Amazon plans to shut three UK warehouses impacting up to 1,200 jobs
Amazon plans to shut three UK warehouses with 1,200 jobs at risk: Retail giant says workers will be offered roles at other locations as it unveils proposals for two new fulfilment centres to create 2,500 roles over three years
- Amazon has launched consultations over the closure of three UK warehouses
- Sites in Hemel Hempstead, Doncaster and Gourouck are proposed for closure
- It is understood all workers will be offered roles at other Amazon locations
Published: 10:03, 10 January 2023 | Updated: 13:39, 10 January 2023
Amazon plans to shut three UK warehouses in a move that 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.
The retail giant said workers at the sites will be offered roles at other Amazon locations.
It also unveiled plans for two new major fulfilment centres in Peddimore in the West Midlands and Stockton-on-Tees in County Durham.
The Amazon warehouse floor in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire
The three sites affected are Hemel Hempstead, Doncaster and Gourock
Amazon hopes the new fulfilment centres will 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 has been proposed for closure.
If it closes more than 300 employees stand to lose their 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 work at Amazon’s Hemel Hempstead site, and will all be offered roles at its nearby Dunstable warehouse or other 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.
The firm said staff would be offered retraining and reskilling opportunities as part of efforts to secure new work.
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.’
Opened in 2004, the Gourock site at Faulds Park is one of the largest employers in the area, which is one of the most deprived regions in Scotland.
Meanwhile Steve Garelick, GMB union organiser said: ‘This is a real kick in the teeth for Amazon staff who worked themselves into the ground during the festive rush.
‘Hard-up Amazon workers can’t suddenly be expected to up sticks and move to a different fulfilment centre which may be many miles away, local workers who may not be in a position to take roles so far away from where they live.
‘Amazon is struggling in part because it is has hugely expensive staff turnover rates due to their long-standing health and safety issues and poor workplace practices.
‘Amazon faces real challenges and we want to save those jobs and make them better.’
The Amazon fulfillment centre in Hemel Hempstead
Mr Garelick called on the employer to engage with the workforce through the union.
Sir Mike Penning, Conservative MP for Hemel Hempstead, said he was ‘saddened to hear that Amazon have announced that they will close the fulfilment centre in Maylands in April’.
‘This is devastating news for Hemel Hempstead to lose such a big-name employer.’
‘I understand that employees will all be offered work at an alternative site, many in Dunstable, but for many employees a move to a new location is not an option.
‘It is a difficult economic situation at the moment for everyone, it is not a good time to lose your job.’
He continued: ‘I am acutely aware that 500 local families will be in shock today with their futures up in the air.
I really feel for them’.
It comes after Amazon announced last week plans to axe 18,000 jobs globally as it 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 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 this month.
The company, which employs around 1.5million 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.