important region for Amazon, with more than 3,800 small and medium-sized enterprise selling partners, and I am delighted to confirm our ongoing commitment with this £500 million investment in a new, state-of-the-art fulfilment centre in Leeds.

“This new site will create more than 2,000 new jobs, taking our total workforce in the region to more than 4,000 full and part-time roles, and our investment in the region to more than £1.5 billion since 2010.”

Mandy Ridyard, business adviser to the Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “Amazon’s multimillion-pound investment in Leeds is a fantastic vote of confidence in our region and supports our ambition to drive economic growth.

“I’m delighted that thousands more new jobs will be created for people throughout our communities, as we work to build a stronger, brighter West Yorkshire that works for all.”

Amazon said it has invested more than £56 billion in the UK since 2010.