Amazon is launching a massive recruitment drive to hire 5,000 people in the UK, taking its total number of employees in the country to nearly 25,000.

The etail giant will focus on full-time employment across a wide variety of divisions, with both skilled and entry-level positions available.

The jobs will be based across the country, from Amazon’s London head office and its Edinburgh-based customer services department to its fashion photography studio in Shoreditch and its regional fulfilment centres.

Amazon is also offering roles at its development centres in Cambridge, Edinburgh and London, where innovations such as digital assistant Alexa, Prime Air and Prime Video are worked on.

In addition, the etailer will launch an apprenticeship programme, with positions available in engineering, logistics and warehouse roles across its nationwide centres.

Amazon UK boss Doug Gurr said: “We are creating thousands of new UK jobs including hundreds of apprenticeship opportunities as we continue to innovate for our customers and provide them with even faster delivery, more selection and better value.”

The etail giant is set to open three new fulfilment centres, in Tilbury, Doncaster and Daventry, to support and speed up its delivery service. 

Amazon fashion

According to reports, Amazon is gearing up to launch its own fashion label in the UK as early as this spring. 

To date, it has appointed Karen Peacock as design director, who previously held roles at Debenhams and Marks & Spencer, and Primark’s menswear buying director Glen George.

It is understood that the etailer, which launched its Amazon Fresh offer in the UK last June, is looking to strengthen its own-brand fashion credentials by hiring experienced people from M&S.

Amazon recruited former Marks & Spencer womenswear director Frances Russell to drive the launch of its own-label line last February.