Amazon has spent more than £500m on the warehouse at Gareway45 in Leeds
Shopping giant Amazon has opened a new depot in Leeds - and will now start recruiting to fill more than 2,000 positions over the next few months.
The high-tech fulfilment centre has now opened at Gateway45 in Leeds. The company will now look to be welcoming applicants for various jobs, including HR and IT professionals, health & safety and finance staff as well as workers to pick, pack and ship orders.
The online retailer is spending more than £500m on the warehouse, which uses "advanced technology" to pick, pack and ship orders to customers across three floors.
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.”
Amazon's investment in the region has been welcomed by the Chamber of Commerce, which has said the warehouse will provide a welcome boost to the economy. 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.”
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.”
The warehouse was developed by PLP, and has been built on a 43-acre site which used to be a wastewater treatment works. It is located next to Junction 45 of the M1.
On its website, PLP says it is the "largest distribution shcheme" in the area. It states: "Successfully regenerated a former wastewater treatment works into a key logistics and employment hub. Pre let development fulfilment centre for major e-commerce retailer."
Amazon said it has invested more than £56 billion in the UK since 2010.