Online retail giant Amazon has launched a seasonal recruitment drive for warehouse staff to help meet demand over the Christmas peak.

The retailer revealed plans to recruit 15,000 temporary staff for its eight UK ‘fulfilment centres’ in Doncaster, Dunfermline, Gourock, Hemel Hempstead, Milton Keynes, Peterborough, Rugeley and Swansea Bay. These store the retailer’s own stock as well as stock for Amazon Marketplace sellers.

Amazon said it recruited 10,000 temporary staff last year to help with a peak that saw a total of 3.5 million orders placed during its busiest day, at a rate equivalent to 44 items a second.

Some of the 15,000 will also go to its customer service centre in Edinburgh and recruitment will be ongoing until Christmas.

Catherine McDermott, director of operations at Amazon.co.uk said: “During the Christmas season, seasonal associates play a critical role in making sure we meet increased demand from customers.

"As we continue to expand our UK operations, we expect many hundreds of these temporary associates to move into permanent positions as has been the case in previous years.”

Topics