Jessica O'ConnorAmazon has announced plans to invest £40bn in the United Kingdom over the next three years, a move expected to create thousands of new jobs and expand its operations across multiple sectors.
The announcement was welcomed by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who described it as “another major win to Britain’s basket and a massive vote of confidence in the UK as the best place to do business.”
The investment includes the construction of four new fulfilment centres, with confirmed sites in Hull, Northampton, and the East Midlands. The fourth location is yet to be announced.
Each facility is expected to support around 2,000 permanent, full-time jobs.
As part of the broader expansion, Amazon plans to open new delivery stations and upgrade its existing network of over 100 sites across the UK.
The company also intends to expand its London headquarters.
A significant portion of the investment relates to Amazon Web Services (AWS), which announced in September 2024 that it would invest £8bn in UK data centres through 2028.
According to Government estimates, this AWS expansion will contribute £14bn to the UK economy over five years and support around 14,000 full-time equivalent jobs each year, primarily through small and medium-sized enterprises in the tech sector.
Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, said: “This investment is a powerful endorsement of Britain’s economic strengths.
“The world is changing, but this Government is working hand in hand with businesses to navigate that change to create jobs, wealth and opportunity in every corner of the country.”
Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds will visit Amazon’s HQ in London to mark the announcement.
He said: “Our Modern Industrial Strategy will ensure the UK is the best country to invest and do business, and seeing massive international firms like Amazon bank on Britain shows we are on the right track.
“This investment will create highly-skilled jobs and boost living standards across the country, and the £100 billion of investment we’ve secured in the past year shows our Plan for Change is already delivering for working people.”
Amazon CEO, Andy Jassy, said: “Amazon has been proud to serve our customers in the UK for the past 27 years.
“Thanks to their support, we’ve grown to be part of over 100 communities nationwide, from developing drone technology in Darlington to producing world-class entertainment at our studios in Bray.
“We now employ over 75,000 people and have become one of the UK’s largest private sector employers and taxpayers.
“When Amazon invests, it’s not only in London and the South East – we’re bringing innovation and job creation to communities throughout England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, strengthening the UK’s economy and delivering better experiences for customers wherever they live.”
