Posted on Thursday 27th October 2011
Applications for 900 jobs at major online retailer Amazon have opened following the company’s decision to locate its latest distribution centre in Staffordshire.
Staffordshire’s prosperity leader Ben Adams said interested county residents should now be submitting their applications and welcomed the substantial job creation.
In July, Amazon announced it was locating its distribution centre at a 700,000 sq ft industrial unit at Towers Business Park in Rugeley. The site was initially developed by Staffordshire County Council in the 1990s.
County councillor Adams said: "It’s fantastic that there are 900 job opportunities open to Staffordshire residents now that Amazon has opened up its applications process.
"A major international company like Amazon’s decision to locate here really does demonstrate that Staffordshire is the place to do business.
"We’re proud to have developed the Towers site and that it’s now attracting investors and jobs. We are looking forward to more positive news on this site in the near future.
"Staffordshire’s numerous benefits are clearly attracting the attention of businesses looking to relocate or expand to. We continue to invite global brands and businesses to join the Staffordshire success story.
"It is rewarding to see this former colliery site returning to one of the county’s major employment hubs."
People can call the Amazon jobs hotline on 0844 257 8293.
The Towers Business Park site was created at the former Lea Hall Colliery.
Starting in 1991, Staffordshire County Council designed and delivered all phases of the regeneration with a variety of scheme partners with the final restoration and infrastructure work being completed in 2000. The Amazon unit was built by developer Gazeley in 2008 but has remained empty as a result of the economic downturn. In addition to the initial development of the business park, Staffordshire County Council built the award-winning Rugeley bypass, completed in 2007, making the site easily accessible.
Arthur Valdez, Vice President of Operations, Amazon.co.uk Ltd, said:
"We have a busy Christmas coming up and look forward to assembling a team of talented people who will play their part in ensuring that customers receive the millions of items that will be ordered over the festive season."
The centre will begin operating from September this year and more than 900 permanent and temporary jobs will be created at the site before the end of 2012.