Amazon Begins Sutton Coldfield Operations; Confirms Rugeley Closure

• Amazon announces start of operations at £500 million state-of-the-art fulfilment centre in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, creating 400 new jobs in 2023
• New site will employ 1,400 people when it opens in October, and recruitment for a range of roles from engineers to IT professionals is underway
• Older fulfilment centre in Rugeley will close, subject to consultation, with all 1,000 employees offered the opportunity to relocate to the new building less than 20 miles away, or other Amazon sites.
• Energy efficiency is a top priority in the construction of the new fulfilment centre, which features power-generating solar panels on its roof along with building management systems to reduce energy consumption.

Amazon has today announced the start of operations at its new, £500 million state-of-the-art fulfilment centre, in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, later this year creating 400 additional new jobs for the region.

The 547,000 sq ft fulfilment centre will launch with a total of 1,400 employees when it begins handling customer orders in early October 2023, growing to 2,000 people within three years. Recruitment has started for a wide range of new roles, including engineers, HR and IT professionals through to health & safety and finance specialists and operations managers, as well as the teams who pick, pack and ship customer orders.

As part of this, Amazon’s Rugeley fulfilment centre will close, subject to consultation, with all 1,000 employees being offered roles at the new fulfilment centre less than 20 miles away, or other Amazon buildings.

Amazon consistently invests in its workplaces to ensure the most modern, engaging and safe environment for employees. The new building is the latest generation fulfilment centre featuring three floors of Amazon Robotics where products will be stowed and customer orders picked.

Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands said: “Amazon’s announcement of a £500 million investment in a state-of the-art fulfilment centre in Sutton Coldfield is another fantastic vote of confidence in the West Midlands, and one that will lead to hundreds of news jobs being created for local people.

“Amazon has already invested £3.2 billion in the West Midlands since 2010, and this new centre will take their workforce in the region to more than 4,000. I look forward to continuing to work with them as they invest and grow in the region, as well as ensuring local people are securing the quality jobs being created by this latest investment.”

Neil Travis, Amazon’s Regional Director, said: “The West Midlands is an important region for Amazon, and this new site will create 400 new jobs for this year, taking our total workforce in the West Midlands to more than 4,000 full and part-time roles, and our investment in the region to more than £3.2 billion since 2010.

“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.”

Employees at the Sutton Coldfield fulfilment centre will be paid a minimum of £11 p/h for all full-time, part-time, temporary and seasonal roles. Employees are also offered a comprehensive benefits package, including private medical insurance, life assurance, income protection, subsidised meals and an employee discount – which combined are worth thousands of pounds annually – as well as a company pension plan. 

Amazon also provides employees an innovative programme called Career Choice that provides funding for skills development through nationally recognised courses of up to £8,000 over four years. Career Choice enables employees to develop their careers with Amazon or other employers.

Energy efficiency is a top priority in the construction of the new fulfilment centre, which features power-generating solar panels on its roof along with building management systems which will ensure a comfortable working environment for employees at the same time as reducing unnecessary energy consumption. Amazon is the world’s largest corporate purchaser of renewable energy and is on a path to powering our operations with 100% renewable energy by 2025 – five years ahead of our original target.

Amazon has invested over £56 billion in the UK since 2010 to provide convenience, selection and value to UK consumers, while helping to digitally empower hundreds of thousands of small businesses and content creators. 

Source : Amazon

Image : shutterstock.com / 1088097701 

For all the very latest news and intelligence on the UK's largest home improvement and garden retailers, sign up for the Insight DIY weekly newsletter.